'Indian National AI Olympiad 2026' registrations open to nurture school-level AI talent

(Photo: AI generated image/IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) ACM India, the Indian arm of the Association for Computing Machinery, on Saturday announced the launch of the 'Indian National AI Olympiad 2026' -- a nationwide initiative to identify and nurture exceptional school-level talent in Artificial Intelligence.

Registration for the INAIO 2026 test for Indian students pursuing Classes IX to XII, to be conducted online on January 18, 2026, is open until December 31, 2025.

Test results will help candidates born after August 2, 2006, qualify for IOAI 2026 in Abu Dhabi from August 2–8, 2026, ACM India said in a statement.

The Indian National AI Olympiad, to be proctored live and administered by assessment technology platform HireMee, will serve as an accredited gateway to the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI).

IOAI will offer students global exposure, advanced innovation skills, and world‑class academic opportunities, it added.

Toppers of related Olympiads such as INMO (Indian National Mathematical Olympiad), INOI (Indian National Olympiad in Informatics), PLO (Panini Linguistics Olympiad), and Bebras will receive direct entry into Stage 2 of INAIO.

The multi‑stage structured evaluation model of INAIO is designed to strengthen conceptual understanding of machine learning and develop real‑world modelling abilities, with the Olympiad selecting students to represent India at IOAI.

Key benefits include international recognition, potential scholarships from top universities, and enhanced higher‑education pathways in globally recognised universities, the statement said.

Further, the top three national rankers will receive attractive prizes, as all participants will be awarded digital certificates, the statement noted.

The first 500 applicants to the programme will receive access to HireMee’s Career Navigation Assessment worth Rs 1,599, it added.

Demand for AI and machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI governance specialists is set to surge in 2026, while cybersecurity is being reshaped by AI-driven threats.Around 74 per cent of corporate leaders in India ranked artificial intelligence (AI) among their top three technology adoption choices, according to a recent report. 'Indian National AI Olympiad 2026' registrations open to nurture school-level AI talent | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → December 31, 2025

India surpasses Europe, US in locomotive production to emerge as world leader

IANS Photo

New Delhi, (IANS): India has emerged as a global leader in railway locomotive manufacturing, achieving a record production of 1,681 locomotives in the financial year 2024-25, according to a Railway Ministry statement issued on Wednesday.

This milestone surpasses the total locomotive production of regions such as Europe, the United States, South America, Africa, and Australia, reaffirming India’s growing dominance in the global railway sector.

"The continuous rise in locomotive production is a direct result of strategic decisions taken to strengthen the Make in India initiative. Between 2004 and 2014, India produced a total of 4,695 locomotives, with a national annual average of 470. In contrast, from 2014 to 2024, locomotive manufacturing witnessed a significant surge, with 9,168 locomotives produced, raising the annual average to approximately 917," the Railways statement said.

Indian Railways' locomotive manufacturing units have achieved a remarkable milestone by producing 1,681 locomotives in various categories during the financial year 2024-25. This marks an increase of 209 locomotives, or 19 per cent, compared to the 1,472 locomotives produced in the previous financial year 2023-24, the statement said.

This record-breaking production is the highest ever for locomotive manufacturing in the country, reflecting the significant achievements of all units in enhancing railway infrastructure and capacity.

The production of 1,681 locomotives during the year comprised 700 manufactured at the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, 477 produced at Banaras Locomotive Works, 304 made at Patiala Locomotive Works, and 100 locomotives each manufactured at the Madhepura and Marhowrah units located in Bihar.

The majority of the locomotives produced in the country were intended for freight trains. Among the 1,681 locomotives produced in the financial year 2024-25, as many as 1,047 were WAG-9/9H locomotives. These locomotives are a class of heavy-duty, three-phase AC electric locomotives used by Indian Railways for freight operations, known for their high speed and power, and are the only freight-dedicated three-phase AC locomotives in India. They are among the most powerful freight locomotives in India, with the WAG-9H having a higher power rating than the standard WAG-9. The other locomotives include WAG-9 Twin locomotives, of which 148 units were produced during the year, WAP-5 locomotives (2), and WAP-7 locomotives (272).The rest were WAG-12B locomotives, and WDG 4G/6G locomotives, at 100 each and five NRC locomotives. India surpasses Europe, US in locomotive production to emerge as world leader | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → December 29, 2025