Google has introduced TranslateGemma, a new collection of open translation AI models built on Gemma 3. The company said that the models support translation across 55 languages and are available in three sizes: 4B, 12B, and 27B parameters. According to Google, TranslateGemma is part of its efforts to advance open translation models by distilling knowledge from its Gemini models into smaller, open architectures.

TranslateGemma is a family of AI models focused specifically on language translation. Google said that the models were created using a specialised training process that transfers capabilities from its Gemini models into the Gemma 3 framework.

The company has released TranslateGemma in three sizes to support different deployment needs, ranging from smaller environments to cloud-based systems.

Google said TranslateGemma has been trained and evaluated across 55 languages, including widely spoken languages such as Spanish, French, Chinese, and Hindi, as well as several low-resource languages.

Aaryan Varshney became the 92nd Indian to earn the title of chess Grandmaster on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Aaryan won the Andranik Margaryan Memorial title with a round to spare in Armenia, which confirmed his Grandmaster title.

He drew against FM Tyhran Ambartsumian in the eighth round of the competition in Armenia to secure his third and final GM norm.

Aaryan, who is from Delhi, is the eighth Grandmaster from the capital of India, along with Parimarjan Negi, Abhijeet Gupta, Sriram Jha, Vaibhav Suri, Sahaj Grover, Aryan Chopra, and Prithu Gupta.

India has the 2nd largest 5G subscriber base, only second to China, and is among the fastest adopters of the technology in the world, says India's Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia. "With over 400M+ 5G users, India today stands as the world's second-largest 5G subscriber base and among the fastest adopters globally", stated Scindia in his X post on Friday.

He emphasised on how India is setting global benchmarks in scale, speed and digital transformation. Since its launched in 2022, 5G services are now available across the country with a major base of 99.6% and with a population coverage of 85% in the country. As of March 2025, 4.69 lakhs 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) across the country which is one of the fastest rollout of 5G network, as per the data released by Ministry of Communications in December 2025. The ministry also stated that since the launch of 5G, around 25 crores mobile users have started using the 5G services and 4.69 lakhs 5G BTSs have been installed across the country.

Scientists have identified a rare natural sugar that tastes almost like regular sugar, contains fewer calories, and does not cause sharp spikes in insulin levels. The breakthrough could offer a healthier alternative to both table sugar and artificial sweeteners.

The sugar, called tagatose, is about 92 percent as sweet as sucrose but contains only one-third of the calories. Unlike traditional sugar and many artificial substitutes, tagatose has a minimal impact on blood glucose levels, making it a promising option for people with diabetes or insulin sensitivity.

Researchers from Tufts University, working with biotechnology firms Manus Bio (US) and Kcat Enzymatic (India), have demonstrated a new and more efficient method to produce tagatose on a large scale. Their findings were published in Cell Reports Physical Science.

Khadi and Village Industries (KVIC) Chairman Manoj Kumar on Friday said Ponduru Khadi, a traditional hand-woven cotton fabric produced in Ponduru village of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

The GI registration has been done in favour of KVIC by the Geographical Indications Registry.

National international recognition
The GI tag will not only give Ponduru Khadi recognition at the national level but also internationally, thereby increasing artisans’ income and creating new employment opportunities.

The KVIC Chairman said that after receiving the GI tag, Ponduru Khadi will now receive legal protection against counterfeit products, guaranteeing pure, authentic products to consumers and ensuring fair value for artisans’ labour.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that Makar Sankranti is a festival of farmers and they in a way, begin their New Year on this day. Addressing 3rd International Kite Festival- 2026 in New Delhi today, Mr Shah said, Poet Kalidasa used a very beautiful phrase for India, ‘utsav-priya janah,’ meaning that the people of India are fond of festivals. He said, in every season and at all times, people of the country have organised festivals. Mr Shah said, through festivals, the entire society comes together and move forward with a collective vision and Uttarayan is a part of that tradition.

The Home Minister said, the Simon Commission faced widespread opposition across the country and the slogan ‘Simon Go Back’ became a symbol of the independence movement. He said, the strongest form of protest against the Simon Commission came on Uttarayan, when people across India flew kites with ‘Simon Go Back’ written on them, filling the entire sky and demonstrating their strength to the British.

In a landmark move to boost economic independence and digital inclusion for women, the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka, has announced the launch of Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing, a dedicated online portal designed to showcase the products of women entrepreneurs from across the state to a global audience.

This initiative has been launched under the visionary guidance of Hon'ble Chief Minister Sri Siddaramaiah and Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister Sri D.K. Shivakumar.

It is spearheaded under the dynamic leadership of Smt. Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Hon'ble Minister of Women and Child Development, Disabled and Senior-Citizens Empowerment, Government of Karnataka, and under the chairmanship of Smt. G. Padmavathi, Chairperson, Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation.

The latest crocodile census has recorded an increase in the crocodile population in Odisha’s Similipal National Park. Official data shows that the number of crocodiles has risen from 81 last year to 84 this year. The census was conducted from 5th to 8th of this month, covering 20 locations across eight major water bodies in Similipal.

The Deo River recorded the highest count with 60 crocodiles. Of the total population, 78 crocodiles were found in the South Simlipal forest division, one in the North Simlipal division, and five at the Ramatirtha Crocodile Breeding Centre. Forest officials said the increase in the population of crocodiles reflects the success of sustained conservation measures, including the regular release of hatchlings from the breeding centre into different water bodies

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for:

1-The Appointment of Shri Praveen Kumar, IPS (WB:1993), presently working as DG, ITBP to the post of Director General, Border Security Force (BSF) in level-16 of the pay matrix from the date of assumption of charge of the post and up to 30.09.2030 i.e. the date of his superannuation or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

He is an IPS officer of 1993-batch of West Bengal cadre.

2- The Appointment of Shri Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, IPS (HY: 1990), presently working in cadre, to the post of Director General, Inda-Tibetan Border Police in level-17 of the pay matrix from the date of assumption of charge of the post and up to 31.10.2026 i.e. the date of his superannuation or until further orders, whichever is earlier vice Shri Praveen Kumar, IPS(WB:1993).

He is an IPS officer of 1990-batch of Haryana cadre.

Banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) should put a fully automated complaints management system with access to the Internal Ombudsman (IO) and Deputy Internal Ombudsman (DIO), and all unresolved grievances should be auto-escalated to the office of the IO for review, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Wednesday.

The regulator said the IO should get at least 10 days for review of complaints for which RBI, National Payments Corporation of India, or card network guidelines prescribe a timeline for resolution. For all other cases, a 20-day timeline from the receipt of the complaints has been prescribed.

In the draft guidelines, released on October 7, the timeline to transfer the complaint that has been rejected by regulated entities to the office of the IO is within 20 days and in case of credit information companies, such complaints should be referred to the office of the internal ombudsman within 25 days of receipt.