THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l thursday l fEBRUARY 19, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE city EDITION Indians among students seeking compensation from 36 U.K. univs ‘Covid curbs affected quality of education’ While they paid for in-person teaching and access to university facilities like libraries and studios, their teaching was moved online and facilities were closed for lengthy periods during Covid, Student Group Claim, leading the action said. Fees for online degree courses in the UK are up to 50% less than in-person courses. Universities should have paid that difference, it said Around 500 Indians figure in a larger group of students seeking compensation for not receiving the level of education they paid for during Covid Pre-class action suit letters sent ■ ■ Pre-class action letters have been sent to 36 universities including Imperial College, LSE and King’s College London. Student Group Claim is inviting more students from 2020-21 year to join its action It comes as a confidential settlement was recently agreed by the University College London with about 6,000 of its students 20,000 international applicants are part of the class action suit CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Global investments, collabs Further Oppn pour in at A.I. Impact Summit slide expected in Galgotias Univ chucked after robot dog byte Microsoft, Google, Qualcomm line up to plug into India’s AI space RAK E SH K U MAR @ New Delhi the India AI Impact Summit 2026 has seen major stakeholders lining up to announce their plans to invest in and build on India’s AI ecosystem. While global majors Qualcomm and Microsoft announced significant investment plans, OpenAI and NVIDIA outlined new partnerships to strengthen the ecosystem and build AI infrastructure. Google also announced the America-India Connect initiative, a subsea cable project aimed at enhancing data connectivity between the US, India and the Southern Hemisphere. Qualcomm said it would invest $150 million to support India’s rapidly expanding technology and AI startup ecosystem. The announcement coincided with Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon’s participation in the AI summit, which has now been extended by a day till February 21. Microsoft plans to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to expand AI access across the Global South. Vice-chair and President Brad Smith and Vicepresident and Chief Responsible AI Officer Natasha Crampton said urgent action is needed to prevent a widening AI divide from exacerbating global economic disparities. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the America-India Connect initiative, a subsea ca- 2014 ordinance Formal Maha order nullifies 5% Muslim reservation Su d h i r s u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai The Maharashtra government has formally scrapped the 5% reservation for Muslims in government and semi-government jobs and education. According to a government resolution (GR) issued by the state social justice department on Tuesday night, a 5% reservation was granted to socially and educationally backward Muslim groups under the Special Backward Category in 2014 through an ordinance. However, this ordinance was not converted into a law by passing it through both Houses of the state legislature, and t h e re fo re, i t h a s l ap s e d automatically . The government has cancelled the earlier decisions and circulars from 2014 and stopped issuing caste and non-creamy layer certificates to Muslims in the Special Backward Category , the GR stated. The ordinance was issued by the Congress-led government of Prithviraj Chavan ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly elections, along with a 16% reservation to the Maratha community. The BJP came to power that year and the ordinance on Muslim reservation was not converted into law. The Congress on Wednesday accused the Devendra Fadnavis government of being against the welfare of minorities. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad termed the decision as “harmful to democracy” and said that it would push the Muslim community away from the mainstream. 16 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express RAK E SH K U MAR @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Google CEO Sundar Pichai in New Delhi | pti ble project to improve data connectivity between the US, India, and the broader Southern Hemisphere. The announcement followed his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We believe India is going to have an extraordinary trajectory with AI, and we want to be a partner. To help, we have launched new America-India Connect subsea cable routes, building on our $15 billion investment in India’s infrastructure, including a full-stack AI Hub in Vizag,” Pichai said. In addition, Google committed $30 million each for the Government Innovation Impact Challenge, aimed at supporting AI-powered government-to-cit- izen solutions, and the Science Impact Challenge, a global fund for researchers advancing scientific discovery using AI. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, announced a major initiative in India to integrate AI across higher education. The programme seeks to help students, faculty, and staff use AI tools responsibly to enhance learning, research, and creativity across disciplines including management, engineering, healthcare and creative arts. AI chip maker NVIDIA announced partnerships with Larsen & Toubro, Yotta Infrastructure, and E2E Networks to establish advanced ‘AI factories’ in India. THE government has asked Galgotias University, which showcased a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own creation at the India AI Impact Summit, to vacate its booth from the ongoing exhibition. MeitY secretary S Krishnan said the government expects companies to follow a defined code of conduct and will not encourage plagiarism or misinformation. “We don’t want any controversy around the exhibits being presented,” he said. When asked whether the products being showcased were verified or certified, he said these were not meant for sale. “Certification happens when something is meant for public distribution... If we start certifying everything that is exhibited, it could end up stifling innovation and creative work.” The controversy began after a professor from the university claimed in an interview that the AI-powered Chinese robodog was developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. Following backlash over the false claim, the university issued an apology saying its representative manning the pavilion was “ill-informed”. RS biennial polls seats), West Bengal (5), Ass a m ( 3 ) , H a r ya n a ( 2 ) , Riding high on its strong Himachal Pradesh (1) and showings in the Maharash- Bihar (5). In Maharashtra, tra and Bihar elections, the the ruling BJP-led alliance NDA appears set to make is likely to win six seats significant gains by winning while the opposition MVA at least half of the 37 Rajya may get one if they put up a Sabha seats going to bienni- united fight. The Congress, al polls on March 16. The IN- the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the DIA bloc may have NCP-SP are likely to to settle for 10, down lose one seat each. from 19 seats. In Tamil Nadu, Based on its legisthe ruling DMK is lative strength, the likely to retain four NDA is expected to of the six seats, win 15-18, while nine while the AIADMK of its MPs are retiris expected to secure No addition one. The remaining ing next month. The seats will fall The Congress is seat could see a keen vacant on April 2 contest. It is a matlikely to win and 9 following the ter of speculation if four seats — retirement of severDMK will agree to one each in al members, includthe Cong ress deTelangana, ing Rajya Sabha mand for one seat Himachal, deputy chair man amid strained ties. Chhattisgarh Harivansh (JDU), and Haryana — In Bengal, the rulNCP-SP’s Sharad Paing TMC is expected but will not war, for mer Lok to win four seats, have any Sabha deputy Speakand the BJP one. accretion as er M Thambidurai four of its MPs The CPI(M) is ex(AIADMK), DMK’s pected to lose its sole are retiring Tiruchi Siva, ConMP from the state. g re s s ’ A b h i s h e k Five seats will be Manu Singhvi and Union up for grabs in Bihar, with ministers Ram Nath Thakur RJD and JD(U) holding two (JDU) and Ramdas Athawale each and RLM one. The BJP (RPI-A). is expected to claim two The vacancies are spread seats and the RJD is set to across Maharashtra (7), Odi- lose both its seats. Notificasha (4), Telangana (2), Tamil tions for the polls will be isNadu (6), Chhattisgarh (2 sued on February 26. P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Over 3-fold rise in NSE investors from Kerala since Covid period U nn i k r i s h n a n S @Mumbai In a striking shift in investment habits, Kerala’s presence in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) — the country’s largest bourse — has soared to nearly 32 lakh unique investors. This marks a 3.4-fold increase since the Covid era. As per the latest data, investor registrations from the state have grown ninefold since 2010, with a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5% over the past decade. Since 2021 alone, 20.6 lakh new investors have entered the market. Notably women are increasingly , shaping Kerala’s investment landscape. Their participation has risen from 25.3% in 2022 to 28.1% in 2025 well above the national average of 24.7%. Ernakulam district tops the chart with 1.7 lakh new investors over the past three years, accounting for 12.2% of Kerala’s additions. Thrissur (1.6 lakh) and Malappuram (1.5 lakh) follow closely, while Thiru- RISING STOCK Registered investors 2020 11.3 lakh 2025 31.8 lakh Median age of new investors Female Male 2022 25.7 74.3 2025 28.1 71.9 2018 2025 in percentage 31 28 vananthapuram and Kozhikode have also seen strong growth. NSE managing director and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan stressed the exchange’s commitment to safeguarding both investors and companies. He urged caution for newcomers. “Trade in the market and invest in complex instruments only if you have the time to understand them. Otherwise, opt for mutual funds and let experts manage your investments,” he told TNIE during an interaction organised by the Press Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram, at NSE headquarters in Mumbai. NSE chief economist Tirthankar Patnaik highlighted the broader shift in Indian household investments. In 2012-13, 58% of savings were parked in fixed deposits, with just 1.8% in markets. By FY25, fixed deposits dropped to 35%, while market investments climbed to 15%, he said. “The shift in investment habits is being driven largely by youngsters. They have also managed to convince their parents to allocate a portion of their savings to the stock market in pursuit of better returns,” he said. He also noted that the median age of new investors has fallen from 31 in 2018 to 28 in 2025. Kerala alone added 4.64 lakh new investors in 2025 — contrary to the national trend of declining registrations. BJP’s 1st strike: Heavyweights to lead charge in assembly polls E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram In tune with its aggressive campaign push, the state BJP has shortlisted its first list of candidates for at least 35 constituencies, featuring senior leaders Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V Muraleedharan, K Surendran and P K Krishnadas. Anoop Antony and Shon George have emerged as clear favourites in Christian-dominated seats — Tiruvalla and Pala respectively . Meanwhile, the name of former DGP R Sreelekha has resurfaced in discussions for Vattiyoorkavu, though she is not the sole contender for the seat. The party’s central parliamentary board is set to vet the list cleared by Rajeev the state election committee be- Chandrasekhar fore making a formal announcement, likely timed with the declaration of the poll schedule. V Muraleedharan Party sources said panels of up to three names have been finalised for most constituencies where an early announceK Surendran ment is on the cards. On expected lines, BJP’s stronghold Nemom is set to see state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar enter the fray In Ka. zhakkoottam, Muraleedharan, a former Union minister, is the undisputed choice. At Vattiyoorkavu — one of the party’s ‘ ’ category seats — A Sreelekha, now a councillor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, is strongly in the reckoning. Though reportedly reluctant, sources say she may reconsider if persuaded by the central leadership. Actorturned-politician G Krishnakumar is also a strong contender. Among former state presidents, Krishnadas has been shortlisted for Kattakkada, and Surendran for Manjeshwar. ● More on P4 tarique says his govt will protect all faiths MOnth of piety A believer reads the Quran on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and prayers, at the Town Juma Masjid in Thodupuzha on Wednesday | Shiyami Announcing a 180-day action plan during his first cabinet meeting, Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday vowed to turn the country into a safe land for people of all faiths | P9 ranji trophy J&K’s miracle song: Despite conceding lead, team enters historic final F i r o z M i r z a @ Chennai Jammu and Kashmir team celebrates after beating Bengal to enter Ranji Trophy final for the first on Wednesday. They will play Karnataka from Februay 24-28 | PTI Until the middle of third day , the skies were still gloomy. Home team Bengal had taken the lead, Jammu and Kashmir were tottering on the brink. Only a miracle could have saved them. And it came in the form of Auqib Nabi and Sunil Kumar who took four wickets each to skittle Bengal out for just 99. A target of 126 was achievable. On Wednesday they scripted history Their journey, though . fairytale-ish, has had its share of struggles and trepidation. J&K head coach Ajay Sharma still remembers the day when conceding a first innings lead just by a solitary run deprived them a place in the Ranji Trophy semifinal last season. The last pair of Kerala added 81 runs much to the dismay of the J&K team taking their score to 281 — one run more than J&K’s first innings total of 280. That was J&K’s third entry into the lasteight stage in 66 years but it ended in a big heartbreak. And he hoped nothing like that happened this time. J&K came back stronger this season and not only went past the quarterfinals but also made it to their maiden final beating Bengal by six wickets in Kalyani on Wednesday. “That pain was gone when we defeated Madhya Pradesh in Indore to make it to our first semifinal,” Sharma told this daily . For a side that started participating in the premier domestic competition in 1959-60 and waited 23 years for their first win, it’s a historic moment. Considered underdogs for decades, J&K made cricket connoisseurs sit up and take notice of them when they entered their maiden quarterfi- nals in 2013-14. Mismanagement and alle g ations of financial irregularities led to formation of a three-member sub-committee that comprised Mithun Manhas till he was elected as the BCCI president. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as J&K not only got professional coaches and support staff but also saw talent hunt programmes conducted regularly Left-arm pacer Sunil . Kumar was its product. The panel revamped JKCA hostel ground, equipping it with multiple practice wickets, including red soil. Positive changes ushered in positive results.  P11