The budget session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly commenced on a charged political note, setting the stage for a sharp confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress.

With the session scheduled to continue until March 18, both sides have outlined their strategies, signalling intense debates inside the House and political mobilisation outside.

The Business Advisory Committee has approved the session calendar. Cabinet Minister Krishan stated that the government is fully prepared to address all issues raised during the proceedings. Regular sittings will take place from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, while post-recess discussions will resume at 2:00 PM.

March 16 has been earmarked for voting to fill two vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha, adding further political significance to the session.

Opposition prepares aggressive strategy

Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda made it clear that the Congress intends to mount a strong challenge to the government. The party plans to raise concerns over law and order, pension reductions for senior citizens, waterlogging affecting agricultural land, alleged illegal mining activities, and Haryana’s claim over Chandigarh.

Hooda also expressed confidence that the Congress would contest and secure one of the Rajya Sabha seats.

Adding to the political pressure, Haryana Congress president Rao Narender Singh announced a protest march on February 25 against the alleged scrapping of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme. The announcement indicates that the opposition’s campaign will extend beyond Assembly debates.

BJP readies counterattack

On the government’s side, the BJP legislative party held a meeting under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to chalk out its response strategy. PWD Minister Ranbir Gangwa said the government is ready for what he described as a fact-based and constructive debate.

With protests planned and crucial issues lined up for discussion, the Haryana budget session is expected to witness high political drama in the coming weeks.

OpenAI chief Sam Altman has said the world urgently needs to regulate artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked centralisation of the technology could have serious consequences.

Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Thursday, Altman highlighted both the opportunities and risks associated with rapidly advancing AI systems.

“Centralisation of this technology in one company or country could lead to ruin,” Altman said, adding that regulation and safeguards are urgently required, much like other powerful technologies developed in the past.

Frenzied global demand for generative AI tools has significantly boosted company profits, while also raising concerns over societal disruption, misinformation and environmental impact.

Leaders call for inclusive and responsible AI

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that AI should serve the broader public good.

“We must democratise AI. It must become a medium for inclusion and empowerment,” he said, noting that humans and intelligent systems are entering a phase of co-creation and collaboration. He urged stakeholders to ensure AI benefits the global community.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed similar sentiments, calling for the creation of a $3 billion global fund to promote open access to AI technologies. He said AI should not be controlled by a limited number of nations or individuals.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted last year’s summit, stressed the need for safe oversight while encouraging innovation. Meanwhile, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei were among the industry leaders who addressed the event.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates cancelled his scheduled appearance shortly before the summit began. His foundation said the move was to keep the focus on the summit’s key priorities. Gates has recently expressed regret over past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, though the mention of a name in related files does not imply wrongdoing.

Big investments and infrastructure push

India is positioning itself as a major AI hub and expects over $200 billion in investments over the next two years. During the summit week, major announcements were made by global technology firms.

OpenAI and Indian IT major Tata Consultancy Services said they will jointly build hyperscale AI data centre capacity in India. Google announced plans to lay subsea cables connected to its broader $15 billion AI infrastructure initiative. Chipmaker Nvidia also revealed partnerships with Indian cloud firms to supply advanced processors for AI data centres.

The rapid expansion of power-intensive AI data centres worldwide has raised environmental concerns, particularly over electricity and water consumption as countries work toward decarbonising energy grids.

Job concerns and India’s ambitions

India rose to third place in a global AI competitiveness ranking compiled by Stanford researchers last year, though experts say it still trails the United States and China significantly.

One key concern remains the potential disruption of jobs, especially in India’s large call centre and technology support sector. However, Reliance Group chairman Mukesh Ambani said AI would generate new high-skilled employment opportunities rather than eliminate work.

World leaders are expected to release a joint statement on Friday outlining their approach to managing the fast-evolving AI landscape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Delhi on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, with both leaders underlining the depth of the India-France partnership.

Before the meeting, Macron lauded India’s digital transformation and its evolving role in global technology governance during his address at the summit, calling the country’s progress a benchmark for others.

The personal warmth between the two leaders was evident during Macron’s fourth visit to India since PM Modi’s trip to Marseille. Macron said ties between India and France extend beyond traditional friendship and reflect a strategic bond that has evolved over the past 26 years.

Responding to a question on the nature of the bilateral partnership and the Rafale fighter jet agreement, the French President described it as a “global strategic partnership”, suggesting that the relationship operates at a higher level than a conventional strategic arrangement.

Macron referred to the agreement involving 114 Rafale fighter jets and also highlighted the helicopter deal with Airbus, noting that the final assembly line is located in Karnataka.

Artificial intelligence was another key theme of the discussions. While Macron spoke about the transformative potential of AI, he also cautioned against associated risks. He referred to a proposal under consideration in France to restrict social media access for those under 15.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier mentioned at a press conference that India is also examining regulatory measures related to AI access for young people.

With the upcoming G7 Summit scheduled in the coming months, PM Modi is expected to travel for the meeting, where another interaction between the two leaders is likely.

Macron and his wife arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday as part of their India visit. They were received at the airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The delegation later travelled to Delhi for the summit engagements.

The visit reflects continued momentum in the India-France strategic partnership, with growing focus on defence collaboration, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.