India Sets Up Expert Panel to Review Copyright Law Amid AI Disputes
India has established an expert panel to examine whether its existing copyright law is sufficient to address emerging legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence. According to an official memo, the commerce ministry formed an eight-member committee last month comprising intellectual property lawyers, government officials, and industry executives. The panel is tasked with analyzing the legal and policy issues surrounding AI and its implications for the Copyright Act of 1957, particularly in light of recent lawsuits. One such case, filed in the Delhi High Court by prominent news outlets like NDTV, Indian Express, and Hindustan Times, accuses OpenAI of using their content without permission to train its ChatGPT model. OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it only uses publicly available data and offers websites an opt-out option.
This move signals growing regulatory scrutiny in one of the world’s largest digital markets and could have significant implications for international tech firms operating in India. As courts globally confront similar disputes involving AI training data and copyright violations, India’s stance may influence broader conversations on data use, intellectual property, and AI governance. Non-Indian companies training AI models with data sourced from India may need to reassess their legal strategies and data handling practices in light of potential legal reforms.
Editor’s Note: India has formed an expert panel to review its copyright law in response to AI-related legal challenges, particularly concerning lawsuits against OpenAI for allegedly using news content without permission to train its ChatGPT model. The panel, comprising lawyers, officials, and industry executives, will assess the implications of AI on the Copyright Act of 1957 and recommend potential legal reforms. This move reflects increasing regulatory scrutiny in India’s digital market and may influence global discussions on AI governance, data use, and intellectual property rights.
India Launches ₹60,000 Crore ITI Upgradation Scheme to Transform Vocational Education
In a landmark move to modernize India’s vocational training infrastructure, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute Upgradation and the establishment of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling. With a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore, the scheme aims to revamp 1,000 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and boost the capacity of five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). It will be implemented over five years as a centrally-sponsored scheme, co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, and is expected to skill over 20 lakh youth in industry-aligned courses.
The initiative focuses on strengthening the connection between education and employment by adopting an industry-led Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model. For the first time, deep collaboration with industry stakeholders will guide course development and institutional management. The scheme will also invest in infrastructure and trainer development at NSTIs in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana. This ambitious effort is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision, positioning ITIs as aspirational, government-owned, industry-managed institutes to meet evolving workforce needs in sectors like electronics, automotive, and renewable energy.
Editor’s Note: India’s ₹60,000 crore ITI upgradation scheme aims to modernize vocational training, boosting skilling capacity in key sectors like electronics, automotive, and renewable energy through industry-led collaboration. For foreign Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) companies, this initiative enhances the talent pool with industry-aligned expertise, making India a more attractive destination for manufacturing and R&D investments. Strengthened infrastructure and skill development at ITIs and NSTIs will improve workforce readiness, supporting global firms in scaling operations efficiently within India’s growing digital and electronics ecosystem.
India and UK Sign Landmark Free Trade Agreement, Opening $34 Billion Trade Boost
India and the United Kingdom on Tuesday finalised a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a major step forward in their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Concluded after three years of negotiations, the deal was sealed during a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It includes sweeping tariff reductions on 90% of British goods, including cars, alcohol, apparel, and footwear—most of which are expected to become tariff-free within ten years. The agreement is projected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion (approximately $34 billion) and is especially poised to benefit India’s MSME sector, while aligning with the UK’s post-Brexit “Plan for Change.”
This deal signifies a pivotal moment not just for India and the UK, but also for international businesses. For non-Indian companies, especially those operating in or exporting to the UK, the FTA presents expanded access to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. It also signals a shift towards more bilateral, sector-specific trade pacts amid global uncertainty, offering fresh opportunities in technology, defence, green energy, and education. Companies eyeing supply chain diversification or partnerships in India may find a more favourable and stable trade environment as the country cements its role as a key global economic player.
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1279805
Editor’s Note: India and the UK have finalized a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after three years of negotiations, significantly reducing tariffs on 90% of British goods, with most becoming tariff-free within a decade. The deal is expected to boost bilateral trade by $34 billion and provide major benefits to India’s MSME sector while aligning with the UK’s post-Brexit trade strategy. Beyond India and the UK, the agreement offers international businesses expanded market access, new opportunities in technology, defense, green energy, and education, and a more stable trade environment for companies seeking partnerships or supply chain diversification.
Porter Becomes Second Unicorn of 2025 with $200 Mn Series F Funding
Hyperlocal logistics startup Porter has become India’s second unicorn of 2025 after raising approximately $200 million in a Series F funding round led by Kedaara Capital and Wellington Management, with continued backing from Vitruvian Partners. The round, a mix of primary and secondary transactions, values Porter between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion. While Peak XV Partners and Kae Capital partially exited during the round, Porter plans to use the new capital to expand to more cities, bolster MSME support, and create job opportunities for over one million gig workers. Founded in 2014, the startup offers on-demand logistics services via a fleet of 750,000+ drivers across 22 cities, competing with firms like Shadowfax, Dunzo, and Swiggy Genie.
For non-Indian companies, Porter’s growth signals rising investor confidence in India’s rapidly expanding logistics and gig economy sectors. As India’s logistics market heads toward a projected size of $357.3 billion by 2030, foreign firms operating in transport tech, gig platforms, or last-mile delivery may find strategic partnership or investment opportunities in Indian startups. Porter’s inclusion in the ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) framework also highlights the country’s push toward digital-first, decentralized logistics—an area ripe for collaboration and innovation.
https://inc42.com/buzz/porter-closes-series-f-round-led-by-kedaara-wellington-management
Editor’s Note: Porter has become India’s second unicorn of 2025 after raising $200 million in a Series F funding round, valuing the hyperlocal logistics startup between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion. The company plans to use the capital for expansion, MSME support, and job creation for over one million gig workers, strengthening its position in India’s fast-growing logistics sector. For foreign companies, Porter’s rise reflects investor confidence in India’s gig economy and logistics market, offering new opportunities for partnerships, investments, and digital-first logistics innovations.
India Shifting from Labour to AI Mindset, Says ServiceNow CEO at Knowledge 2025
ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott believes India is transitioning from a labour-centric to an AI-driven mindset, positioning itself as a major player in the global AI economy. Speaking at Knowledge 2025 in Las Vegas, McDermott highlighted the transformative impact of autonomous, agentic AI on business operations, calling it the end of traditional software stacks and the beginning of integrated platforms like ServiceNow. Companies that fail to embrace AI now are likely to struggle for survival in the coming years, he warned. In India, the combination of skilled labour and AI offers the potential for exponential productivity gains. ServiceNow plans to partner with major corporations like Reliance to bring down unit costs and expand accessibility. The company’s NowNext AI programme provides partner organisations with broad access to innovation and intellectual property.
Addressing concerns about pricing in cost-sensitive markets like India, McDermott argued that the conversation should shift from platform cost to the value it delivers. Some companies using ServiceNow have achieved the same output with 60% fewer engineers, though the emphasis is on increasing productivity rather than reducing headcount. A global shortage of AI-skilled professionals is looming, with 75% of AI jobs globally expected to go unfilled. To address this, ServiceNow is launching a university initiative to train talent for the digital economy. For non-Indian companies, McDermott’s remarks reflect India’s accelerating AI adoption and present opportunities to collaborate on skilling, enterprise software deployment, and digital transformation in a rapidly expanding market.
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2025/05/08/fes17-biz-servicenow-ceo-ai.html
Editor’s Note: ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott asserts that India is shifting from a labour-centric economy to an AI-driven mindset, positioning itself as a global leader in AI innovation. He emphasized the transformative potential of autonomous AI, the need for businesses to adopt integrated platforms, and ServiceNow’s partnerships with corporations like Reliance to enhance accessibility and efficiency. This shift presents significant opportunities for non-Indian companies to collaborate on AI-driven skilling, enterprise software integration, and digital transformation in India’s expanding tech ecosystem.
India Eyes Global Leadership in AI Infrastructure, Urges States to Shift Focus Beyond Land
As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates across sectors, NITI Aayog has emphasised the urgent need for scalable, sustainable, and reliable AI infrastructure to support India’s growing digital economy. During a high-level workshop hosted by its Frontier Tech Hub, NITI Aayog called on Indian states to move beyond traditional land-centric models and embrace holistic AI ecosystems powered by clean energy and innovation. B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, stated that India has a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to emerge as a global AI datacentre hub, given its leadership in clean energy, deep technology talent pool, and favourable policy landscape. However, he cautioned that global competition is intense, and Indian states must align their strategies with international benchmarks to attract hyperscale and sovereign AI investments.
The workshop, which brought together senior officials from central and state governments as well as industry leaders, highlighted that India contributes nearly 20% of global data generation but holds only 3% of global datacentre capacity. Deliberations centred around six foundational pillars for AI datacentre readiness—land, power, network, compute, talent, and enabling policies—and stressed the need for coordinated reforms in power and regulatory frameworks. For non-Indian companies, the push signals India’s intent to position itself as a global destination for AI infrastructure, opening new opportunities for investment in datacentres, renewable energy partnerships, and high-performance computing services. As countries like Vietnam, the UAE, and Indonesia ramp up efforts to attract AI investments, India’s evolving approach presents a timely and strategic entry point for global tech players.
Editor’s Note: India is aiming to become a global AI datacentre hub by shifting focus from land-centric models to scalable, sustainable AI infrastructure powered by clean energy and innovation, as emphasized by NITI Aayog. This push opens investment opportunities for non-Indian companies in datacentres, renewable energy partnerships, and high-performance computing, as India seeks to align its strategy with international benchmarks amid growing global competition.