Trump Fixates On 'How He Will Be Remembered' As Health Concerns Mount

US President Donald Trump's health has been under the scanner in recent months, even though he keeps saying that his health is perfect and that he has aced several cognitive tests. According to a report by the New York Magazine, the soon-to-be octogenarian leader now thinks about "what he will be remembered for".

Even the ballroom that is being built in the White House "is about leaving a legacy here", a senior White House official said.

The White House has pitched him as "The Superhuman President" with more stamina and energy than a normal mortal. "He can work harder and he has a better memory and he has more stamina and has more energy than a normal mortal," Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said. 

The New York Magazine report said that Trump has given up dyeing his hair golden and lets it turn white naturally, but that is not what is worrisome. A senior staff member told the publication that Trump's hearing isn't what it used to be.

The Republican leader could not remember the word "Alzheimer's" when asked about his father's health. 

"At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting, what do they call it?" Trump asked, pointing to his forehead and looking toward White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Trump's son Eric said that Trump is superstitious and does not like to think about death and "likes occupying his mind with what's in the present and not as much with what's in the future". He continued, "Is it in some way on everybody's mind? Of course. But he believes, and so do I, he has a lot of years left."

Meanwhile, armchair physicians on social media have given him mere months to live following a series of recent disclosures and physical observations. 

In late 2025, Trump initially told reporters he underwent an MRI that was "perfect" but later admitted he had "no idea" what part of his body was scanned. Later on, his physician clarified the test was actually a CT scan of his chest and abdomen, not an MRI. 

The frequent bruising on the back of his hands has been attributed by the White House to "frequent handshaking" and his daily use of high-dose aspirin. He also had a condition where leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart, leading to visible swollen ankles.

He has revealed he takes 325 mg of aspirin daily, higher than the 81 mg typically recommended for heart health, despite his doctors suggesting he lower the dose.

Trump has also denied falling asleep during Cabinet meetings, claiming he is simply "resting his eyes" or that cameras catch him "blinking".

Trump will turn 80 on June 14. 
 

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WhatsApp Unveils High-Security Mode, 3rd Major Tech Firm To Do So

Meta's WhatsApp messaging service is offering users an advanced security mode, joining a growing number of U.S. tech firms that are letting users opt into stronger protections against hackers in exchange for a more restrictive experience.

The new option, rolling out on Tuesday and called "Strict Account Settings," is a one-click button in WhatsApp's settings that activates a series of defences.

These include blocking media and attachments from unknown senders, disabling link previews - the thumbnails that appear when a URL is entered into a chat - and silencing calls from unknown contacts. All three have been identified as potential vectors for surveillance and advanced hackers.

In a blog post, WhatsApp said that while all its users' conversations were protected by end-to-end encryption, "we also know that a few of our users - like journalists or public-facing figures - may need extreme safeguards against rare and highly sophisticated cyberattacks." 

Meta Platforms is the third major tech firm to offer a security boost for high-risk users.

In 2022, Apple launched "Lockdown Mode," which it describes as "an optional, extreme protection" designed for the "very few individuals" who might be targeted by advanced digital threats. Available on iPhone and macOS, the feature disables most message attachment types and link previews and includes restrictions on FaceTime calls and web browsing.

Last year, Alphabet's Android began offering "Advanced Protection Mode," for users with "heightened security awareness." 

Like "Lockdown Mode", Alphabet's more secure option trades some functionality for enhanced security, including restricting users from downloading potentially risky apps from outside its in-house Play Store.

A researcher who helps defend civil society figures from hacking said WhatsApp's announcement was "a very welcome development."

The feature will help protect dissidents and activists while encouraging other tech firms to up their game, said John Scott-Railton, who works at The Citizen Lab, a research group based out of the University of Toronto.

"My hope is that others follow suit," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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US Deploys Aircraft Carrier In Middle Eastern Waters Amid Tensions With Iran

A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests.

A US-based rights group said on Monday that it had confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people in the wave of protests suppressed by Iran's security forces, but emphasised the actual toll could be several times higher.

The protests started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8.

But rights groups have accused authorities of quelling the movement with unprecedented violence, shooting into crowds of protesters under the cover of an internet shutdown that has now lasted 18 days -- the longest Iran has ever imposed.

The clerical leadership who took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution remains in place despite the protests, with many opponents of the system looking to outside intervention as the most likely driver of change.

US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to step in, saying last week that Washington was sending a "massive fleet" to the region "just in case".

The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group dramatically boosts American firepower in the region.

The United States backed and briefly joined Israel's 12-day war against Iran in June, and while Trump last week appeared to step back from his threats of new military intervention, he has never ruled the option out.

The Lincoln's strike group has arrived in the region, US Central Command said in a post on X, adding the ships were "currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability".

'Regret-inducing response'

Iran's foreign ministry warned on Monday of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression".

Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was "confident in its own capabilities".

In apparent reference to the Lincoln, he added: "The arrival of such a battleship is not going to affect Iran's determination and seriousness to defend the Iranian nation."

Meanwhile, a new anti-US billboard has appeared in the central Enghelab Square in Tehran that appears to show an American aircraft carrier being destroyed.

"If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind," its English-language caption reads.

State news agency IRNA quoted the commander of the Iranian navy Shahram Irani as saying on Monday: "Iran's naval power is not merely defensive but also acts as an anchor of stability in the region."

In Lebanon, Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, whose capabilities and leadership were severely degraded in a war with Israel in 2024, organised a rally in support of the Islamic republic featuring an address by its leader Naim Qassem, who warned "a war on Iran this time will ignite the region".

Iran's Gulf neighbour the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.

- Rising toll -

NGOs tracking the toll from the crackdown have said their task has been impeded by the internet shutdown, warning that confirmed figures are likely to be far lower than the actual number.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had confirmed that 5,848 people had been killed, including 209 members of the security forces. But the group added it was still investigating another 17,091 possible fatalities.

At least 41,283 people have been arrested, it said.

Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities last week said 3,117 people were killed, the majority of whom it described as members of the security forces or innocent bystanders killed by "rioters".

Confirming that the internet blackout remains in place, monitor Netblocks said the shutdown was "obscuring the extent of a deadly crackdown on civilians".

"Gaps in the filternet are being tightened to limit circumvention while whitelisted regime accounts promote the Islamic Republic's narrative," it added.

Over the weekend, Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside the country, said more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces from January 8 to 9, citing reports, documents and sources. It was not immediately possible to verify the report.

Activists have said that the Revolutionary Guards, a military force separate from the regular army with the mandate of keeping the Islamic revolution alive, took a frontline position in putting down the protests.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday urged the European Union to list the Guards as a "terrorist organisation", as Canada and the United States have done, saying the "the losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests demand a clear response".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Hema Malini Reacts To Padma Vibhushan For Dharmendra: "So So Proud"

Veteran actor Dharmendra has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

The legendary star died on November 24, 2025, leaving behind an irreplaceable legacy in Hindi cinema.

Reacting to the honour, his wife and actor-politician Hema Malini expressed her pride on X. She wrote, "So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award." 

So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award🙏 pic.twitter.com/5zJnA53MT0

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) January 25, 2026

Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali village of Punjab's Ludhiana district, he was the son of Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, a school headmaster. 

Drawn by his deep love for cinema, Dharmendra moved to Mumbai and made his film debut with the 1960 romantic drama Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, directed by Arjun Hingorani. 

Although the film failed commercially, it marked the beginning of his journey in the world he had long aspired to be part of.

Dharmendra's final film, Ikkis, released on December 25, marked a poignant close to an illustrious journey.

When Were The Padma Awards 2026 Announced?

The Padma Awards for 2026 were announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day. These prestigious civilian honours celebrate individuals from varied fields such as arts, literature, social service, medicine, education, and public service, acknowledging excellence and long-standing contributions to society.

Among India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Awards are presented in three categories - Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The awards are traditionally conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

(With inputs from ANI)

ALSO READ: Dharmendra Honoured With Padma Vibhushan, Padma Awards For Mammootty, Madhavan And Alka Yagnik

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Trinamool, BJP Supporters Clash Near Kolkata, Makeshift Stage Set On Fire

Violent clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters over putting up flags for a political programme in Sakher Bazar in Behala, roughly 11 km from Kolkata, on Sunday.

The workers and supporters of the BJP vandalised the local Trinamool councillor's office. A makeshift stage, where former Tripura chief minister and BJP election co-incharge Biplab Kumar Deb addressed a public meeting in the afternoon, was also allegedly set on fire during the clash. The BJP workers accused the Trinamool (TMC) supporters of setting the stage on fire.

Deb addressed a crowd during the 'Parivartan Sankalp Sabha' this afternoon. Soon after, TMC workers stormed the venue, vandalised the site and set the stage on fire after Deb left the venue. It is also being alleged that the BJP supporters were putting up flags in the area during the meeting. The BJP workers then allegedly vandalised the office of Trinamool councillor Sudip Polley.

Putting up a video of the clash, BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted on X handle, "Fearing an impending defeat, TMC goons have once again unleashed political terror on the streets of Kolkata. Moments after BJP election co-incharge and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb addressed voters at the Parivartan Sankalp Sabha in Behala Paschim, TMC workers stormed the venue, vandalised the site, and after his departure set the sabha stage on fire in the middle of a bustling market."

"TMC has reduced Bengal to a theatre of terror. Mamata Banerjee's goons are rampaging across the state, torching democracy in a desperate bid to cling to power," Malviya added.

Anupam Bhattacharya, BJP's South Kolkata District President, said, "Today we had a political meeting of Biplab Deb in Behala Paschim. Permission for which had already been taken two to three days before the programme. We wanted a peaceful meeting today. But since TMC prevented us from putting up party flags from the beginning. They intentionally provoked the violence today to disturb Biplab Deb's speech".

Upon receiving news of the clash between the workers of the two parties, Trinamool Congress MLAs Debasish Kumar and Ratna Chatterjee reached the spot and spoke with the Trinamool workers. Police have been deployed in the area.

TMC's Behala Purba MLA Ratna Chatterjee said, "I had come to attend a badminton tournament by our boys, and came to know that BJP supporters tried to disturb the game. The BJP does not know we have our leader, Mamata Banerjee,e with us. The more they attack us, the more we become stronger".

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Rescue Team Left My Son To His Fate: Father Of Noida Techie Who Drowned

At 27, Yuvraj Mehta had a whole life ahead of him. This realisation is what added to the pain that his father, Rajkumar Mehta, has to live with, along with the knowledge that he will never see his son again.

Even the last glimpse of his bright son, a software engineer, gave him nothing less than true horror - a father saw his son trying to get out of a water-filled pit at a construction site in Uttar Pradesh's 'smart city' Noida, only to die with no help despite a long rescue window of two hours.

No parent should go through anything like this, the devastated father told NDTV.

Closure is uncertain for Rajkumar Mehta. He said his family will never get justice because his son is not coming back.

But if there is anything that he wants done in memory of his son, it is this: "We want the responsible people to face the harshest possible action and ensure that no other Yuvraj suffers such a tragedy in future."

Rajkumar Mehta said the negligent departments should not be spared.

"All those who were responsible for this tragedy should get appropriate punishment. My son was very brave. Even after falling into the water-filled pit, he struggled to get out and gave the rescue personnel a chance for two hours," Rajkumar Mehta said.

"But the rescue team showed only negligence and left my son to god's mercy," the father told NDTV.

He gave his regards to Moninder, a delivery rider who made the brave choice of tying a rope around his waist and going into the water in the pitch black night to look for Yuvraj. The delivery rider, who said he searched for at least half-an-hour, had also alleged that timely rescue would have definitely saved Yuvraj.

"I want to thank Moninder bhai for trying to save my son's life without caring about anything else," Rajkumar Mehta said.

He appealed to the UP government to ensure that all those who were responsible for his immense loss get punishment, and acknowledged the Yogi Adityanath government's decision to form a special investigation team.

The software engineer died in the early hours of January 17 after his car skidded in dense fog and plunged into the unbarricaded, water-filled pit in Noida Sector 150. The road, going over a large drain, turned a sharp 90-degree on his way home not far from the accident site.

Rajkumar Mehta had come there on getting a call from his son. Standing beside the police and fire department personnel, he could hear Yuvraj shout for help. He watched it all, helpless. Rajkumar Mehta said his son climbed to the roof of the partially submerged car and used his mobile phone's flashlight to signal his location in the thick fog.

Among the actions that followed after the software engineer's tragic end included the UP government removing the Noida Authority chief executive on January 19 and sacking a junior engineer.

So far three builders have been arrested and an investigation has begun against real estate developers MZ Wiztown and Lotus Greens. The case filed into the accident includes charges for murder and violation of environmental laws.

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Empty Supermarket Shelves, Flights Cancelled: US Gears Up For Heavy Snow Storm

Americans stripped supermarket shelves Friday ahead of potentially "catastrophic" winter weather that threatened at least 160 million people across the country with transportation chaos, blackouts and life-threatening cold.

The massive storm system was set to drop a mix of freezing rain and heavy snow starting Friday evening on its days-long march across the continental US.

The storm could bring "catastrophic ice accumulation," the National Weather Service said, potentially causing "long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions," including in many states less accustomed to intense winter weather.

After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system was expected to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states -- stretching from New Mexico to the Eastern seaboard -- before a frigid air mass settles in.

More than 2,700 weekend flights have already been cancelled, according to the tracker Flightaware, including many in and outbound from Texas. 

State officials there vow the grid is in better shape than it was five years ago, when it failed during a deadly winter storm and left millions without power.

The southern state's Republican Governor Greg Abbott told journalists the grid "has never been stronger, never been more prepared and is fully capable of handling this winter storm."

Yet Michael Webber, a University of Texas engineering professor, warned ice accumulations would remain "a big risk" across the country -- ice could amass and weigh down trees, for example, downing power lines and provoking outages.

Frostbite risk

In New York state, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul warned residents to stay inside amid frigid conditions: "Five or six minutes outside could literally be dangerous for your health."

She stressed precautions like protecting pipes, using heaters safely, and checking on vulnerable neighbors.

New York's Zohran Mamdani was set to face his first major test as mayor -- the city famously makes early judgments of newly elected leaders based on winter storm response.

Democrat Mamdani said remote learning Monday was an option but he was not planning to close schools -- even as one student emailed his wife and urged a snow day.

School districts elsewhere were preemptively announcing closures. A professional basketball game on Saturday and dozens of collegiate games were rescheduled.

Even in Chicago, a city all-too-familiar with bone-chilling weather, an organization canceled their annual event that sees participants plunge into glacial Lake Michigan for charity (the after-party at a bar was still on.)

Authorities warned of life-threatening cold that could last a week post-storm, especially in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where wind chill lows were forecast to dip to extremes under -50F (-46.6C).

Such temperatures can cause frostbite within minutes. One Minnesota television station showed uncensored photos of the serious injury that freezes skin tissues as a warning.

Polar vortex

The brutal storm system is the result of a stretched polar vortex, an Arctic region of cold, low-pressure air that normally forms a relatively compact, circular system but sometimes morphs into a more oval shape, sending cold air spilling across North America.

Scientists say the increasing frequency of such disruptions of the polar vortex may be linked to climate change, though the debate is not settled and natural variability plays a role.

But President Donald Trump -- who scoffs at climate change science and has rolled back green energy policies -- questioned how the cold front fit into broader climate shifts.

"WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???," the Republican leader posted on Truth Social.

State officials were more focused on the immediate threats the powerful storm posed. 

At least 16 states and Washington DC declared states of emergency to mobilize disaster response crews and resources, and many municipalities were opening warming shelters.

Lines snaked out of grocery stores where stock began running thin.

North of Houston, one supermarket was nearly out of bottled water.

Anne Schultz said preparation was key but she wasn't particularly afraid: "If the power stays on, we should all be fine," the 68-year-old told AFP.

The Greensboro Police Department in North Carolina meanwhile warned residents to choose wisely when hunkering down.

"Please remember that whoever you hang out with on Saturday, you're stuck with until at least Tuesday when the ice melts," the department quipped on X.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Mumbai Police Detain Actor Kamaal R Khan In Oshiwara Firing Case

Actor Kamaal Rashid Khan, popularly known as KRK, was detained by Oshiwara police late on Friday in connection with a two-round firing case in Mumbai. He is the prime suspect in the case.

KRK, who is in the custody of the Oshiwara police, was brought to the Oshiwara police station late on Friday evening.

The police said that KRK accepted responsibility for the firing in his statement and that it was done using his licensed gun.

The police further said that his gun has been seized and that the paperwork process is underway for further action.

According to reports, the incident took place on January 18, during which two rounds were fired at a residential building in Oshiwara in Andheri.

Two bullets were recovered from Nalanda Society—one on the second floor and another on the fourth floor. One flat belongs to a writer-director, and the other to a model.

A team of 18 cops from the Oshiwara police station, led by Sanjay Chavan, along with several crime branch teams, was investigating the case.

The cops were initially clueless as nothing was found in CCTV footage. However, with the help of a forensic team, police later asserted that the bullets might have been fired from Kamaal R Khan's bungalow.

A police source said paperwork is underway and that the actor's formal arrest could take place by morning.

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India Break Pakistan's Record In Big Win Over New Zealand In 2nd T20I

Ishan Kishan justified his national recall with a sensational 32-ball-76 while captain Suryakumar Yadav scored his first fifty after 23 innings as India decimated New Zealand by seven wickets for a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 series in Raipur on Friday. Ahead of the all important T20 World Cup, it all seems to be falling in place for India with Suryakumar (82 not out off 37) overcoming a prolonged lean patch and Kishan emerging as a destructive top-order enforcer. India were expected to chase 209 on a belter of a pitch but not with such ease after losing Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson by the second over of the chase.

Suryakumar and Shivam Dube (36 not out off 18) closed out the game in a canter as India gunned down the target in 15.2 overs.

Full-member teams chasing down 200-plus targets with most balls to spare -

28 balls - India vs New Zealand in Raipur (Target: 209)
24 balls - Pakistan vs New Zealand in Auckland in 2025 (Target: 205)
23 balls - Australia vs West Indies in Basseterre in 2025 (Target: 215)

Kishan, back in the side after a gap of more than two years, went berserk from ball one and ended with 11 fours and four sizzling sixes.

Kishan's knock actually would keep Sanju Samson on tenterhooks after back-to-back failures as Tilak Varma, when fit would take that number three position. In such a situation, Kishan stacking up necessary numbers could spell doom for the Kerala man.

His special knock included a flurry of pick up shots, pulls and even a reverse sweep.

Such was the timing and impact of the innings that Kishan got a hug from his skipper after mistiming a slog sweep off Ish Sodhi's bowling.

Suryakumar maintained the momentum generated by Kishan in the able company of Dube, who too collected his fair share of sixes.

At the start of the chase, Samson could not carry on for long despite being dropped at deep square leg on the second ball of the innings.

The pressure piled up on India when trump card Abhishek's mistimed flick off Jacob Duffy to be holed out at deep square leg.

The counter attack from Kishan tilted the game in favour of India.

The captaincy of Mitchell Santner left a lot to be desired as his decision to give Zak Foulkes the third over after two tight overs by Henry and Duffy, left a lot to be desired.

Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav regained form with two timely strikes in the middle overs as India limited New Zealand to 208 for 6.

Rachin Ravindra (44 off 26) and skipper Mitchell Santner (47 not out off 27) took the attack to India in different phases of the game to ensure New Zealand got past 200-run mark.

Expecting heavy dew, skipper Suryakumar Yadav predictably opted to bowl with Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav playing instead of injured Axar Patel and rested Jasprit Bumrah.

Devon Conway (19 off 9) and Tim Seifert (24 off 13), fresh off BBL, got the Black Caps off to a flying start before falling in quick succession. Conway, who has been caught in the slip cordon multiple times on the white ball tour thus far, went on the offensive in the first over against Arshdeep Singh despite being beaten by an outswinger on the very first ball of the match.

Conway dispatched the left-arm seamer for three crisp fours and a sliced six over backward point for an 18-run over.

Seifert smashed four boundaries off Arshdeep's following over that also went for 18 runs. Harshit Rana was introduced in the fourth over and he struck off his second ball, dismissing Conway for the fourth time in as many innings including his dominance over the left-handers in the ODI series.

Rachin Ravindra (44 off 23) came in and played some spectacular strokes before getting out on a wide ball from Kuldeep.

However, the Indian wrist spinner's first victim was the dangerous Glenn Phillips who could not connect the googly and was caught at backward point.

At 111/3 in 10 overs on a true surface, New Zealand looked on course for a total well over 200 but India were able to pull things back. Shivam Dube, the seventh bowling option introduced in the 12th over, got rid of the in-form Daryl Mitchell off a slower ball to build pressure on the opposition.

Santer ensued his team got 57 runs off the last five overs with a flurry of boundaries and a straight six off Hardik Pandya.

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Karan Johar And Neeraj Ghaywan React After Homebound's Oscars 2026 Snub

While Homebound fell short of a nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards, the moment was met not with disappointment but with appreciation. Producer Karan Johar and director Neeraj Ghaywan took to social media to reflect on the film's journey and the collaboration that brought it to the global stage.

Karan Johar Expresses Pride In Homebound 

Soon after the Academy announced the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, Karan Johar took to Instagram to share his feelings about Homebound. The filmmaker posted several stills from the film on his Instagram Stories and applauded director Neeraj Ghaywan for his vision and dedication.

"Proud!!! Love you @neeraj.ghaywan for allowing us to bask in your light!" Karan Johar wrote.

Neeraj Ghaywan Thanks Karan Johar 

Director Neeraj Ghaywan responded by resharing Karan Johar's Instagram Story and expressing heartfelt gratitude for the producer's backing throughout the film's journey. 

Ghaywan wrote, "Thank you @karanjohar! You have been an absolute rock. Couldn't have come this far without you. Love you."

Homebound was India's official submission for the Academy Awards and had earlier made it to the shortlist before missing out on a final nomination. 

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film stars Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter in lead roles, with Janhvi Kapoor playing a key part. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film also boasts Martin Scorsese as its executive producer. 

ALSO READ: Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, India's Entry, Out Of Oscar 2026 Race

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'You Have To Be AI Fluent For Employment Going Forward': Rishad Premji To NDTV

India has not missed the artificial intelligence (AI) bus and there are several opportunities available for the country's companies, which can help enterprises make use of the technology at scale, Wipro Executive Chairman Rishad Premji has said.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV CEO and Editor-In-Chief Rahul Kanwal on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, Premji emphasised that the people most at risk of losing their jobs because of AI are those who do not adopt the technology. AI fluency, he insisted, is going to be critical for any kind of employment going forward.

To a question on what AI will bring in 2026, the Wipro chairman said organisations will leverage the technology more and more to serve their businesses and their customers. 

"I think the language models don't have enough context and in-depth understanding of the workflow of individual organisations... So there's a huge opportunity in infusing specific context, domain and workflow understanding of organisations into that to make it relevant and really drive production scale. So, I find that presents a huge opportunity for companies," Premji said. 

"There's so much money being spent on infrastructure in many markets, including India and Europe, but ultimately somebody has to drive consumption of that infrastructure to drive returns for organisations. And I think the technology services companies from India have a huge chance to drive their adoption by helping enterprises make use of these technologies at scale," he explained 

On whether India needs to focus on the foundational AI layer instead of the application layer and try and have a DeepSeek moment of its own, the Wipro chairman said it does not make sense for companies like his to invest in replicating those models. Value, he said, can be unlocked in how they can specialise them. 

"So the value is in building highly specialised small language models. We had a conversation yesterday where you can build models that have 50 billion parameters and can do effectively 95% of the work that most large language models can do. So you can be highly specialised. There's a huge opportunity for enterprises to build highly specialised small language models. There's an opportunity for countries like India," he said. 

"These models can be for areas of importance like healthcare, education, agriculture and governance. So there's a huge play in just driving that specialisation as well as focusing on multilingual models. We have a huge opportunity to serve many different languages in our country. And so we, as a company, should focus on where our strengths lie, like talent on scale... We often get hugely focused on building out the technology. The magic is in the implementation of the technology," he maintained. 

India, Premji said, can become the scale deployment engine of the world and also build talent for AI globally, which is a big challenge. 

'Can Catch Up'

Asked whether he agreed with some commentators who say India has missed the AI bus, Premji asserted that is not the case. 

"The AI bus is still very early. A lot of the investments have happened in the infrastructure layer. They haven't happened in the adoption layer. That journey is going to unfold over the next five, seven, ten years. I think there's a huge opportunity for us as companies and as a country to participate in that journey," Premji emphasised.

"I don't believe at all that we have missed the bus. I think the bus is very much in starting mode and we can catch up and jump onto that bus quite easily without falling down," he added.

Layoffs?

To a question on layoffs at IT organisations and how AI will impact the employment environment, Premji said technology services companies have not seen a reduction in the number of people and have actually added more employees over the past few years. 

Jobs, he said, can largely be categorised in four buckets. 

"One is jobs that will get disrupted because of AI, and we have to accept that. Bucket number two is jobs that will get enhanced by AI, so you work with machines and humans to drive that impactfully. Three is jobs that will get created because of AI, and four will be human-only jobs. So we have to think of bucket one and figure out how we can retrain, repurpose those people -  through the right skilling, through the right opportunities - to move into buckets two and three," he said. 

The biggest challenge, the Wipro chairman explained, is getting people to adopt AI, and the people most at risk are those who don't do so. 

"I think it's the responsibility of organisations, industry and government to really give people the comfort that this change is important. AI fluency is the new digital currency. You have to be AI fluent to be relevant to do any kind of job going forward. So it's about how we can help people build those skills. They need to understand that if they disrupt what they are doing today, they still have a future, because the system will beat them anyway if they don't," he maintained.

Tackling Uncertainty

The uncertainty brought in by decisions taken by US President Donald Trump is now much more controlled, Premji said, because people and global companies like his have factored it into their calculus. 

"There was perhaps a little bit of a hiccup in April-May last year when the whole trade discussion unfolded, but I think customers have now learned to move forward knowing that this may be more uncertain than they had planned for," he said. 

"On the situation around visas and immigration, all of us are navigating that by leveraging the talent we already have and focusing more and more on local employment and local hiring. Almost 80% of our talent in the US is local, so we're not as concerned about that. We also focus on building talent locally everywhere in the world, like we have done in India," he added.

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Video Shows How Northeast Trains Stay Clean, Passengers Collect Trash In Bags

Citizens exhibiting a disregard for cleanliness, especially in public places, is a topic of intense discussion in India. The passenger trains often witness the worst side of Indian travellers who litter without a care and unload the responsibility of maintaining sanitation on the authorities. While debates about the lack of civic sense continue, the North East region of the country has once again led from the front and highlighted how a progressive society should operate.

Shared on Instagram by a user named @daily.passenger, the widely shared video shows passengers on the Aizawl-Guwahati train taking personal initiative to keep their surroundings clean. They were seen diligently collecting their waste in bags, demonstrating a high level of civic awareness without needing reminders or enforcement from the authorities.

"People were tying their waste in small bags and hanging them neatly beside their seats. No announcements. No instructions from the railways. Just a habit," read the caption accompanying the video.

"As someone from North India, this made me reflect deeply. We often complain about dirty trains and roads, but rarely question our own behaviour. Clean spaces do not stay clean because of authorities alone. They stay clean because people choose to care. There is so much to learn from Mizoram and the North East. Respect for public spaces is not a campaign. It is a way of life."

Check The Viral Clip Here:

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A post shared by A (@daily.passenger)

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'So Much To Learn'

As the video went viral, social media users lauded the passengers for keeping the train clean and hoped that passengers in other regions of the country would learn from their behaviour.

"There is so much to learn for all of us from our fellow Indians of the North East," said one user, while another added: "It's not about the area but the civic sense of people.

A third commented: "This is great to see from them. I'm from Tamil Nadu. I appreciate that and hopefully it is followed across India. I request one thing that the trash is desposed in a safe way, instead of throwing it out on the tracks @irctc.official."

A fourth said: "We were told since childhood to carry our waste in our pockets or bags and throw it into a dustbin when we see one."

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Trump Says Wouldn't Join Paris G7 Meeting Suggested By Macron

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not attend an emergency meeting of G7 nations to discuss the war in Ukraine that was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, but which the French leader later said would not take place this week.

Trump was asked at a White House briefing about a "private message" from the French leader -- suggesting an emergency G7 gathering in Paris -- that the US leader posted on his Truth Social network earlier on Tuesday.

Asked if he would be open to such a meeting, Trump told reporters: "No, I wouldn't do that."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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