Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a series of major cooperative sector projects at the 5th Foundation Day celebration of the Ministry of Cooperation at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday, reinforcing the Centre's vision of "Sahakar Se Samriddhi."

The event will mark five years of the Ministry of Cooperation and showcase key reforms undertaken to modernise cooperative institutions through digital transformation, infrastructure development and institutional strengthening.

Several Union ministers, senior government officials and representatives of cooperative institutions from across the country are expected to attend the ceremony. Among those present will be Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Ministers of State Krishan Pal Gurjar and Murlidhar Mohol, along with officials from the Ministries of Cooperation, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, and Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

A major highlight of the programme will be the inauguration, transfer and foundation stone laying of 232 grain storage godowns under the World's Largest Grain Storage Scheme. The projects include the transfer of 135 completed godowns, inauguration of 85 new facilities, and foundation laying for 47 additional storage units, aimed at strengthening agricultural storage infrastructure across the country.

Shah will also perform the Bhoomi Pujan for 'Sahakar Van', a 64-acre cooperative afforestation project being developed jointly by Amul and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF). Foundation stones will also be laid for tissue culture facilities of Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, and Jalgaon, Maharashtra, to improve quality seed production.

As part of the government's digital transformation drive, the minister will launch NCD 3.0, a geo-tag mobile application, and the National Dairy Development Board's Milk Supply Review Dashboard Portal. Two new digital platforms for urban cooperative banks—Sahakar CBS, a centralised core banking solution, and Sahakar Sahyogi, an AI-powered conversational platform—will also be unveiled.

In another significant initiative, the Ministry will announce the digitisation of 50,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) into e-PACS, a move expected to improve transparency, governance and service delivery at the grassroots level.

The ceremony will also witness the inauguration of the Cooperative Milk Producers Organisation Multi-State Limited and the Gomay Cooperative Society Multi-State Limited, aimed at strengthening the dairy and rural cooperative ecosystem.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BBSSL and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will be signed to enhance India's seed systems. During the event, Amit Shah will also release model bye-laws for dairy cooperative societies and a commemorative publication highlighting the Ministry's achievements over the past five years.

According to the Ministry, the initiatives reflect the government's continued focus on empowering farmers, dairy producers, women, youth, cooperative institutions and rural communities through technology-driven reforms and stronger cooperative governance.

The Foundation Day programme is expected to reaffirm the Centre's commitment to building a modern, transparent and self-reliant cooperative sector in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

What was meant to be India's moment on the global AI stage turned into a nightmare of mismanagement on Monday as the India AI Summit 2026 descended into chaos—prompting a rare apology from Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and sharp political attacks from the Congress.

On Day 1 of the five-day summit at Bharat Mandapam, over 70,000 attendees—including startup founders, tech innovators, and international delegates—were left stranded in serpentine queues for hours, while reports of stolen prototypes, failed internet connectivity, and cash-only food stalls triggered widespread outrage on social media .

'If Anyone Faced Problems, We Apologise': Vaishnaw

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Vaishnaw acknowledged the scale of the disaster candidly. "This is the world's biggest AI summit. The response was phenomenal—more than 70,000 people turned up on Day 1. But if anyone faced problems yesterday, we apologise for that," he said .

The Minister assured that a 24x7 "war room" has been activated for real-time monitoring and urged attendees to share feedback. "We are open-minded. We will make efforts to make the experience smoother and enjoyable for all of you," he added .

'Extreme Distress': Founders Locked Out, Products Stolen

The summit's opening day was marked by scenes that many founders described as humiliating. Attendees reported waiting up to three hours at entry gates, only to be evacuated from halls during security sweeps ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit .

Maitreya Wagh, co-founder of AI voice startup Bolna, tweeted that he couldn't access his own booth. "Gates are closed so could not access my own booth at the AI Summit. If you're also stuck outside, DM me," he posted, suggesting an impromptu meeting point at a Connaught Place café .

The most serious allegation came from Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of AI wearable startup Neo Sapien. Yadav claimed that when he and his team were asked to vacate their stall for security checks, they were assured their belongings would be safe. Upon returning hours later, their AI wearables—expensive prototypes brought for demonstration—had vanished.

"We paid for flights, accommodation, logistics and even the booth, only to see our wearables disappear inside a high-security zone. This is extremely disappointing," Yadav wrote .

Ironies at a 'Digital India' Event: No Internet, Cash Only

In a cruel twist for a technology summit, attendees reported that Wi-Fi was non-functional and mobile networks were patchy, forcing food stalls to accept only cash—excluding international delegates and those without physical currency .

Punit Jain, founder of Reskill, captured the frustration: "An AI Summit that sidelines its own builders? 7 am: Queues, 9 am: Entry, 12 pm: Full evacuation. Meanwhile, exhibitors, delegates, and startup founders left outside. No water. No clarity. If access was limited to select high-value guests, just say it upfront. Don't mobilise the ecosystem and then displace it" .

Prohibited items included laptops, bags, cameras, and even water bottles—leaving attendees unable to work or even stay hydrated .

Congress Strikes: 'PR-Hungry Government'

The opposition was quick to capitalise on the fiasco. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a blistering attack, calling the summit "utter chaos and rank mismanagement by this PR-hungry government."

"What could have been a showpiece AI Summit for the entire world, demonstrating India's digital capabilities, has turned into global embarrassment," Kharge posted on X. He alleged that exhibitors were left without food and water, products were stolen, and the Prime Minister "gatecrashed for a photo opportunity" while founders suffered .

Kharge also pointed to the irony of cash-only payments at a "Digital India" event and suggested the Centre learn from the smoothly-run Bengaluru Tech Summit .

What Went Wrong? The Day in Numbers

The scale of the disaster is evident from the numbers. Over 70,000 attendees overwhelmed a venue seemingly unprepared for such crowds. The registration system crashed multiple times. Entry gates were sealed for six hours (12 pm to 6 pm) during VIP movements. Founders with paid stalls were locked out. International delegates faced hunger because they had no cash .

Reuters reported that even journalists spent much of the day seeking clarity on entry procedures, with confusion over digital QR codes and physical passes .

The Bigger Picture: A 'War Room' and Wounded Pride

Despite the chaos, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 remains a landmark event—the first global AI gathering hosted in the Global South, with over 20 heads of state and tech leaders like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman expected to attend .

Vaishnaw has promised that the war room will address issues in real time, and organisers insist arrangements are now smooth. But for many founders, the damage runs deeper.

As one attendee posted on X: "The Impact AI Summit in Delhi was a perfect demonstration of why India keeps losing in tech. Cash-only payments at a 'Digital India' event, exhibitors locked out of stalls, three-hour entry queues. Unless we get the basics right, we cannot claim to be utilising AI to its fullest" .

For now, the government's apology has been accepted cautiously—but the industry will be watching closely whether the remaining four days redeem India's AI moment.

In a landmark moment for global trade, India and the European Union signed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement on January 27, 2026, at the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi. After 18 years of negotiations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa sealed the "mother of all deals." This pact, effective from 2027, slashes luxury cars tariffs from 110% to 10% and premium liquor duties from 150% to 20-30%, opening doors for BMW, Mercedes, and European wines in India.

The agreement comes amid rising global tensions, including US concerns over Europe's Russia ties and Trump's tariff threats. As superpowers reshape rules, this India-EU Free Trade Agreement positions two democracies—covering 25% of world GDP—as strategic partners for stability and growth.

Key Tariff Cuts and Sector Boosts

The deal unleashes massive opportunities across industries:

• Automobiles: Luxury cars tariffs plunge to 10% with a 250,000-vehicle quota, making premium rides affordable. India, the third-largest car market, could see foreign makers invest big.
  
  

• Beverages: Premium liquor duties drop sharply, benefiting European wines over €2.5 while protecting cheaper ones. Indian wines gain EU access too.
  
  

• Manufacturing Wins: Zero duties on textiles ($263B EU market), leather/footwear (from 17% to 0%), gems/jewellery (100% duty-free), engineering, and medical devices ($572B market).
  
  

• Agri and Seafood: Preferential access for grapes, tea, spices, and seafood ($53.6B EU market), with safeguards for India's dairy, poultry, and cereals.
  
  

• Chemicals and Pharma: Duty-free entry to $500B EU market; pharma trade could grow 20-30% yearly.
  
  

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed it as a leap for labor-intensive exports, while FICCI's Anant Goenka predicted doubled trade from ₹12.5 lakh crore.

Strategic Partnerships Beyond Trade

The summit went further. India and EU inked a Security and Defence Partnership, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EU's Kaja Kallas. They discussed Ukraine, West Asia, and Indo-Pacific amid Russia's threats. EU VP Kallas stressed India's competition drives European innovation in defence.

Other highlights: EU's first legal gateway office in India for students/professionals; disaster risk pacts; and tributes at Raj Ghat. António Costa, flaunting his OCI card and Goa roots, called trade a "geopolitical stabiliser."

Challenges and US Reaction

Not all smooth. India protects farmers from EU agri floods; stricter EU rules on labor, environment could hike costs. EU fears cheap Indian goods. US Treasury's Bessent voiced displeasure, noting Europe's Russia oil loopholes as India-EU cozy up.

PM Modi termed it a "blueprint for shared prosperity," boosting manufacturing and investor confidence post-India-UK FTA.

This India-EU Free Trade Agreement matters now: It counters China dependency, derisks supply chains, and fuels India's rise amid 2026 uncertainties. Expect job surges in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and coastal states. As Ursula von der Leyen tweeted, "Europe and India are making history."