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Today’s February 7. We’re covering the US deporting Indian migrants, Zomato’s rebranding, the judiciary’s plans to use AI, and more.

MUST KNOW

Parliament Erupts Over Alleged Mistreatment of Indian Deportees from the US

The Indian Parliament witnessed intense protests after reports surfaced that 104 Indian migrants deported from the US were shackled during their journey on an American military plane. Opposition leaders disrupted the session, demanding accountability from the Modi government over the alleged mistreatment of Indian citizens.

In response, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar explained that deportation of illegal migrants is a routine procedure, and that the use of restraints is part of the US government's standard operating procedure. He assured Parliament that India would engage with US authorities to prevent inhumane treatment of deportees in the future.

Several deportees shared harrowing accounts of their perilous journey to the US, revealing the lengths they went to for entry. One migrant revealed that he spent six months and $45,000, paid to an agent, only to be deported within three weeks of his arrival.

GOOD TO KNOW

Policy & Governance

Delhi polls see 60% voter turnout

60% of Delhi voters cast their votes by the close of polling on February 5, 2025, with turnout expected to rise as updates continue. Over 1.56 crore voters decided the fate of 699 candidates contesting across 70 constituencies in a single-phase election. In comparison, voter turnout in the 2020 election was 62.59%, and in 2015, it was 67.47%.

Exit polls across various outlets are leaning towards a BJP win but the margin of victories are uncertain. Results will be declared on February 8, 2025.

States Oppose Draft UGC Regulations, Demand Greater Autonomy

Six States—Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka—have adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the draft UGC Regulations, 2025, citing concerns over state autonomy in appointing Vice Chancellors of public universities. The resolution criticized the stringent penalties for non-compliance, the mandatory entrance exam for undergraduate courses, and the prioritization of private institutions over public universities.

Odisha launches rehashed village development scheme

Odisha CM Mohan Majhi launched the ‘Viksit Gaon, Viksit Odisha’ program, a ₹5,000 crore initiative to develop 60,000 villages over five years. The scheme will invest ₹1,000 crore annually from 2024-25 to 2028-29, with 40% of funds reserved for tribal areas. A minimum project value of ₹3 lakh has been set to ensure quality.

Business

IndiGo Leases Boeing 787 for Long-Haul Expansion, Eyes Europe

IndiGo has entered into an agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways to lease a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, marking its first step into long-haul operations. The airline is expected to receive five more 787s from Norse Atlantic in the coming months, signaling an expansion beyond its traditional short- and medium-haul markets. IndiGo is actively assessing new route opportunities, with a particular focus on key European destinations such as London and Paris.

ITC to Acquire Frozen Foods Brand Prasuma

ITC has announced plans to acquire a 100% stake in Prasuma, a brand known for its momos, baos, Korean fried chicken, delicatessen products, and raw meats. The acquisition will be completed over three years in multiple phases.

In the first phase, ITC will acquire a 43.8% stake for ₹131 crore by March 2025. It will then increase its stake to 62.5% by April 2027 through secondary purchases worth ₹56 crore, based on a pre-agreed pre-money valuation. The remaining stake will be acquired by June 2028. ITC said the deal would strengthen its position in the frozen foods market, which is valued at over ₹10,000 crore.

Health

AIIMS Experts Warn of India’s Growing Obesity Crisis, Poor Diet Diversity

Doctors at AIIMS have raised alarms over India’s poor dietary habits, pointing to low intake of protein, pulses, fruits, and vegetables as key contributors to rising obesity and related health conditions. They stated that 56% of diseases in India are linked to unhealthy diets and noted that Indians are consuming more processed and unhealthy foods.

The doctors emphasized that BMI is an inadequate measure for Indians, as they tend to accumulate more abdominal fat, and recommended using the waist-to-height ratio as a more accurate indicator of obesity risks.

Faculty Shortage Hits AIIMS Institutes Across India

Several AIIMS are facing a severe faculty shortage. AIIMS New Delhi has a 34% faculty vacancy, while AIIMS Raipur and AIIMS Rishikesh report 38% and 39% vacancies, respectively. Other branches, including those in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, and Patna, are also struggling with shortages ranging between 24% and 28%.

The Union Health Ministry, responding to concerns raised in Parliament, stated that faculty recruitment is an ongoing process, and measures such as common exams for junior and senior residents have been introduced to speed up hiring.

Tech, Media & Telecom

Zomato to Rebrand as ‘Eternal’ Amid Business Expansion

Indian food and grocery delivery giant Zomato announced that it will rename itself Eternal Ltd., a move reflecting its broader business ecosystem beyond food delivery. The rebrand will unify the company’s four key verticals: food delivery under Zomato, quick commerce through Blinkit, live events via District, and kitchen supplies under Hyperpure. The change applies only at the company level, meaning there will be no impact on Zomato’s consumer-facing brands or app.

TWO AI Unveils Multilingual AI Model SUTRA-R0

Jio-backed AI startup TWO AI has launched SUTRA-R0, a multilingual reasoning model designed for structured thinking and complex decision-making. SUTRA-R0 incorporates advancements in AI reasoning, drawing insights from models like DeepSeek R1, and shows strong potential across industries. For example, it enhances risk assessment and market trend analysis in finance and analyzes complex medical data and aids in research interpretation in healthcare.

Compared to models like DeepSeek-R1, OpenAI-o1-mini, and Llama 3.3 70B, SUTRA-R0 shows superior reasoning in Hindi and Gujarati, while maintaining strong performance across other languages, including Tamil and Bengali.

India Allocates ~₹54 Crore for AI Adoption in Judiciary

The Indian government has allocated ₹53.57 crore under the eCourts Phase III project to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and other emerging technologies into the judiciary. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed Parliament that this initiative is part of a broader ₹7,210 crore modernization push aimed at creating a "smart" judicial system.

To address data protection and privacy concerns, a sub-committee of six High Court judges has been formed, supported by a technical working group of experts. The investment is expected to improve case management, legal research, and overall judicial efficiency.

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