Tata Steel Harnesses AI to Reinvent Industrial Safety

Tata Steel is aggressively scaling up artificial intelligence (AI), connected workforce systems, and remote operations to transform industrial safety, repoored news agency PTI. already deploying over 10,000 AI-enabled CCTV cameras and achieving a 38% reduction in workplace injuries over the past 15 years.

In April this year, Tata steel inked a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to deploy a unified agentic AI across its global value chain, supporting industrial safety and efficiency.

Tata Steel’s achieved of a 38% reduction in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) over 15 years, and the steel major attributes it to AI surveillance, connected workforce tracking, and logistics safety systems. 

Key Highlights

• AI Surveillance: More than 10,000 CCTV cameras equipped with AI and computer vision proactively detect unsafe acts and alert supervisors in real time.
• Connected Workforce: AI-enabled gate passes and beacons track personnel movement, ensuring workers remain in authorized safe zones.
• Remote Operations (iRoCs): Integrated Remote Operation Centres consolidate CCTV feeds, machinery data, and environmental inputs, allowing hazardous tasks to be monitored and controlled remotely.
• Safety Record: Tata Steel has achieved a 38% reduction in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) across its global operations in the past 15 years.
• Logistics Safety: Around 8,000–10,000 trucks enter Tata Steel plants daily; driver-fatigue monitoring systems detect drowsiness or mobile phone use, triggering alerts.
• Future Vision (2035): Plans include digital twins, autonomous inspections, wearables, and GenAI-enabled safety observation systems.

Safety Technologies in Action

Technology	Application
AI Surveillance	Detects unsafe behavior via 10,000+ cameras; generates instant alerts
Connected Workforce	Gate passes & beacons track worker movement, flagging deviations
Remote Operations	iRoCs monitor hazardous tasks remotely, reducing exposure
Logistics Safety	Driver-fatigue monitoring, overhead cable clearance sensors
Future Tech	Digital twins, autonomous inspections, wearables by 2035

Broader Impact

• Proactive vs. Reactive: Unlike traditional CCTV use for post-incident reviews, Tata Steel’s AI systems aim to prevent accidents before they occur.
• Workforce Appeal: Remote monitoring reduces exposure to hot, noisy environments, making steel industry jobs more attractive to younger workers.
• Sustainability & Compliance: Tata Steel invested over ₹800 crore in FY2025–26 on environment, safety, and compliance projects.

Risks & Challenges

• Data Overload: Managing thousands of camera feeds requires robust AI models; false positives could overwhelm supervisors.
• Privacy Concerns: Tracking worker movements raises questions about surveillance ethics.
• Implementation Costs: Scaling AI and IoT systems across vast industrial sites demands significant capital investment.

Conclusion

Tata Steel’s AI-driven safety transformation marks a paradigm shift in industrial safety, moving from reactive post-incident analysis to predictive, real-time prevention. With connected workforce systems, remote operations, and logistics monitoring, the company is setting a benchmark for global heavy industries — and its 2035 roadmap promises even deeper integration of digital twins and autonomous safety systems.

Tech, Trade, Transformation: BRICS Summit Maps Path to Shared Prosperity

The XVIII BRICS Summit in New Delhi (12–13 September 2026) placed business and technology at the heart of its vision for resilience, innovation, and sustainability. Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa emphasized reforms in global economic governance, digital innovation, and trade systems to empower emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

We will continue to strengthen coordination among BRICS members to make international financial institutions more representative, transparent and accountable. (Declaration, para. 17)

Reforming Global Economic Institutions

• IMF quota reforms:
  pushing for meaningful realignment to reflect EMDEs’ growing share in global output.
• World Bank shareholding review:
  correcting historic underrepresentation of developing countries.
• WTO reform:
  restoring credibility through a fair dispute settlement mechanism and supporting accession bids of Ethiopia and Iran.

These reforms aim to create a more agile, inclusive, and representative global financial architecture that supports sustainable growth.

Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation

• Innovation-driven growth:
  promotion across industries to strengthen resilience.
• Digital divide:
  opposing unilateral sanctions that restrict access to technology and deepen inequality.
• Inclusive digital cooperation:
  ensuring EMDEs benefit from technological globalization.

By fostering collaboration in emerging technologies, BRICS aims to empower businesses and societies to adapt to rapid technological change.

Trade, Supply Chains, and Business Cooperation

• Unilateral tariffs:
  condemnation of trade barriers that disrupt global supply chains.
• Open and equitable trade:
  support under WTO principles, including Special and Differential Treatment for developing members.
• Zero-tariff treatment:
  recognition of China’s expansion to 53 African countries, strengthening South-South trade.

These measures reflect BRICS’ commitment to building resilient supply chains and ensuring businesses in developing economies can thrive in a fair global marketplace.

Business and Technology Outlook

• Financial reforms:
  unlocking capital for innovation and infrastructure.
• Digital inclusion:
  bridging technological gaps and empowering startups and enterprises.
• Trade frameworks:
  ensuring equitable market access for businesses across the Global South.

Together, these initiatives signal a future where business and technology cooperation under BRICS will shape a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable global economy.

IndusInd Bank Launches OD/CC‑Linked Corporate Credit Card to Simplify Cashflows and Boost Business Efficiency

A pioneering solution enabling seamless spending, tighter control, and smarter utilization of working capital

Chandigarh : IndusInd Bank today, announced the launch of an Overdraft (OD) and Cash Credit (CC) linked Corporate Credit Card designed to give businesses greater control over cashflows, improved operational efficiency, and smarter utilization of sanctioned credit limits.

This revolutionary proposition enables the card to operate directly on the customer’s existing OD or CC account - eliminating the need for separate credit limits, billing cycles, or standalone reconciliation. By integrating day‑to‑day business spends with core working capital lines, the solution enables businesses to manage liquidity more efficiently, while ensuring complete transparency and control over expenses.

Commenting on the launch, Jagdeep Mallareddy, Executive Director IndusInd Bank said: “Businesses today, are looking for smarter, more integrated financial solutions that simplify operations, while offering greater control over cash flows. IndusInd Bank’s OD/CC linked Corporate Credit Card addresses this need by seamlessly extending the utility of sanctioned working capital limits into payments, driving higher operational efficiency for businesses. This launch reflects the Bank’s continued focus on leveraging digital capabilities to deliver innovative solutions that empower businesses and MSMEs to scale with confidence.”

Key features of the card include:

• Direct linkage to OD/CC account - enabling real‑time utilization of sanctioned limits
• No separate credit limit or billing cycle - simplifying cash flow tracking
• Strong transaction controls - enabling card holders to set/modify daily transaction limits anytime
• Centralized expense management - aiding better control and transparency
• Operational efficiency - by reducing manual processes and reconciliation efforts
• Flexible usage - for routine business expenses, vendor payments, and operational spends

The OD/CC‑linked Corporate Credit Card enables seamless online and offline payments by drawing directly from sanctioned OD or CC limits, delivering greater convenience and stronger financial discipline. The card will be launched on major card networks in India i.e. NPCI – RuPay, Mastercard, Visa and the product platform will be powered by PropelGo Technologies.

TiHAN–IIT Hyderabad and AP Drones Corp Ink MoU to Build Drone City, Boost India’s UAV Ecosystem

Highlights:

• MoU signed between TiHAN–IIT Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh Drones Corporation (APDC) to collaborate on developing Drone City and the broader Drone ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh.
• MoU signed in the presence of Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Hon’ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
• TiHAN–IIT Hyderabad to serve as a Technical and Knowledge Partner to APDC, providing technical, research and strategic inputs.
• Collaboration to cover Drone R&D, UAV platforms, sensors, payloads, AI/ML, Autonomous systems, communication technologies, UAS traffic management, skilling and innovation initiatives.

Hyderabad: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the NMICPS Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN) - IIT Hyderabad (IITH) and the Andhra Pradesh Drones Corporation (APDC), a Government of Andhra Pradesh undertaking and the nodal agency for Drone City development in the State, to establish a structured framework for collaboration towards the development of Drone City and the broader Drone ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh. The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Hon’ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India and Prof. B S Murty, Director, IITH.

Under the MoU, TiHAN–IITH will serve as a Technical and Knowledge Partner to APDC, providing technical expertise, research inputs, and strategic support for the conceptualisation, planning, development, and operational support of the Drone City and allied Drone ecosystem initiatives. The collaboration brings together TiHAN–IITH’s expertise in Autonomous Navigation, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Sensors and related emerging technologies with APDC’s mandate for the planning, development, operationalisation, and promotion of Drone City and allied Drone ecosystem infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh.

Prof. B. S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said on the partnership, "The development of a strong drone ecosystem requires close collaboration between government, academia, industry and the innovation community. This MoU between Andhra Pradesh Drones Corporation and TiHAN–IIT Hyderabad brings together the State’s vision for Drone City with IIT Hyderabad’s strengths in research, technology development, testing and innovation. We look forward to supporting Andhra Pradesh in building a globally relevant ecosystem for drones through knowledge sharing, technical expertise, capacity building and collaborative innovation. This partnership has the potential to create new opportunities for researchers, startups and industry while contributing to the growth of advanced drone technologies in India.

The MoU further envisages cooperation in policy, standards and best practices relevant to Drone operations, testing, innovation and ecosystem development. The partnership will also focus on skilling and capacity building through curriculum development, specialised training modules, certification programmes, workshops and other capacity-building initiatives for government officials, industry stakeholders, startups, and students. The collaboration is also expected to provide a platform for joint research projects, proofs of concept, pilot programmes, innovation challenges, and other initiatives aimed at fostering stronger academic–industry–government collaboration within the Drone ecosystem.

About TiHAN, IITH

Department of Science and Technology (DST), under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), has sanctioned the prestigious Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) in the technology vertical of Autonomous Navigation and Data Acquisition Systems (UAVs, ROVs, etc.). Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN) at IITH is a multi-departmental initiative, including researchers from Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mathematics, Design, and Entrepreneurship at IITH, with collaboration and support from reputed institutions and industry.

As part of the project, we are setting up a first of its kind integrated testbed on Autonomous Navigations (Aerial/Terrestrial) on the IITH campus, which has state of the art facilities such as Proving Grounds, Test tracks, Mechanical integration facilities like Hangers, Ground control stations, State of the art Simulation tools (SIL, MIL, HIL, VIL), Test tracks/circuits, Road Infra – Smart Poles, signalized & unsignalized Intersections, Environment Emulators like Rainfall Simulators, V2X Communications, Landing area, Control Test center.

TiHAN-IITH is envisaged as the destination for collaborative research for next-generation mobility solutions between academia, industry, and R&D Labs, both national and international. To know more, please visit: https://tihan.iith.ac.in/

About IIT Hyderabad:

IITH, established in 2008, has reached a respectable position in academics, research, technology development, and Startups in a short span of 17+ years. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF-2025), IITH is ranked 7th among Engineering institutes (crossing a first-generation IIT this year), and is ranked 6th in Innovation, while it has maintained its rank within the top 10 Engineering Institutes ever since NIRF was launched. IITH is ranked 588th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 270th in the QS Asian University Rankings 2026 (123rd globally in citations per faculty). IITH has recorded a major leap in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, entering the global Top 400 in Engineering & Technology with a rank of 395, marking a sharp improvement from the 501–550 band in 2025. IITH secured 46 positions by 31 faculties in the Stanford /Elsevier Global Top 2% Scientists list 2025 across two categories. IITH has been striving for excellence with its vision of "Inventing & Innovating in Technology for Humanity," guided by its newly adopted Sanskrit Motto, "नवोन्मेषेण देशनिर्माणम्" (Nation Building through Innovation).

With 350+ full-time Faculty, 360 non-teaching Staff and 6120+ Students (PG+PhD students accounting for about 60%), IITH has a strong research focus with 5910+ R&D Projects worth of Rs. 1855+ Cr (Rs. 245+ Cr funding in 2025-26), 14,170+ Publications, 2,90,270+ Citations, 166 h-index, 810+ Patents, 435+ granted patents (250 Patents in 2025, i.e., almost a patent on every working day in 2025), and 300+ Start-ups (that have generated 1100+ jobs with a revenue of Rs. 1500+ Cr).

The thrust areas of research at IITH are: Next-Generation Telecommunications, Autonomous Navigation, Robotics & Intelligent systems, Semiconductors & Devices, Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals, Materials characterisation, Catalysis, Healthcare, Energy, Sustainability, Climate Change, Smart Mobility, EV technology, Quantum technologies, Nuclear Energy, Computational Engineering, Design, AR/VR, Waste management, and Rural development.

About Andhra Pradesh Drones Corporation:

Andhra Pradesh Drones Corporation (APDC) is the state government’s nodal agency for promoting, developing, and deploying Drone technologies across Andhra Pradesh. Incorporated in 2018 and headquartered in Vijayawada, APDC drives the implementation of Drone-powered solutions in Governance, Logistics, Agriculture, and Public services while fostering a robust Drone ecosystem through policy, infrastructure, and industry partnerships.

Under the state’s Drone Policy 4.0 (2024–29), APDC is spearheading initiatives such as the AP Drone Mart portal, Drone delivery networks in Amaravati, and the upcoming Drone City in Kurnool to position Andhra Pradesh as a national leader in Autonomous Aerial Systems.

Nazara Launches Bodycam in Fortnite Through an Official UEFN Adaptation

The tactical shooter's signature body-camera perspective, close-quarters combat, and high-pressure multiplayer arrive in Fortnite; developed by Virstate and published by Nazara Technologies under agreement with Reissad Studio.

Nazara Technologies and Virstate today announced that Bodycam UEFN, the official Bodycam game adaptation for Fortnite* developed under agreement with Reissad Studio is now available to players worldwide starting today.

Built by Virstate in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), and published by Nazara Technologies, Bodycam UEFN, the game brings the franchise’s signature body-camera perspective, intense close-quarters combat, realistic atmosphere, and high-pressure multiplayer gameplay into Fortnite.

Players can jump in now by searching for Bodycam in Fortnite Discover or by entering island code: 9784-3946-5466.

Built as an official expansion of the Bodycam universe, Bodycam UEFN is designed to introduce a new generation of players to the franchise while giving existing fans a new way to experience its tension, realism, and tactical combat. The project is not a replacement for the original Bodycam PC experience, but a free-to-play gateway into its world, created specifically for Fortnite’s ecosystem.

Nitish Mittersain, MD & CEO, Nazara Technologies, said: “Bodycam UEFN is Nazara’s first build inside Fortnite, and it is just the beginning. Fortnite is now one of the largest discovery platforms in the world, and we intend to build there at scale. Reissad has raised the bar with an experience that is raw, immersive, and visually stunning. Bringing Bodycam to Fortnite proves that UEFN is ready for premium-quality FPS experiences. It becomes the template for the IPs, original experiences, and partnerships we bring to this ecosystem next.”

At launch, Bodycam UEFN features Russian Building, one of the most recognizable environments from the original game, recreated for Fortnite with a focus on authenticity, atmosphere, visual fidelity, and fast tactical encounters. The map is designed for high-pressure close-quarters combat where positioning, reflexes, sound awareness, and precision determine the outcome of every fight.

Bodycam UEFN launches with three multiplayer modes:

• Free For All - Every player fights alone in fast-paced matches where survival depends on awareness, accuracy, and reaction time.
• Team Deathmatch - Two teams compete to reach the score limit first in squad-based combat inspired by classic competitive shooters.
• Gun Game - Players progress through an evolving arsenal by securing eliminations, racing to reach the final weapon and claim victory.

The experience also includes long-term progression systems, allowing players to climb ranks, unlock weapons, earn rewards, and pursue competitive goals through regular play. Bodycam UEFN is planned as a live experience, with future updates expected to introduce additional maps inspired by the original Bodycam, new weapons and equipment, new rewards and unlockables, seasonal updates, community events, and additional gameplay modes.

With Bodycam UEFN, Nazara Technologies aims to raise expectations of what players can experience inside Fortnite and demonstrate how major gaming IPs can use UEFN as a serious platform for franchise expansion.

Luca Dassier, Studio Director at Reissad, said: “Bodycam has always been built with the ambition to stay ahead of technology rather than wait for the industry to move first. Partnering with Nazara Technologies and Virstate is what makes this expansion possible. They lead it, they own it, and they bring the publishing and development strength to build Bodycam a genuine home on Fortnite. For us, this partnership is about preparing for the future of Unreal Engine 6 by gaining hands on experience with Verse, the programming language expected to play a major role in its ecosystem. And at the same time, Bodycam on PC remains the complete and undivided focus of our studio. This partnership is precisely what allows both projects to move forward at full speed.”

Bodycam is a trademark of Reissad Studio. Bodycam UEFN is an independently created Fortnite island developed by Nazara Technologies and Virstate under agreement with Reissad Studio and is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc. Fortnite, Unreal Editor for Fortnite, Epic Games, and related marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The island code is 9784-3946-5466. Please find the launch trailer here and the press kit here.

*Fortnite: It is a leading cross platform game where developers can create their own islands.

About Virstate

Virstate is a technology company specializing in UEFN and Roblox game development. The studio helps brands and IP owners create interactive digital experiences designed to engage audiences across major user-generated content platforms.

About Nazara Technologies

Nazara Technologies is India’s only publicly listed gaming company. Its key businesses include Blue Tile, Curve Games, Kiddopia, Animal Jam, Fusebox Games (Love Island, Big Brother, Bigg Boss), World Cricket Championship and Sportskeeda, along with offline gaming businesses such as Funky Monkeys and Smaaash Entertainment. Nazara also operates Datawrkz, a digital ad tech business. With presence in India, North America, Europe, and other global markets, Nazara is building a global gaming platform with strong IP, publishing, and operating capabilities.

Website: https://www.nazara.com/