A measured English daily covering India and the wider world.
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India is on track to begin commercial semiconductor chip production in 2026 under the India Semiconductor Mission timeline launched in 2022. He indicated multiple plants are expected to commence operations in 2026, with pilot production already starting at some units in 2025, alongside rapid ecosystem development and skills training.
Google marked India’s 77th Republic Day with a special Doodle centred on space exploration, featuring motifs like rockets, satellites and planetary orbits. The illustration saluted India’s growing space profile and drew attention to recent ISRO milestones alongside Republic Day celebrations across the country.
A staffing report says India’s technology sector began 2026 with weaker hiring demand, with active job openings down 24% from a year earlier, reflecting prolonged softness after a sluggish 2025.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called for expanded use of AI and technology-led governance to improve service delivery and grievance redressal. Officials cited hundreds of services offered through a WhatsApp-based platform as the state pushes for faster, data-driven administration.
Ahead of Union Budget 2026, Nasscom has called for wider ESOP tax deferment for startups and clearer tax treatment of foreign cloud providers using Indian data centres, arguing that policy certainty can support innovation and investment in India’s tech ecosystem.
Google’s Republic Day Doodle for India spotlighted space exploration and saluted ISRO’s role in the nation’s scientific story, tying the holiday’s civic symbolism to a theme of innovation and technological ambition.
Google released a Republic Day 2026 Doodle celebrating India’s achievements in space exploration, with a spotlight on ISRO’s role in science and technology. The illustration aligns with a broader moment of national reflection and pride as India observes Republic Day on January 26.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for wider use of technology and AI in government, asking departments to explore AI tools to speed up public grievance redressal. Officials cited the Mana Mitra WhatsApp governance platform delivering hundreds of services to crores of users.
Microsoft has rolled out its second-generation Maia 200 AI chip and indicated broader future availability, positioning it as a more efficient inference system for Azure. The launch is also a competitive statement to hyperscalers such as Amazon and Google, as cloud firms race to control costs and secure AI compute amid constrained supply of top-end GPUs.
Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said four companies are expected to commence commercial semiconductor manufacturing in 2026, with some moving from pilot runs to commercial operations first. The announcement is positioned as a milestone in India’s effort to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem and attract international interest in the sector.
Google released a Republic Day Doodle celebrating India’s achievements in space exploration. The artwork highlights ISRO’s role in advancing science and technology and uses space motifs—such as rockets and satellites—to link national pride with innovation on the day India commemorates its Constitution.
IIT Patna is set to hold an event centred on AI strategy, aiming to bring together stakeholders to discuss adoption pathways, research direction and responsible use.