India Cements Global 5G Leadership, Becomes Second-Largest Subscriber Nation

In a landmark achievement for its digital ambitions, India has officially secured its position as the world’s second-largest 5G subscriber base, surpassed only by China. This milestone underscores the rapid pace of the country's telecom transformation. Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, recently revealed that India has surpassed 400 million 5G users, establishing the nation as one of the fastest adopters of this next-generation technology globally.

Centre Blocks 242 Illegal Betting Websites as Crackdown Under Online Gaming Law Intensifies

The Central government has stepped up its enforcement against illegal online betting and gambling platforms, reportedly blocking 242 website links on January 16, 2026. Government sources indicated that the action is part of a broader nationwide drive under the Online Gaming Act, which came into force in October 2025, to curb financial fraud, addiction risks, and social harm—particularly among young users.

Aaryan Varshney Becomes India’s 92nd Chess Grandmaster, Redefining the Path to Elite Success

India’s growing dominance in world chess received another boost as Aaryan Varshney, aged 21, secured the Grandmaster (GM) title, becoming the country’s 92nd GM. He achieved the milestone by clinching his final GM norm at the Andranik Margaryan Memorial Tournament in Armenia, sealing the title with a round to spare.

Beyond the achievement itself, Aaryan’s journey has drawn attention for its unconventional nature—built on discipline, self-study, and an exceptional father-son partnership rather than elite academies or professional coaching setups.

India Plans Major Liberalisation of Defence FDI Norms to Attract Global Manufacturers

India is set to undertake a significant liberalisation of foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in the defence sector, aiming to attract global manufacturers, strengthen domestic production, and reduce reliance on imports. According to a report by Reuters, the proposed reforms form part of a broader strategy to position India as a competitive global defence manufacturing hub.

The move aligns with India’s long-term objective of enhancing self-reliance in defence production while deepening strategic partnerships with technologically advanced countries.

Google Launches TranslateGemma: Open-Source Multilingual Translation Models for Local AI Use

In a major push towards accessible and decentralised artificial intelligence, Google has introduced TranslateGemma, a new family of open-source translation models aimed at delivering high-quality multilingual translation across a wide range of devices. Supporting 55 languages, the models enable efficient, on-device translation with minimal dependence on cloud infrastructure, marking an important milestone in local AI deployment.