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.

$10 Billion Green Ammonia Project in Andhra Pradesh Boosts India’s Energy Transition

India is poised to make a significant entry into the global clean energy export ecosystem with the launch of its first large-scale green ammonia project in Kakinada. Anchored by a $10 billion investment, the project marks a critical step in India’s shift towards low-carbon energy systems and positions Andhra Pradesh as a strategic hub for green hydrogen and green ammonia production.

Rare 400-Year-Old Black Coral Highlights Fragility of Deep-Sea Ecosystems

Marine researchers have identified an exceptionally large and ancient black coral colony in the deep ocean waters near Fiordland, offering valuable insights into long-lived deep-sea ecosystems. The discovery underscores the ecological richness of the ocean floor while drawing attention to the urgent need to protect fragile marine habitats from human disturbance.