At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the India Today Group introduced Sutra, its latest AI-powered news anchor, signalling a transformative moment in the organisation’s digital journey. The unveiling took place at the high-profile summit and was showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), highlighting the growing convergence of media and advanced artificial intelligence in India.
Sutra has been developed in collaboration with BharatGen and is built to handle fast-moving, complex information environments. Designed to process real-time developments, the AI anchor delivers crisp summaries along with meaningful contextual insights. During the Summit, Sutra demonstrated its capability to distill key discussions into accessible takeaways, helping audiences better understand policy-driven and technology-focused conversations.
This launch reflects the India Today Group’s continued focus on adopting cutting-edge tools while preserving the core values of journalism. Sutra operates within a structured editorial ecosystem, ensuring that technology supports — rather than replaces — newsroom judgment. By integrating BharatGen-developed models, the AI anchor seeks to make high-level discussions more approachable to the wider public, effectively narrowing the gap between policy discourse and everyday understanding.
A defining principle behind Sutra’s deployment is the ‘AI Sandwich’ approach — a newsroom protocol championed by Kalli Purie, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Editor In Chief of the India Today Group. Under this framework, artificial intelligence functions strictly as an assistive layer. Human editorial direction shapes the initial intent, and final verification is conducted by editors before any information reaches audiences. This ensures that while AI enhances speed and efficiency, accountability and editorial integrity remain firmly human-led.
“Our goal with Sutra is to provide clarity in an increasingly fast-paced news cycle,” said Nilanjan Das, Chief AI Officer, India Today Group. “By working with BharatGen, we are exploring how AI can be leveraged to make information more accessible and inclusive for a wider audience, while maintaining the editorial standards the India Today Group is known for.”
The collaboration with BharatGen also underlines a broader push toward indigenous AI development. Rishi Bal, CEO BharatGen, added, “BharatGen is pioneering sovereign, multimodal models that understand the natural nuances of Indian languages and regional dialects. By providing indigenous AI capabilities, we are ensuring that the future of Indian journalism is powered by technology that is culturally aware, linguistically inclusive, and built entirely on home-grown soil.”
By embedding Sutra within its editorial framework, the India Today Group is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-assisted journalism in India. The initiative demonstrates how responsible innovation can coexist with newsroom ethics, reinforcing credibility while improving speed, precision and audience engagement. As the media landscape continues to evolve, Sutra represents a forward-looking step toward a future where technology and human expertise work in tandem to deliver reliable, accessible news.
