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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: February 6, 2026

Odisha emerges as hub for digital finance, AI innovation

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Bhubaneswar: The Black Swan Summit India 2026 began on Thursday in Bhubaneswar, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, technologists, and global investors to discuss the impact of frontier technologies on India’s digital finance economy.

The summit highlights Odisha’s growing role in regulated digital finance and sustainable job creation.

It is being organised by the government of Odisha and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) under the BharatNetra Initiative.

Vishal Kumar Dev, Additional Chief Secretary, Electronics & IT Department, opened the summit by presenting Odisha as a State where history, resilience, and ambition converge. He said that Odisha had transformed over two decades through governance reforms, fiscal discipline, disaster resilience, and inclusive growth.

Bhubaneswar now stands as a leading smart city with strong digital infrastructure, a growing IT and startup ecosystem, and rising global interest in fintech and technology, according to a GFTN release.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said that Odisha has emerged as a USD112 billion economy with 69% of its population in the working age. She highlighted the State’s strong fiscal record with two decades of revenue surplus.

She said Odisha is rich in minerals but is rapidly diversifying into EVs, electronics, and green energy.

Garg added that the State focuses on value-added manufacturing, infrastructure, and ease of doing business.

The chief secretary noted that Odisha aims to create 10 million jobs by 2027 and scale to a USD 500 billion economy by 2036. She added that the state targets a USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2047 while promoting urbanisation, disaster resilience, women’s participation, and positioning itself as a global hub for health and skills.

The session on building India’s continuous learning infrastructure for an AI-driven economy featured Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar; Aravind Agarwal, Higher Education Secretary, government of Odisha; Dr. Amar Patnaik, Partner, A&N Legal Solutions; Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog; and Arvind Kumar, Director General, Software Technology Parks of India.

Tek Yew, Adjunct Professor, NUS-AIDF and Senior Advisor to BCG and the ASEAN Bankers Association, highlighted the need to align skilling systems with AI-driven economy requirements.

Strategic MoUs were also signed with partners including Bajaj General Insurance, Advanze Tech, Annapurna Tech Universe, ESTPL, ProgCap, Propelld, ShovelTech Solutions, Spice Money, Surfin, Symbo Insurtech, Universal Pensions, and Vayana.

The agreements will support internships, apprenticeships, startup mentorship, and pilot projects with state agencies.

They aim to translate training into employment and policy into action.

Historic agreement paves way for frontier Nagaland authority

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New Delhi: In a landmark step toward realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous North East, a historic agreement was signed on Thursday in New Delhi to establish the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).

The agreement involves the Union government, the government of Nagaland, and representatives of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), the apex body representing eight recognized Naga tribes from the six eastern districts of Nagaland.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah and Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio. The agreement establishes the FNTA, covering six districts – Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator – and transfers powers over 46 subjects to the FNTA.

Shah called the day highly significant for a dispute-free North East and highlighted Modi’s vision of a region free from insurgency, violence, and disputes, where development thrives. He recalled that just over a decade ago, multiple armed groups and inter-state disputes threatened peace and stability in the region, according to an official statement.

The home minister emphasized that the Modi-led government commits to resolving all disputes. Since 2019, it has signed 12 major agreements in the North East. Shah noted that while previous governments only signed agreements, his administration implements them “in letter and spirit.” He assured ENPO representatives that the Union government will actively support the development of Eastern Nagaland.

Shah added that the central government will provide an annual fixed fund and cover the initial expenditure for establishing the FNTA through the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Recalling his 2021-22 interactions with ENPO, Shah said he encouraged them to trust the democratic process and assured them of fair justice and due respect. He expressed immense satisfaction that the long-standing dispute now finds resolution.

Shah highlighted Eastern Nagaland’s strategic importance and pointed out that its citizens have long felt justice eluded them since the State’s formation. He praised Rio for considering ENPO’s demands with an open mind and for engaging constructively in negotiations. Shah also thanked Rio, his cabinet colleagues, and the State’s MPs for their key role in bringing the talks to a successful conclusion.