India in the AI race, grenade attacks in Punjab, and ban on convicted politicians
Feb 27, 2025
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Amitabh Sinha, a reporter at The Indian Express with expertise in artificial intelligence, discusses the urgent need for India to develop its own large language model amid global AI advancements. Man Aman Singh Chhina, also from The Indian Express, details the alarming wave of grenade attacks in Punjab and the intersection of terrorism and gang violence. The conversation concludes with the government's stance on banning convicted politicians from elections, emphasizing that such issues should be handled by Parliament.
India must prioritize developing its own large language models to compete globally and ensure data privacy and security in AI.
The government opposes a lifetime ban on convicted politicians, advocating instead for a six-year disqualification to maintain proportionality in penalties.
Deep dives
The Need for India to Develop Its Own AI Infrastructure
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has created a significant demand for countries to develop their own large language models (LLMs), with India currently lagging behind nations like the US and China. Despite the existence of a vibrant AI research ecosystem in India, the country has not yet produced its own competitive LLMs, which are considered the benchmark in the AI field. Recent advancements, such as the Chinese LLM DeepSeek, have demonstrated that developing effective AI solutions can be achieved at a fraction of the traditional costs, challenging preconceived notions regarding the resources required for such technologies. Establishing a domestic AI infrastructure is crucial for India to maintain control over data privacy, security, and local sensitivities as AI becomes increasingly embedded in critical systems across various sectors.
Rising Grenade Attacks in Punjab: A Security Crisis
Punjab has been experiencing a disturbing trend of grenade attacks targeting police stations and posts, with 12 reported incidents since December 20, 2024. These attacks have been carried out by suspected militants and have led to heightened security measures around police establishments in the affected districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. The assaults are primarily executed by individuals on foot or motorcycles who throw explosives before fleeing the scene, with the police reinforcing defenses by raising walls and establishing roadblocks to deter further attacks. Investigations suggest a connection between local gangsters and international separatist organizations, implicating foreign intelligence agencies in the orchestration of these violent acts.
Government's Stance on Lifetime Ban for Convicted Politicians
The central government has opposed petitions in the Supreme Court seeking a lifetime ban on convicted politicians from contestsing elections, advocating instead for a six-year disqualification period as outlined in current legislation. The government's counter-affidavit argues that various penal laws allow for temporary disqualifications, emphasizing that such determinations of penalty duration lie within Parliament's jurisdiction. The government's position underscores the principle of proportionality, stating that while the option for a lifetime ban exists, it should not be enforced universally. The discourse reflects broader concerns about the balance between holding public officials accountable while ensuring fair legislative frameworks.
First, we talk to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about artificial intelligence, the changes brought by DeepSeek and how important it is for India to create its own large language model.
Next, The Indian Express' Man Aman Singh Chhina gives us details of the grenade attacks that have been happening in Punjab since December. He talks about the causes and shares how the police have responded to it. (15;47)
Lastly, we speak about the government opposing petitions seeking a lifetime ban on convicted politicians from contesting elections. (24:29)
Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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