There is a significant amount of publicly available data in India, but finding the required set of information is often a complex task. Researchers, startups, and developers have to sift through numerous government websites, research portals, and institutional repositories to find a suitable dataset.
To simplify this process, the Government of Karnataka has launched the Tathyakosh platform. The Government of Karnataka's Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, ACSEL Technology Forum, introduced Tathyakosh, which consolidates information on over 1.5 million datasets in one search interface.
The launch of Tathyakosh took place on August 12th in Bengaluru, under the guidance of Karnataka's Minister of IT and Information Technology, Priyanka Hardge, at the Vikas Soudha building. This platform is intended for science specialists, policymakers, startups, developers, and data scientists. During the presentation, Hardge emphasized the importance of facilitating access to India's existing data in the context of developing its AI capabilities.
He noted that India's ambitions in the field of AI will depend not only on talent and computational power but also on the ability to find and utilize the vast amount of data that already exists in various institutions.
Hardge added that Tathyakosh is being created as an open, non-commercial Digital Public Good to make data more accessible and usable for people working with India's data. The concept of Tathyakosh is not about creating another database where users must upload or store information; instead, it functions as a discovery layer, helping people find datasets available from different sources.
Currently, the platform covers 16 domains, including healthcare, agriculture, education, infrastructure, environment, economy, and governance. Its index includes 346 Indian sources, as well as 37 international repositories containing data relevant to India. Users can narrow down dataset searches using parameters such as location, subject area, time period, file format, and access type.
According to the launch information, over 92% of indexed datasets are open access, and 95% are machine-readable, allowing software and computational tools to use them more easily. Tathyakosh also aims to answer the question of the suitability of the found dataset for use. Each record is evaluated based on seven criteria, including availability, relevance, completeness, granularity, and machine readability. This is intended to give users a quick overview of the usefulness and quality of the available data. The platform's historical coverage currently extends back to 1947.
The launch comes amid a growing demand for usable datasets in India's AI ecosystem. Creating AI applications often requires large volumes of structured information, but developers first need to know what data exists and if it is suitable for their specific application. Tathyakosh can help reduce some of this initial search work, especially for projects related to healthcare, agriculture, climate, legal research, and financial integration. Universities and research groups can also use the platform to study data across various sectors.
Karnataka places special emphasis on this platform: over 50,000 state-related datasets have already been indexed. These sources include the Karnataka Open Government Data Portal, Mahiti Kanaja, KSRSAC/K-GIS, and the Indian Institute of Science and Raman Research Institute. Dr. N. Mandjula, Secretary of the Department of Electronics, IT and Information Technology of the Government of Karnataka, stated that Tathyakosh provides users a way to find information without having to search each source individually. She also pointed out the platform's ability to help users assess the reliability and suitability of datasets for intended use, potentially saving time for researchers, developers, and data scientists.
Tathyakosh is designed as an open, non-commercial Digital Public Good. It does not take ownership of the datasets nor store them on its platform; instead, users are directed to the original source when they need to access the raw data. As more government and research datasets become available, the platform's coverage is expected to expand. For India's growing data and AI ecosystem, its broader role may be to assist users in discovering existing information before they spend time and resources searching for it elsewhere. Tathyakosh is now available at Tathyakosh.in.
A high-level meeting was held in Tashkent to present and discuss recommendations for implementing the waqf system in Uzbekistan. The event was organized by the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
This round-table discussion took place on August 3, 2026, marking the first such event within the national dialogue on the development and scaling up of the waqf institution. The meeting gathered over 40 representatives from state bodies, regulatory structures, religious and international organizations, as well as the academic community.
The event was part of technical assistance titled 'Creating Favorable Conditions for the Development of Waqfs in Uzbekistan,' which has been implemented since 2025. The project aims to form the legislative, institutional, and regulatory framework, as well as strengthen technical competence in this area.
An analytical document was presented during the meeting, examining international experience alongside the legal, institutional, and tax constraints hindering the development of waqfs in Uzbekistan. The document proposes a development model focused on practical implementation and alignment with national priorities.
Participants noted that the Public Charitable Waqf Fund was established in 2018, but the current legal framework does not yet provide comprehensive legal and regulatory conditions for the full operation of the national waqf system.
Discussions covered potential provisions for adopting a special law on waqfs, including the protection of rights for founders and beneficiaries. The possibility of creating a specialized independent body for supervision, management, and coordination of waqf-related issues, as well as introducing financial and tax incentives, was also discussed.
Special attention was paid to tax issues, public awareness, and human capital development. Participants also emphasized the potential role of waqfs in reducing poverty levels, developing human capital, and expanding public access to basic social services.
The development of the waqf system is viewed in the context of Uzbekistan's broader steps toward developing Islamic finance. In June 2026, legislative amendments aimed at creating conditions for the development of Islamic banking came into force in the country. Furthermore, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis is reviewing a draft law on the 'Capital Market,' which contains specific provisions on Islamic sukuk securities.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, IsDBI confirmed its readiness to continue supporting Uzbekistan's efforts to create a transparent and sustainable waqf system that aligns with national priorities.
The Tashkent City Government has initiated an internal investigation concerning the khokims of ten out of the city's twelve districts. The relevant decree was published by the City Khokim Shavkat Umurzakov on the E-qaror portal.
The basis for the review was a statement submitted by the Anti-Corruption Agency on July 22, 2026. The investigation will cover the Almazar, Bektemir, Mirabad, Mirzo-Ulugbek, Sergeli, Uchtepa, Chilanzar, Shaykhantakur, Yunusabad, and Yashnabad districts.
A five-member commission, headed by Shukhrat Turdikulov, the head of the compliance and internal anti-corruption control service of the Tashkent City Government, has been assigned to conduct this internal inquiry.
The commission also includes Sharukh Mamadanov, head of the city khokim's apparatus; Khondamir Turgunov, head of the khokim's organizational and personnel issues group; Makham Vakhidov, head of the legal department; and Nigora Sabitova, a leading specialist from the public appeals department.
According to the directive, the commission has been tasked with conducting an objective and comprehensive internal analysis and preparing appropriate conclusions based on the results obtained. Specialists from relevant state bodies may participate in the investigation if necessary.
