NEW DELHI: Google today announced a suite of new collaborations and funding commitments to bolster India’s AI ecosystem at its “Lab to Impact” dialogue, an event supported by the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Attended by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, the dialogue highlighted Google’s research-driven approach to supporting Digital Public Infrastructure and empowering the research, developer, and startup ecosystem to solve national challenges and meet large-scale social needs.

Minister of Education, Government of India, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan stated: “India is approaching artificial intelligence as a strategic national capability, not as a short-term technology trend. The four AI Centres of Excellence have been conceived as a coordinated national research mission, advancing foundational research, responsible AI, and applied solutions that serve public purpose, and contributing to our larger aspiration of Viksit Bharat 2047. Building a globally competitive AI ecosystem requires not only public investment, but also strong institutional leadership and long-term partnerships with industry. This effort is supported by Google and Google.org through their USD 8 million contribution to the AI Centres of Excellence and a USD 2 million founding contribution to the Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay.”

Speaking at the event, Dr Manish Gupta, Senior Research Director, Google DeepMind, stated: “AI is humanity’s most profound and powerful force for progress, and at Google, we see its global evolution driven by three pivotal shifts – its ability to accelerate scientific discovery, its advances augmenting human capability, and India’s unique embrace of AI’s potential. From foundational research to ecosystem deployment to scaled impact, our full-stack approach is equipping the country to lead a global AI-powered future, with innovations from India’s labs benefiting billions across the world.”

Integrating AI into India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for healthcare

Google announced funding of $400,000 to support new collaborations that will leverage MedGemma to build India’s Health Foundation Models. These models aim to improve the efficiency of healthcare providers and improve patient outcomes across India. As a first step, Ajna Lens will work with experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to build models that will support India-specific use cases in Dermatology and OPD Triaging. The resulting models will contribute to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, and their outcomes will be made accessible to the ecosystem.

Additionally, researchers, AI experts, and clinicians from IISc will explore using AI models for broader clinical applications. 

Google is also working with the National Health Authority (NHA) to deploy its advanced AI to convert millions of fragmented, unstructured medical records (such as doctors’ clinical and progress notes) into the international, machine-readable FHIR standard. This shift is expected to help patients understand their medical information better, reduce documentation burden on patients and hospitals, and inform better data-driven policy decisions for India’s public healthcare strategy.

Google is also working with NHA to bring over 400,000 NHA-registered health facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs, on Google Maps and Search, allowing people to easily find and navigate to their nearest health centers with the most updated official information.

Strengthening India’s AI research ecosystem and the government’s vision of India’s AI leadership

Google has consistently supported India’s scientists and researchers in fostering the country’s innovation. Over the last five years, Google has supported nearly 1,000 years of PhD-level research work across more than 25 leading research institutions, including premier institutes. The global PhD Fellowship program has supported 166 Indian PhD students to date. This year’s recipients from India are leading inspiring foundational and applied research, spanning computer vision foundational models to models supporting mental disorders.

To further support India’s research ecosystem, Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, is announcing funding support totaling $8 million for four AI Centres of Excellence established by the Government of India, aligning with the vision to “Make AI in India and Make AI work for India. This funding will support research at the Centers of Excellence:

• TANUH at IISc Bangalore will focus on developing scalable AI solutions for the effective treatment of non-communicable diseases.
• Airawat Research Foundation, IIT Kanpur, will focus on pioneering research on AI to transform urban governance.
• AI Centre of Excellence for Education, IIT Madra,s will focus on developing solutions to enhance learning and teaching outcomes.
• ANNAM.AI at IIT Ropar will focus on developing data-driven solutions for agriculture and farmer welfare.

To continue advancing its commitment to Inclusive AI, Google is announcing a $2 million founding contribution to establish the new Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay. This hub is set up in memory of Professor Pushpak Bhattacharyya, a pioneer in Indic language technologies and a Visiting Researcher at Google DeepMind. It will aim to ensure that global AI advancements serve India’s linguistic diversity.

Equipping developers with our open models to power indigenous AI

Indian startups have shown enthusiasm for the benchmark-leading Indic capabilities of Google’s foundational AI models. Startups Gnani.AI and CoRover.AI have been leveraging Gemma to build Voice AI models and e-governance–focused models serving Indic language solutions.

Google is providing $50,000 of funding to each of these startups to support their efforts to include more of the Indian diaspora in AI. Additionally, Google is giving a $50,000 grant to IIT-Bombay as it uses Gemma to process Indic language health governance and policy documents to establish a novel ‘India-Centric Trait Database’ containing information on diseases, phenotypes, and genetic conditions relevant to the Indian population.

To increase access to its foundational open models, Google has uploaded all 22 Gemma models onto AIKosh, the India AI Mission’s open data and model platform. This action is intended to help the Indian developer community develop indigenous models that elevate the Make-in-India ambition.

Empowering India’s changemakers to deploy AI for India’s pressing challenges

Google remains inspired by the commitment of Indian innovators and changemakers to solve for India and will continue supporting the ecosystem as it develops AI-powered solutions on the foundational layer of the nation’s AI ambition.

Utilizing Google’s Open Health Stack, a collection of open-source tools for next-generation digital health solutions, the Indian nonprofit Khushi Baby has successfully conducted over 35 million tuberculosis screenings in Rajasthan this year using a TB Active Case Finding (ACF) screening module. Integration with the Open Health Stack ensured the solution’s compliance with international standards, the Indian government’s digital health mission, and the national effort for tuberculosis elimination.

Third-party research has indicated that AI-powered digital tools could enhance the labor productivity of India’s over one million ASHA frontline workers, enabling them to deliver an additional 98 million visits to rural patients each year. Furthermore, research estimates that AI-assisted screening tools could save the Indian public roughly ₹390 billion ($4.7 billion) yearly, which is approximately 12% of India’s total out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure.

Google is providing $2.5 million in Google.org funding to support Wadhwani AI in piloting HealthVaani, an LLM-based conversational AI assistant. Launched in partnership with the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Women and Child Development, HealthVaani supports ASHA and Anganwadi workers. This multimodal and multilingual solution uses Gemini 2.5-Flash for translations, answer generation, and moderation, while the advanced Gemini Embedding Model handles response retrieval.

Google is also providing $2 million in Google.org funding to Wadhwani AI to help develop and deploy Garuda, a new Indian language model for agriculture. Garuda will power AgriVaani, a multilingual, AI-driven smartphone application that will offer India’s farmers and agri-workers precise, contextually relevant advice on crop and livestock management, pest detection, and climate-smart practices.

Ensuring AI’s long-term impact is powered sustainably

Google is committed to ensuring the scaled impact of AI is responsible and sustainable, demonstrated by a partnership with ReNew Energy to support a new 150 megawatt (MW) solar project in Rajasthan, India. Under a long-term agreement, Google will receive environmental attribute certificates (EACs) and allocate them to its value chain emissions. Concurrently, Google will engage with key suppliers to boost clean energy adoption. This initiative addresses the supply chain’s energy footprint and demonstrates a clear pathway for organizations to credibly tackle emissions across the AI value chain.

This partnership builds on Google’s prior collaborations with Adani Group and Clean Max, which added 186 MW of wind and solar power to India’s grid, and contributes to India’s 2030 goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity.

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Over the course of five episodes, the series received substantial poll responses, offering valuable insights into the aspirations and concerns of the design community. Safety measures emerged as the top priority for enhancing urban livability, followed by pedestrian-friendly streets and efficient public transport as key enablers. The most urgent need identified for cities was parks and green spaces, far surpassing other options like bike lanes and community centers—highlighting a strong public demand for ecological balance in urban planning.

Sustainability is a recurring theme throughout the series. Most participants (51%) stated that the design approach has the greatest impact on sustainability, surpassing the impact of materials or energy efficiency. Furthermore, 86% expressed a strong desire for more sessions focused on sustainable and innovative design practices. Looking ahead, 60% of respondents identified sustainable design as the single most important factor shaping the future of architecture, ranking it above smart technology and community-centered planning. When asked about priorities for the cities of tomorrow, 41% favored the creation of green and open spaces, followed closely by the need for climate-friendly infrastructure—underscoring a collective call for urban environments that balance growth with resilience and well-being.

Speaking on the success of the series, Shyam Motwani, Business Head – Locks & Architectural Solutions, Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “Through VC Live, we aim to connect global thought leaders with India’s design and architecture community, sparking conversations that inspire real change. The overwhelming feedback from our community shows a clear and urgent call for design that protects our planet, nurtures human connections, and boldly reimagines how our cities can work for everyone. The strong participation and engagement we’ve seen not only validate the relevance of this dialogue but also reinforce our responsibility to champion these ideas.”

The VC Live series, hosted under the GVCC banner, serves as a dynamic platform for stimulating conversations on topics ranging from sustainable urban planning to future-ready architecture. It brings together global participants, professionals, students, and design enthusiasts, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives. GVCC continues to offer exclusive benefits to its members, including access to design insights, trend reports, rewards, and recognition through initiatives like the GeeVees Awards.

With a legacy of excellence and a future-focused approach, Locks & Architectural Solutions continues to redefine how India secures and designs its spaces, championing innovation, collaboration, and sustainability at every step.

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Mumbai, June 05, 2025: Mahindra EPC Irrigation Limited, a pioneer in micro irrigation in India, has enabled savings of an estimated 262 crore litres of water and 8.4 MU (million units) of energy in FY’25. With a commitment to land restoration and drought resilience, Mahindra EPC achieved this feat through its customized micro irrigation systems, community irrigation, and agricultural water management projects.

This achievement is an outcome of Mahindra EPC’s broader effort to “Do More with Less” and “Rejuvenating Nature”. This is a key pillar of Mahindra Group’s Sustainability Mandate and aims to safeguard natural resources and play a meaningful role in climate action.

Commenting on the achievement, Ramesh Ramachandran, Managing Director – Mahindra EPC Irrigation Ltd., “Putting farmers first, at Mahindra EPC, we aim to drive widespread adoption of micro irrigation. With this milestone, we not only enabled significant water savings but also energy savings, all while continuing to make Indian farming more resilient. Underlining our dedication to environmental stewardship and farmer prosperity, this milestone aligns with the government’s goal of ‘Per Drop, More Crop’, as well as that of the Mahindra Group’s Sustainability Roadmap.”

Mahindra EPC’s innovation in irrigation technologies is part of a broader initiative to address critical issues such as land degradation and drought. By providing farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge for effective water management, Mahindra EPC plays a vital role in boosting agricultural productivity while preserving essential natural resources.

The company provides customized end-to-end water management solutions to individual farmers and communities and supports farmers with modern scientific solutions, through automation, alternative techniques and community related initiatives.

To deliver on various solutions Mahindra EPC has a strong network of over 1,000 channel partners which is supported by its branch offices spread across India. The company is also known for its quality services related to planning, design, installation and agronomy, and it also enables delivery of these services to farmers digitally.

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In FY23, NTT Global Data Centers achieved 51% renewable energy usage for non-IT load globally and secured 1.7 TWh of renewable energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to support its transition to achieving Net-Zero emissions in its operations by 2030.

“The rise of AI and digital infrastructure brings unprecedented opportunities, but also a responsibility to build sustainably,” said Doug Adams, CEO and President, NTT Global Data Centers. “We believe technology and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand. Our commitment to Net-Zero extends beyond reducing emissions; it’s about fostering a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital ecosystem.”

Global Sustainability Report Highlights

NTT Global Data Centers continues to drive measurable progress toward its Net-Zero goals with ambitious targets: achieving Net-Zero across Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, and across Scope 1–3 by 2040, ten years ahead of the timeline of the Paris Agreement.

To improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact, NTT Global Data Centers is advancing AI-driven cooling technologies, optimizing Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) across its facilities, and deploying battery energy storage systems to store renewable energy and enhance grid resilience, reducing reliance on fossil fuels during peak demand. These innovations ensure that as AI and digital demands grow, data center sustainability keeps pace.

NTT Global Data Centers’ sustainability initiatives continue to deliver real-world impact across its global operations:

• Germany: Waste heat reuse of 2MW will supply heating and warm water to over 1,000 buildings in the Marienpark Berlin commercial district, reducing fossil fuel dependency and maximizing efficiency. Future plans include expanding this initiative to extract up to 37MW of thermal output of the campus in total. NTT Global Data Centers also recently announced another new heat waste recovery project in Berlin that will supply 8MW of thermal waste heat from its data center to a residential district in Berlin.
• United Kingdom: Implementation of a reverse osmosis filtration system reduced annual water usage by 35,000m³, cutting chemical waste and generating $120,000 in cost savings per year. Additionally, a smart sensor upgrade in U.K. data centers cut fan energy use by 50%, saving 2.6 GWh annually through optimized temperature and pressure settings, further enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability.
• Mumbai, India: Deployment of liquid immersion cooling and direct contact liquid cooling improved energy efficiency by 30%, enabling high-density AI workloads while reducing power consumption.

Looking forward, NTT Global Data Centers is committed to deepening its impact by focusing on emissions reduction through renewable and low-carbon energy procurement and energy efficiency, circular economy principles, and innovative data center design development. The company is expanding its heat reuse initiatives, aiming to provide heating and warm water to even more buildings in multiple communities.

“Sustainable digital infrastructure isn’t just a goal — it’s an imperative,” said Adams. “As AI and digital transformations accelerate, we are committed to integrating smarter energy solutions, advanced technologies, and AI-driven efficiencies to reduce our environmental impact at scale. Driven by innovation and a bold vision for the future, we are reimagining what’s possible for a sustainable, more resilient digital world.”

As the world’s third-largest data center provider, NTT Global Data Centers is backed by more than $10 billion in capital development through 2027 to drive future expansion of its data center business in current and new markets.

For more details on NTT Global Data Centers’ sustainability initiatives and to download the full 2025 Global Sustainability Report, click here.

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These EPDs, based on rigorous Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) conducted by Sphera Solutions, quantify the environmental impact of Waaree’s solar panels from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. Both panel types are designed to reduce environmental footprints, with TOPCon panels classified as ultra-low-carbon products.

Performance and Sustainability Highlights:

• MonoPERC Panels: Efficiency of 21.36% and a power rating of 550 Wp with a life cycle carbon footprint of 0.447 kg CO₂ eq./Wp.
• TOPCon Panels: Industry-leading efficiency of 22.03% and a power rating of 600 Wp, with an ultra-low-carbon footprint of 0.368 kg CO₂ eq./Wp.

Emphasizing the development, Dr. Amit Paithankar, Chief Executive Officer, of Waaree Energies Limited said, “Our EPDs set a new benchmark for sustainability in the renewable energy sector. By combining cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices, we empower stakeholders to make informed decisions for a low-carbon future. This milestone aligns with our vision of delivering innovative, high-performance solar solutions while contributing to global Net Zero ambitions and advancing India’s leadership in renewable energy.”

These achievements exemplify Waaree’s efforts in integrating renewable energy sources and sustainable practices in manufacturing. The company’s commitment aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), ensuring access to reliable and sustainable energy for all its stakeholders. Furthermore, with these verified EPDs, Waaree Energies reinforces its position as a sustainability pioneer, fostering global adoption of cleaner energy solutions.

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SEOUL: LG Electronics (LG) has once again secured its position in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the thirteenth consecutive year. The DJSI World ranks the top 10 percent of the largest 2,500 global companies based on their economic, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, serving as a critical benchmark for investors assessing corporate sustainability.

Notably, LG earned the highest overall score in the Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics industry category. Furthermore, it remains the only South Korean company to be included in this category for 13 years running.

Additionally, LG has been included in the DJSI Asia Pacific (top 20 percent of the 600 largest companies in the Asia-Pacific region) and DJSI Korea (top 30 percent of the 200 largest companies in Korea) for 15 and 16 consecutive years, respectively.

LG received high evaluations across various ESG areas, including environmental policy and management, human rights management, human resource management, customer relations, supply chain management, and product responsibility management.

Under the ESG management vision of Better Life for All, LG is carrying out various activities with the strategy of 3C for the planet (Carbon neutrality, Circularity, and Clean technology) and 3D for people (Decent workplace, Diversity & Inclusion, and Design for all).

To achieve its 3C goals for the planet, LG has set ambitious targets, including reaching carbon neutrality in its product manufacturing process by 2030 and transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

Specifically, LG plans to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1) and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 2) in the product production stage by 54.6 percent compared to 2017 levels. This will be accomplished through process improvements, the introduction of energy-saving technologies, and the use of renewable energy. Notably, LG was the first company in the home appliance industry to obtain UN carbon credits in 2015.

In addition, LG is focused on reducing the unit greenhouse gas emissions of its seven major product groups (TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, home,e, and system air conditioners, and monitors) by 20 percent compared to 2020 levels during the product use stage (Scope 3). This commitment involves various activities aimed at improving the energy efficiency of individual products, thereby reducing overall carbon emissions.

As a member of the UN Global Compact and the Responsible Business Alliance, LG complies with international human rights and labor standards and is enhancing its human rights management processes to respond to strengthening global ESG-related legislation.

In the ESG evaluation and rating announcement results published by the Korea Corporate Governance Service this year, LG received an overall A grade for four consecutive years. LG also received an A grade for five consecutive years in the ESG evaluation conducted by the global ESG evaluation agency Morgan Stanley Capital International, gaining recognition for its ESG management performance from credible domestic and international institutions.

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HYDERABAD: Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) has been awarded the prestigious gold award at FICCI’s 4th Sustainable Agriculture Summit and Awards 2024. The Sustainable Livelihood Programme was recognized under the Natural Resource Management and Climate Resilient Agriculture category, for best practices and innovations in climate-resilient, smart agriculture, and sustainable management of natural resources. Under the program, ABF supported Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) which has capacitated rural communities across Khunti district in Jharkhand, Narayanpet district in Telangana, and Ahmednagar and Beed districts in Maharashtra to participate in watershed development work to improve water availability, adopt low-risk sustainable agricultural practices for improvement in crop yield, and strengthen local community institutions to take the development agenda forward.

The multiple key initiatives implemented under this project have led to its scalable impact in the region:

• Enhanced Irrigation Access: Improved irrigation access for farmers in Telangana and Jharkhand.
• Increased Income: Material increase in annual income due to improved irrigation and agriculture practices.
• Diversified Agriculture: Cultivation of fruit and agroforestry trees, development of kitchen gardening, and multi-layer farming.
• Institutional Strengthening: Establishment of local institutions such as VDCs, FIGs, FPOs, and SHGs, leveraging resources from MGNREGS for infrastructure.
• Climate-Resilient Practices: Adoption of climate-resilient practices by over 8,920 farmers, enhancing productivity and soil health, while reducing costs and inorganic fertilizer use.
• Non-Farm Livelihood Development: Supporting households in constructing and repairing animal sheds, purchasing livestock, and providing marketing support for pig rearing in convergence with government schemes and programs.

India’s diverse landscape, varied agro-climatic zones, and rich natural resources present significant challenges for community sustenance, natural resource management (NRM), and rural livelihoods. The target communities in Telangana, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra face severe issues such as water scarcity and natural resource depletion, critically impacting agriculture and allied livelihoods. These regions are home to economically disadvantaged rural populations, including tribal groups and landless families, who are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. They face increased production losses, higher input costs, and reduced incomes. The program addresses these challenges through targeted interventions across the impacted areas.

Dhruvi Shah, Executive Trustee and Chief Executive Officer of Axis Bank Foundation commented on the award, “Our Sustainable Livelihood Programme delves into a nuanced approach to livelihood challenges while focused on the local context. FICCI’s 4th Sustainable Agriculture Summit and Awards 2024 is a recognition of our efforts and a great motivator. It reinforces our commitment to the need for self-reliance among rural communities. This recognition strengthens our determination to drive with our approach and inspires us to build a legacy of positive change for years to come.”

Training and capacity-building of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and ‘Jalsevaks’, stakeholder engagement workshops, and watershed development have been key to the program’s success. These efforts have strengthened Village Watershed and Water Management Committees, facilitated exposure visits to successful projects, and promoted collaborative workshops with government departments. Land treatment measures, afforestation, water resource development, and water-saving technologies have been implemented to enhance resilience. Training sessions for VDCs, SHGs, and farmer groups focus on planning, management, monitoring, and sustainable livelihoods. ‘Jalsevak’ and para-agronomist training enhances project implementation at the village level.

Prakash Keskar, Executive Director, WOTR, shared his thoughts on the recognition, “This recognition from FICCI validates the core idea that when communities are equipped to manage their resources, development follows naturally. Through the Sustainable Livelihood Programme, we are not just addressing immediate challenges; we are laying the foundation for sustainable futures. This acknowledgment inspires us to amplify our efforts and drive even greater impact in the lives of vulnerable communities.”

The program has significantly impacted rural communities by enhancing water availability, promoting climate-resilient strategies, and increasing income through sustainable agriculture practices. Key outcomes include improved market linkages, increased access to irrigation, crop diversification, enhanced food and nutritional security, and strengthened institutions. The FarmPrecise mobile app has further supported farmers by providing weather and agro-advisories, helping plan activities and manage pests, thus increasing productivity and reducing climate-related risks. Moving forward, the program aims to empower people and institutions for sustained impact.

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This cutting-edge facility is a significant move to curb plastic waste and support the city’s environment. By eliminating the use of over 80,000 plastic bottles annually, Cybage is setting an example for how businesses can contribute to a greener Pune. The plant will provide clean, safe, and refreshing water to employees and visitors while reducing dependency on single-use plastics—a key contributor to pollution.

The initiative comes at a critical time. As Pune grapples with foggy, polluted mornings, Cybage’s effort is a breath of fresh air. Plastic waste not only clogs landfills but also impacts the air quality that Punekars cherish. By reducing plastic use, Cybage’s plant helps conserve resources, protect our oceans, and mitigate the effects of climate change—all while promoting a healthier lifestyle.

“Pune has always been known for its progressive mindset and green initiatives,” said Ritu Nathani, Head of Cybage Foundation & Board of Directors. “This plant reflects our commitment to a better future, and we hope it inspires other organizations and individuals to think sustainably. Every small action can make a big impact when it comes to saving our environment.”

Cybage urges businesses, institutions, and Punekars at large to come forward with similar eco-friendly initiatives. The road to a greener future begins with simple yet powerful actions. Imagine a city where every bottle saved contributes to clearer skies and cleaner air for everyone—from the bustling streets of Deccan to the tranquil hills of Parvati.

As Punekars, it’s time to unite for a cause greater than ourselves. Let’s take a cue from Cybage and reimagine the possibilities. Whether it’s reducing plastic use, conserving energy, or supporting sustainable practices, every effort counts. After all, the environment isn’t just a global responsibility—it’s a local one, too.

Join the movement. Start small. Think big. Because Pune deserves a future as clear as its vision.

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• A game-changing Integrated Pest Management solution designed to enhance crop yields while reducing chemical dependency.
• Engineered to target over 80 pest species across 30+ crop families, empowering farmers with sustainable and cost-effective technology.

PUNE: Wavar, a leader in sustainable agricultural innovation, has introduced Wavar Jadugar, a revolutionary product designed to transform how Indian farmers manage pest challenges. Built on advanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technology, Jadugar offers a powerful and eco-friendly approach to improving crop health and farmer profitability.

Jadugar works by targeting specific pest species that threaten crops, using innovative mechanisms to disrupt their life cycles. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on chemical pesticides, Jadugar integrates automation and precision to attract and neutralize pests, reducing their impact on crops.

A key differentiator of Jadugar is its time of operation. The product works autonomously during the critical evening hours, a period when pest activity peaks after sunset. This targeted approach ensures maximum effectiveness in protecting crops. Additionally, Jadugar is completely powered by solar energy, making it an environmentally friendly solution that keeps operational costs low for farmers while promoting sustainable farming practices.

Speaking at the launch, Sanjay Shirodkar, Co-founder of Wavar, said, “At Wavar, our mission is to enable farmers to overcome agricultural challenges through sustainable and effective solutions. Jadugar represents a significant leap forward, offering a practical, efficient, and environmentally conscious way to address pest-related issues. By adopting this technology, farmers can achieve better outcomes while protecting their land and future generations.”

Wavar Jadugar is designed for versatility, catering to over 30 crop families, including chili, tomato, brinjal, soybean, maize, turmeric, and vegetables. The product is engineered to work round the clock, providing continuous protection without the need for constant human intervention. Farmers using Jadugar have

reported not only improved crop health but also significant savings on pesticide costs, underscoring its dual benefits of cost-effectiveness and ease of use.

The technology behind Jadugar reflects Wavar’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Focusing on breaking pest life cycles rather than merely controlling visible outbreaks, it ensures long-term results that align with sustainable farming practices. Field trials and early adoption have demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing crop losses, ensuring that farmers can rely on it as a dependable solution.

Wavar’s journey in promoting sustainable agriculture has seen significant milestones through its collaborations with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) across India. With the launch of Jadugar, the company is furthering its vision of revolutionizing agriculture by empowering farmers with tools that not only address immediate challenges but also ensure long-term ecological balance.

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NEW DELHI: Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has today accelerated its end-to-end AI-ready data center solutions with new announcements that address the urgent energy and sustainability challenges driven by high demand for AI systems.

The first part of the announcement is a new data center reference design, co-developed with NVIDIA, which will support liquid-cooled, high-density AI clusters of up to 132 kW per rack. Optimized for NVIDIA’s GB200 NVL72 and Blackwell chips, the design streamlines planning and deployment with proven, validated architectures, addressing the unique challenges of utilizing liquid cooling at scale. 

Additionally, Schneider Electric has today introduced its new Galaxy VXL uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the industry’s most compact, high-density UPS designed for AI, data center, and large-scale electrical workloads. Galaxy VXL UPS offers 52% space savings compared with the industry average, and with a power density of up to 1042 kW/m², this scalable, 1.25 MW modular UPS is designed to deliver more efficient power in a smaller, high-density footprint.

Both innovations form part of Schneider Electric’s end-to-end, AI-ready data center solutions, which focus on three key areas including developing an energy strategy for the AI era; deploying advanced infrastructure; and sustainability consulting. They seek to benefit data center owners and operators as they deploy energy-efficient, high-density infrastructure to support AI workloads as sustainably as possible.

“The energy and environmental impact of AI is growing at an unprecedented pace, and it’s paramount we bend the energy curve downward by finding new ways to decarbonize data centers and the digital infrastructure,” said Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President, of Data Centers & Networks at Schneider Electric. “At Schneider Electric, we are committed to pushing boundaries, setting new standards, and shaping the future of AI, whilst protecting the environment. This requires a strategic approach from the grid to the chip, to the chiller, and beyond.”

Partnership With NVIDIA

Schneider Electric’s newest data center reference design has been co-developed with NVIDIA to support liquid-cooled, AI clusters while addressing the unique challenges of deploying liquid cooling within hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data center environments.

Building on the companies’ partnership, the reference design includes options for liquid-to-liquid Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) and direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and shares comprehensive mechanical and electrical plans to ensure more energy-efficient and sustainable operations for the AI data centers of the future.

Developed using Schneider Electric’s software tools including Ecodial and EcoStruxure IT Design CFD, the design can be customized to meet specific requirements of the AI workload, while helping users to leverage the most sustainable and energy-efficient infrastructure designs for high-density applications.

“Building the future of accelerated computing and AI requires speed and a bedrock foundation,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Our work with Schneider Electric enables customers to design the world’s technological advances on stable and resilient infrastructure. Together, we’re creating AI data centers that are purpose-built for accelerated computing, supporting complex architectures that are essential to deliver digital intelligence to every company and industry.”

End-to-End AI Data Center Solutions

The announcements made at today’s virtual event bolster Schneider Electric’s commitments to creating comprehensive, sustainable, and end-to-end AI-ready data center solutions, helping customers to decarbonize their digital infrastructure anywhere, globally. They focus on three key areas including:

Energy Strategy for The AI Era: Schneider Electric supports companies in securing renewable energy and optimizing on-site power generation with diverse sources like wind, solar, and hydrogen. It provides services such as site selection and geographical analysis based on customers’ deployment plans and enables on-site power generation through AlphaStruxure, which ensures speed to market, reliability, resilience, and sustainability of chosen power sources.

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions: Schneider Electric has developed a comprehensive portfolio of high-density, energy-efficient infrastructure systems for a host of AI requirements exceeding 100kW per rack. This includes data center infrastructure components from grid-to-chip and chip-to-chiller, AI-powered remote monitoring and energy management software, and digital services for lifecycle optimization.

Schneider Electric’s new Galaxy VXL UPS, announced today, is the latest addition to the company’s end-to-end, advanced infrastructure portfolio. For the first time, this new UPS provides customers 1.25mw scalable and modular solution with 125kw/3U power modules in a 1.2m2 footprint, while being capable of supporting up to 1.25 MW of critical load in one frame and up to 5 MW with 4 units in parallel in only 4.8 M2 space.

Additionally, to address the increased temperatures of high-density workloads, Schneider Electric recently signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in the Motivair Corporation, enhancing its liquid cooling portfolio and strengthening its expertise in direct-to-chip liquid cooling and high-capacity thermal solutions.

Efficiency and Sustainability: Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Consulting business helps customers exceed decarbonization goals via tailored sustainability strategies, emissions assessments, and supplier engagement programs. These global consulting services offer customers data-driven insights via EcoStruxure Resource Advisor and are supported by 2,400 experts in 100+ countries.

Bending The Energy Curve of AI

Schneider Electric also advocates for a science-based approach to “bend the curve” of energy consumption. Central to this approach is employing “energy intelligence for sustainable AI”. Schneider Electric believes this can be achieved by integrating data center infrastructure with AI-driven applications.

This way, industries can not only mitigate AI’s energy footprint but also use AI monitoring capabilities and insights as tools for broader decarbonization efforts. Achieving this vision requires a united commitment to deploying sustainable solutions and leveraging AI’s potential to drive efficiency across all sectors.

“By 2027, data center electricity consumption is projected to account for 2.5% of global demand, with the remaining 97.5% spread across industries such as buildings, manufacturing, transportation, and energy,” said Sean Graham, Research Director, Cloud to Edge Datacenter Trends, IDC. “While data centers pursue their own net-zero goals amid unprecedented growth, the real sustainability promise lies in leveraging AI to decarbonize entire value chains across industries. As Schneider Electric and NVIDIA have demonstrated, long-term collaboration and innovation are essential to driving efficiency and sustainability.”

For more information about Schneider Electric’s new reference design, co-developed with NVIDIA, its Galaxy VXL UPS, or its end-to-end, AI-ready data center solutions, visit the website.

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