A measured English daily covering India and the wider world.
India’s Republic Day parade on January 26 will feature a major display of indigenous defence platforms, including missile systems, artillery, armour and aviation assets, signalling New Delhi’s push for self-reliance and modernisation.
JioHotstar released ‘Space Gen – Chandrayaan’ on 23 January, a series inspired by real events around India’s Chandrayaan programme. The show focuses on the human side of mission work—setbacks, iteration and the pressure-cooker hours around critical manoeuvres—at a time when space-tech storytelling is finding a wider streaming audience.
Months before receiving SEBI approval, PhonePe had filed its draft IPO papers through the confidential route, a sign of how large consumer-tech firms are trying to balance disclosure with flexibility. The move highlighted both the scale of India’s digital payments leaders and the evolving playbook for major startup listings.
A KPMG report launched at World Economic Forum 2026 says India’s growing semiconductor manufacturing ambitions and rapid AI adoption are strengthening its position in trade and technology, backed by approvals for fabs, deep-tech R&D spending, and mission-led GPU deployment.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the agency is planning multiple satellite launches through 2026 and will announce details after meeting the Prime Minister. He also said scientists are analysing the deviation seen during the PSLV-C62 flight.
A new labour-market reading suggests India’s tech hiring started 2026 on a weaker footing, with active job openings down 24% from a year earlier. The report indicates softer demand in mid-senior and senior roles even as entry-level hiring shows pockets of resilience.
A KPMG India note published during World Economic Forum 2026 highlights India’s semiconductor ecosystem build-out and rapid AI adoption, pointing to policy backing for chip manufacturing and deep-tech R&D alongside large-scale compute infrastructure under the IndiaAI Mission.
OpenAI chief Sam Altman is expected to visit India in mid-February 2026, coinciding with the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi scheduled for 16–20 February. The summit is expected to draw prominent global AI figures and Indian business leaders, while parallel developer and industry events are also planned. Reports say Altman’s attendance is not yet confirmed, but preparations around the week indicate heightened global focus on India’s AI market.
A report cited by Times of India says active technology job openings in India dropped sharply year-on-year to around 103,000 roles in January 2026, pointing to a prolonged adjustment after the 2021–22 boom.
India’s tech job market began 2026 with lower hiring intent, as active technology job openings fell 24% year-on-year to around 1.03 lakh roles, according to staffing firm Xpheno’s January 2026 outlook. While IT services firms saw weaker demand, global capability centres (GCCs) emerged as a relative bright spot, reporting growth in openings compared to both the prior month and the previous year.
The India Meteorological Department has issued multi-state alerts for snowfall, hailstorms, thunderstorms and gusty winds as a fresh western disturbance is expected to affect north and central India from 26 January, peaking around 27 January. The advisory flags disruption risks to travel and daily services as fog and stormy conditions persist.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s free “Skilling for AI Readiness” (SOAR) programme has crossed 2.1 lakh enrolments, reflecting rising interest in AI upskilling across India. Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest participation, followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, as the government pushes workforce readiness for AI-led jobs.