Tech

"We plan to develop, install and commission a third launch pad in four years. Activities are going on for that," he told PTI in a recent interaction

A New York Times report highlights how American technology giants are investing heavily in India’s Artificial Intelligence and data centre infrastructure. Despite trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi, projects are advancing, with Hyderabad and coastal cities emerging as prime hubs.

Kerala police have registered a case against a Congress leader for allegedly sharing an AI-generated image linking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with a Sabarimala gold loss case accused, terming the image fabricated and misleading

The latest mission of BlueBird Block-2 significantly boosts India’s space ambitions and makes it possible to capture a larger chunk of the commercial space sector

ISRO’s LVM3-M6 “Bahubali” rocket created history on Christmas Eve by successfully launching the 6,100 kg BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite, the heaviest ever from Indian soil. The mission, part of a commercial deal with US-based AST SpaceMobile, aims to provide direct-to-mobile 4G and 5G connectivity worldwide.

Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new soil-dwelling micro-arthropod species, *Neelus sikkimensis*, in Sikkim. The finding marks the first Indian record of the genus Neelus, highlighting the Eastern Himalayas as a key biodiversity hotspot

DRDO has successfully completed user evaluation trials of the next-generation Akash missile system, paving the way for its induction into the armed forces. The Akash-NG demonstrated precision against diverse aerial threats, including high-speed, low-altitude and long-range high-altitude targets.

ISRO is set to launch the LVM3-M6 rocket carrying the 6,100 kg Bluebird Block-2, the heaviest payload in LVM3 history, from Sriharikota. The satellite will provide global direct-to-mobile 4G/5G connectivity as part of AST SpaceMobile’s network

Around 62 per cent of Indians use GenAI at work regularly, with employers and employees widely crediting AI for improving productivity, decision-making and work quality. India leads global AI adoption and tops the ‘AI Advantage’ score, an EY survey said.

Japan’s H3 rocket failed to deploy the Michibiki 5 navigation satellite into its planned orbit, marking the second failure for the new flagship rocket. JAXA is investigating, with implications for Japan’s independent geolocation and commercial space ambitions

NATO intelligence warns Russia may be developing an anti-satellite “zone-effect” weapon targeting Starlink satellites with orbiting pellets. Experts say it could cause uncontrollable space debris, endanger other satellites, and serve more as a psychological deterrent than a deployable system

INSPACe plans to establish 'Antariksh Prayogshala' space labs at seven Indian academic institutions, providing hands-on training in space technology, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and preparing skilled talent to support India’s growing space economy projected to reach $44 billion by 2033

Hyderabad police have warned users about ‘GhostPairing’, a new WhatsApp scam that exploits the app’s device-linking feature to hijack accounts through fake links. The scam relies on social engineering rather than hacking WhatsApp’s security systems.

Using 11 years of spectroscopic data from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Indian researchers mapped Sun’s magnetic activity across latitudes, revealing hemispheric asymmetries and sunspot correlations. The findings refine solar dynamo models, aid space-weather forecasting, and may support climate research

ISRO’s LVM3 M6 mission, scheduled for December 24 from Sriharikota, will launch AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird Block-2 satellite under a commercial agreement. The next-generation spacecraft aims to deliver direct-to-smartphone 4G and 5G broadband globally

Temples in Lonar Lake are getting submerged and it is a cause of concern. The IIT Bombay has been roped in to study causes and suggested ways to check the submergence

Flipkart has acquired a majority stake in Minivet AI, an AI/ML solutions provider, to enhance generative AI capabilities for e-commerce. The move aims to create interactive, immersive shopping experiences with AI-driven video and advanced product discovery

TikTok has agreed to sell its US business to investors Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, with the deal expected to close on January 22. The new venture will store user data locally, retrain its algorithm on US data and operate under American majority oversight, ending uncertainty over a potential US ban

MTAR Technologies has secured a Rs 310 crore order from Megha Engineering & Infrastructures for equipment supply to Kaiga 5 and 6 nuclear reactors in Karnataka. This adds to previous orders, bringing total Kaiga reactor orders to Rs 504 crore, with deliveries scheduled in phases up to February 2030

AAP MP Raghav Chadha urged amendments to the 1957 Copyright Act to protect digital content creators, emphasizing fair use, proportionality, and due process. He highlighted that livelihoods should not be controlled by algorithms and called for legal recognition of transformative, educational, and incidental content use

India has become the world’s largest and most active market for AI and large language model adoption, Bank of America said. Low data costs, a young English-speaking population and telecom-led AI subscriptions are accelerating usage and positioning India as a testing ground for agentic AI.

Indian consumers are entering 2026 with strong confidence, as 60 per cent plan to increase spending over the next six months, led by automobiles and mobile devices. A BCG report highlights India’s global lead in GenAI adoption for shopping decisions.

Around 200 children across Europe were conceived from a single sperm donor unknowingly carrying a rare cancer-linked mutation. The tragedy exposes gaps in genetic screening and cross-border donor limits, highlighting the urgent need for international oversight and coordinated tracking

Militant groups, including IS and al-Qaida, are experimenting with AI to produce propaganda, deepfakes, and automate cyberattacks, raising national security concerns. U.S. lawmakers call for monitoring and legislation to counter the growing threat of AI misuse by extremist actors