Latest news with #SmartCities
Mint
7 days ago
- Business
- Mint
CAG to deploy AI, machine learning for faster, accurate audits
New Delhi: India's apex auditor will integrate generative AI, machine learning and optical character recognition into its processes to fast-track work and reduce manual burden, according to two deputy heads of the federal auditing body. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will use these tools for voucher verification and risk detection and will expand remote and hybrid audits in complex revenue areas such as goods and services tax, stamp duty and public works, deputy CAGs A.M. Bajaj and K.S. Subramanian said in an interview. These technologies are expected to significantly reduce manual workload, enhance anomaly detection, and enable predictive identification of high-risk areas, making audits more focused and data-driven, they said. Also read: GDP's dirty little secret: Why we should be tracking GVA instead CAG is reshaping audit practices to match the complexity of India's growing economy and sprawling governance structure. With over 700 central public sector units, 1,600 state enterprises, 485 central autonomous bodies and thousands of panchayats and urban local bodies now under its jurisdiction, the federal auditor is adapting to not just the size, but also the changing nature of public service delivery, they said. The CAG is conducting multi-state audits on key welfare and infrastructure areas, including solid-waste management in urban bodies, welfare of construction workers, management of District Mineral Funds, implementation of rural jobs guarantee programme, functioning of regional transport offices and the Jal Jeevan Mission. All-India audits covering the Green India Mission, Smart Cities, MSME support and skill development are also underway and are expected to be completed by mid-2025. These audits aim to assess how effectively these national initiatives are delivering measurable benefits to citizens and improving their lives. For the first time, the CAG has institutionalized stakeholder consultations at all stages of the audit cycle from planning to reporting, said Bajaj. 'We've made it mandatory to consult the Secretary, senior officials, academia, and civil society while finalising the Annual Audit Plan and audit reports. This inclusive process helps ensure our audits are grounded in real issues and deliver meaningful value to both institutions and citizens," Subramanian added. Also read: You're absolutely right, as the AI chatbot says Dattesh Parulekar, assistant professor of International Relations at Goa University, said, 'The CAG's digital-first and stakeholder-led approach signals a decisive shift from traditional compliance checks to dynamic, technology-enabled, performance-linked audits. If sustained, this could mark a new era in public accountability—where audit reports not only flag inefficiencies but help shape more responsive governance." Focus on training Training remains central to this revamp. The CAG has signed eight memoranda of understanding with institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, the Indian Institution of Management Ahmedabad, Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics and the National Institute of Urban Affairs to co-develop specialised curricula. 'For capacity building, we are training audit staff in AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, and public policy at top institutes, including a nationwide boot camp on AI and machine learning for audit at IIT Delhi," said Bajaj. A nine-month AI and cybersecurity diploma programme is already underway at IIT-Madras for CAG officers, with modules on environmental audit, ESG reporting, procurement, and non-cognitive skills running in parallel across various centres, said Subramanian. Also read: Bengaluru shocker: Driver runs away with employer's ₹1.5 crore, spends on family and donates at temples The CAG submits audit reports to the President or governors, which are then tabled in Parliament or state legislatures. These reports have historically played a key role in ensuring financial accountability and transparency in governance, uncovering issues from expenditure irregularities and poor scheme implementation to systemic inefficiencies. These audits have led to policy reforms, public debates, and accountability at the highest levels.
South China Morning Post
30-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's smart cities streets ahead, but same AI challenges apply the world over
Each night in the darkest hours, a fleet of drones patrols the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, watching over potentially dodgy areas such as underground station exits and the riverside to deter any would-be criminals. Advertisement The nightly routine has been operating since last year, according to a report published in April by the city's police bureau, which detailed its use of artificial intelligence to plan patrol routes. According to the report, the AI puts a laser focus on patrolling Nanjing's blind spots – the areas generally ignored by human patrols. The city's experience is part of China's efforts to scale up the use of AI in urban management, to better handle complex challenges brought by the massive scale of city life and rapid urbanisation. The Chinese leadership has long viewed AI as a tool for transforming the economy and refining its governance, launching the 'smart cities' initiative and other programmes over the past decade. Advertisement Despite this rapid progress, analysts warned that China's AI governance faces challenges – including privacy protection and limited community involvement – that are mirrored in other parts of the world as governments race to adopt the technology.
Zawya
13-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Smart Cities Council and IFZA partner to drive cross-border innovation at Smart Cities Summit North America 2025
DUBAI, UAE – At the recently concluded Smart Cities Summit North America 2025, the Smart City Council (SCC) and IFZA (International Free Zone Authority), Dubai's leading Free Zone community, came together to advance a shared vision for innovation. As the key partner for the event, IFZA helped steer conversations toward building more inclusive, sustainable, and connected cities - starting with Dubai and reaching across international markets. Held in San Francisco, the summit brought together more than 450 senior leaders in government, business, and academia under the theme 'Public Safety, AI, and the Middle East in Focus.' Through keynote sessions, IFZA shared insights on how smart cities and free zones intersect as engines of social transformation through economic innovation, a principle deeply aligned with SCC's mission. 'Dubai represents more than just an economic opportunity; it represents a vision of what future cities can be,' said Holger Schlechter, CFO of IFZA. 'As Smart Cities Council partners, we are proud to champion this vision by building meaningful connections, sharing global insights, and opening new pathways for international tech entrepreneurs. This collaboration reflects the growing synergy between the United States and the UAE across diverse industries - and we believe Dubai offers the ideal platform for American innovators to bring their smart city solutions to life in Dubai and beyond.' Smart Cities Council and IFZA also announced two joint venture organisations, Smart Cities Council Middle East, to support the rapidly increasing demand for smart city solutions across the Middle East, and Smart Cities Academy™, a platform focused on smart city education and training. 'Our collaboration with IFZA marks a new chapter in how smart cities are imagined and built across borders,' said Corey Gray, President of Smart Cities Council. 'By connecting Silicon Valley's innovation with Dubai's dynamic business environment, we aim to create a powerful launchpad for entrepreneurs to test, adapt, and deploy their smart solutions globally. The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing regions for urban innovation, and through our solutions, we aim to equip governments, and organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in a smarter, more sustainable future.' Dubai, ranked 4th globally in the 2025 IMD Smart Cities Index, is already a benchmark for smart urban development, with world-class infrastructure, digital public services, and forward-looking policies. As a launching pad for transformative regional projects like NEOM in Saudi Arabia and New Cairo in Egypt, it provides international innovators with immediate access to high-growth opportunities across the Middle East. IFZA also announced the launch of Scale360, an open innovation platform based in Dubai designed to connect global startups with corporate partners, investors, and market access. Developed in partnership with Plug and Play, Scale360 reflects IFZA's growing role in supporting not just business setup, but business transformation. IFZA was created to be a platform where entrepreneurs and like-minded individuals come together, do business and thrive - not just by removing barriers to entry, but by building bridges to global markets for businesses, and eventually nations. IFZA believes in the power of business to connect and bring people together, cross borders, and create opportunities that unite individuals around shared goals. There is no better place for this vision to become a reality than the UAE due to the future-oriented mindset of its Government and leaders. Through its role as SCC's partner, IFZA aims to bridge Silicon Valley and Dubai, connecting entrepreneurs and ecosystems. At the summit, IFZA highlighted the evolving UAE–US relationship, built on shared priorities in diverse sectors. With over 1,500 American companies already active in the UAE- including Microsoft, Uber, and Cleveland Clinic - and 75% of the UAE's GDP now driven by non-oil sectors, Dubai has become a natural destination for American businesses that want to grow fast, stay agile, and lead globally. Participation at the summit marks the beginning of IFZA's US strategic engagement roadmap, which includes upcoming events such as Deep Tech Week San Francisco (June 2025) and the flagship Deep Tech Week Dubai (November 2025). About IFZA IFZA is the most dynamic and truly international Free Zone Community in the UAE, optimising the country's strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and business-friendly environment. IFZA differentiates itself through its multi-national approach, providing personalised business establishment solutions through its network of Government Authorities and Professional Partners. Business Owners and Employees can also benefit from a wide spectrum of value-added services within the IFZA ecosystem, including but not limited to property solutions, visa packages and training and development. The IFZA Business Park offers a wide variety of cutting-edge office facilities tailored to meet each Licensee's individual needs and provides a professional, welcoming environment to greet clients, network with other businesses and thrive. For details contact: Daniel Ford Head of Corporate Communications, IFZA dford@
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Musknagar
SpaceX's city in Texas has a message for urban regeneration in India: involve big business Musk company SpaceX's rocket-launch site in Texas is now incorporated as a new city. Locals who're not workers at SpaceX fear closure of a beach and a state park that the company eyes, and which get barred from residents' time to time for launch-related activities. In its seven years, SpaceX has reshaped the sleepy town, as any industry does. It reportedly looks like a science fiction movie set, has rows of identical houses – and a massive bronze bust of Musk. Locals fear it gives Musk 'too much control'. The county keeps what US media reported as 'more pedestrian aspects of life' – clearly both literally and metaphorically. There's nothing new in entrepreneurs building cities out of their company bases. India has a long list of such townships. Govts have long collaborated for cities to grow out of industrial bases built by business pioneers, steel tycoons, mill owners – from Tatanagar to Modinagar and dozens others. PSUs all have urban centres that develop and expand around their plants. But dreams of India's urbanisation have morphed into a nightmare the last three decades. Under several govts, city-building initiatives have been embarked upon, but all have got railroaded by lack of investment despite early interest, and overall administrative incompetence. Politician-land shark-builder nexuses have flourished in that vacuum – a chicken and egg story really – making a costly mess of urban development. Even the Smart Cities project has practically wound down – a govt release noted all pending projects were to end by March 31, 2025. Connectivity, water, power, open spaces, affordable housing – no Indian city govt today can claim to be able to handle its waves of migrants or ability to upgrade infra to meet a growing city's demands. Delhi to Mumbai, Bengaluru to Kolkata, and even Corbusier's Chandigarh are struggling. In late 1960s, it was suggested Chandigarh be made a chartered city for Delhi to host global events. Chartered cities are enclaves with autonomy to carry on business and cultural activity, like the city of Geneva in New York. Fate of cities should not be left to govts alone. Without private sector collaboration, it looks near impossible for our local govts to cope with city demands – no matter the funds. This is not about a lonely tony Gurgaon reaching to the skies in potholed Haryana, or private hill station Lavasa going bust, but more about imagination, transparency and accountability, and an efficiency associated more with private sector than any govt ever. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-04-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Indian Prime Minister Arrives in Jeddah for State Visit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday on a state visit to Saudi Arabia. He was received by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Kassabi (the accompanying minister), and other senior officials upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. The long-standing and strategically significant relationship between Saudi Arabia and India, spanning over 75 years, has evolved into a robust partnership across diverse sectors, including politics, economy, trade, and clean energy. Frequent high-level exchanges have been instrumental in bolstering these ties. In February 2014, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, then Crown Prince, visited India at the invitation of former Indian Vice President M. Hamid Ansari, and met with former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. The momentum continued in April 2016 when the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received Modi in Riyadh. This visit resulted in the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement, cooperation programs, an executive program, and a draft memorandum of understanding between the two governments. In September 2016, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in China, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met with Modi, discussing opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Further demonstrating the commitment to this relationship, the Crown Prince met with Modi again in November 2018 during the G20 Summit in Argentina. Their discussions centered on expanding cooperation in political, security, economic, investment, agricultural, energy, cultural, and technological domains. A significant milestone was reached during the Crown Prince's visit to India in 2019 with the establishment of the Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council. Co-chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed and Modi, the council, with broad ministerial representation, aims to align Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 with India's key initiatives such as "Make in India,Smart Cities,Clean India," and "Digital India," thereby fostering collaboration across all sectors. Building on this progress, the Crown Prince and Modi met again in June 2019 at the G20 Summit in Japan, where they reviewed the strong bilateral relations and explored avenues for further enhancement. Continuing the tradition of high-level engagement, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received Modi in Saudi Arabia in October 2019 for bilateral talks. In September 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed visited India at the invitation of Modi, during which they explored ways to deepen the strategic partnership and exchanged perspectives on pressing regional and international issues. Economically, India stands as Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner, while Saudi Arabia is India's fifth-largest partner and its second-largest oil supplier. Bilateral trade volume reached $39.9 billion in 2024. Saudi Arabia's attractive investment climate has drawn significant Indian investments, reaching $4 billion in 2023, a notable 39% increase from $2.39 billion in 2022. Major Indian companies have established a strong presence in the Kingdom, and the 2023 Saudi-India Investment Forum saw the signing of 53 agreements and memoranda of understanding. Conversely, prominent Saudi companies, including Saudi Aramco and SABIC, have undertaken projects and formed investment partnerships in India, with the total value of Saudi investments reaching $10 billion. Energy remains a cornerstone of the strategic partnership, with both nations sharing a common vision for global oil market stability and energy security. Saudi Arabia is a committed and reliable supplier of crude oil to India. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has provided over $193.8 million in aid to India across various sectors, including education, health, food security, energy, and transportation. Modi's visit to the Kingdom underscores Saudi Arabia's significant political and economic standing and its pivotal role on the global stage.
