Google has introduced the second group of the GNI Startups Lab, a 12-week accelerator initiative designed to assist emerging, independent, early-stage news startups in India to attain financial and operational stability. Developed in collaboration with Anymind Group and T-Hub, the GNI Startups Lab India is dedicated to fostering top-tier journalism for local communities, specialized audiences, and historically neglected sectors throughout the nation.

"Selected from a pool of over 110 applicants nationwide, the ten news startups encompass a wide range of journalism categories, including investigative, political, medical, youth-oriented, climate-focused, and local news, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities", stated Durga Raghunath, Head of India News Partnerships, in a blog post. "This diverse cohort comprises newsrooms spanning various regions in India, delivering news content in multiple Indian languages such as English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu", she further noted.

Additionally, the technology giant highlighted its collaboration with experts in the field to equip journalists and news organizations with digital tools and capabilities crucial for identifying, verifying, and presenting compelling stories while addressing the constantly evolving threat of misinformation. Throughout 2023, initiatives like the GNI India Training Network and Data Dialogue, facilitated by Google, aided in training over 15,000 journalists and aspiring journalists in more than 15 languages, benefiting over 240 newsrooms and media institutions. Last July, the company initiated the GNI Indian languages program in partnership with Mediology, aiming to assist 400 language-focused news publishers in modernizing their online presence, enhancing user experiences across web, app, and video formats, thereby expanding content accessibility for a wider audience.