♦ Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi said, India has reached a major milestone by surpassing 100 GW of installed solar power capacity. This milestone strengthens India’s position as a global leader in renewable energy and marks a crucial step toward the country’s goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030.
♦ India’s solar sector has seen an unprecedented growth of 3,450% over the past decade (2014-24), with installed capacity increasing from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100 GW in 2025.
♦ Solar energy accounts for 47% of India’s total installed renewable energy capacity. In 2024 alone, a record 24.5 GW of solar capacity was added, with Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh leading the way in utility-scale installations.
♦ The rooftop solar sector also witnessed impressive growth, with a 53% increase in new installations.
♦ India’s solar manufacturing capacity has also surged from 2 GW in 2014 to 60 GW in 2024, positioning the country as a global leader in solar module production.
Posted Date: February 7, 2025Science & Technology
♦ A dishwasher-sized NASA satellite was launched into space from Florida to identify where water – a precious resource for lunar missions – resides on the moon’s surface in places such as the permanently shadowed craters at its poles.
♦ A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral carrying NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer orbiter.
♦ The Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin’s space division.
♦ Lunar Trailblazer, which weighs about 440 pounds (200 kg) and measures about 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) wide when its solar panels are fully deployed, is being sent to find and map this water on the moon’s surface.
Posted Date: February 27, 2025♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully conducted flight trials of the first-of-its-kind Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur on 26 February 2025.
♦ The missile, launched from an Indian Navy Sea King helicopter, demonstrated its capability against ship targets, marking a significant advancement in India’s defense technology.
♦ During the trial, the missile engaged a small ship target in sea-skimming mode at its maximum range, successfully validating its Man-in-Loop feature.
♦ This capability enables real-time target selection and in-flight retargeting, enhancing operational flexibility.
♦ The missile is equipped with an indigenous Imaging Infra-Red Seeker for terminal guidance, ensuring high-accuracy strikes.
♦ Developed by multiple DRDO laboratories, including the Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, the missile is being produced in collaboration with Development cum Production Partners, MSMEs, and start-ups.
Posted Date: February 26, 2025♦ China successfully launched the ChinaSat-10R (Zhongxing-10R) communications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
♦ The satellite was launched by a Long March-3B carrier rocket, and entered the preset orbit successfully.
♦ The launch marks the 560th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.
♦ The purpose of this satellite is to replace the aging ChinaSat-10 satellite (launched in 2011).
Posted Date: February 25, 2025♦ Microsoft unveiled a new quantum computing chip named Majorana 1, that can potentially fit a million qubits.
♦ Though this chip currently holds 8 topological qubits, it is a first of its kind to have a significant scalability runway.
♦ Key to its versatile architecture is the creation of a new material, made from indium arsenide and aluminium.
♦ Unlike traditional quantum chips, which rely on electron-based qubits, Majorana 1 has been built using a completely new kind of material and particle, the Majorana particle.
♦ Microsoft says the chip is so powerful that it can be scaled to a million qubits while being tiny enough that it can fit in the palm of your hand.
♦ Microsoft’s Majorana 1 has been in the works for nearly two decades and relies on a subatomic particle called the Majorana fermion whose existence was first theorized in the 1930s.
♦ That particle has properties that make it less prone to the errors that plague quantum computers, but it has been hard for physicists to find and control.
♦ The chip was fabricated at Microsoft labs in Washington state and Denmark.
Posted Date: February 22, 2025♦ The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) and hosting the inaugural Chief Information Officer (CIO) Conference 2025 in New Delhi.
♦ The event, held under the 'Gov.In: Harmonisation of Government of India’s Digital Footprint' initiative, was presided over by Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, and MeitY Secretary, S. Krishnan.
♦ As part of the launch, MeitY unveiled its own DBIM-compliant website.
♦ The First CIO Conference 2025 brought together experts from MeitY, NIC, MyGov, and various other ministries to discuss the adoption and implementation of DBIM.
Posted Date: February 19, 2025♦ The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhancing scientific collaboration between India and Nepal.
♦ It aimed at bolstering scientific and technological cooperation.
♦ The MoU was formalized at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) in New Delhi.
♦ The agreement was signed by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), and Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor of NAST.
♦ It establishes a broad framework for collaboration in areas such as biological sciences, water technologies, alternative energy, material sciences, and more.
♦ The partnership between CSIR and NAST dates back to 1994, and this new agreement seeks to revitalize the collaboration through joint research projects, seminars, and capacity-building programs.
Posted Date: February 19, 2025♦ The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India has entered into a strategic collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 18 February 2025.
♦ This partnership, formalised through a Letter of Intent (LoI), focuses on harnessing AI-driven digital twin technologies to develop future-ready infrastructure solutions.
♦ The LoI between DoT and ITU lays the groundwork for collaborative initiatives, including:
♦ Innovation in AI-driven digital twins and virtual world technologies.
♦ Development of global standards to ensure interoperability and scalability.
♦ Capacity building and cross-sectoral collaboration for sustainable development.
♦ Citizen engagement in urban and infrastructure planning.
Posted Date: February 18, 2025India’s fourth-generation deep-ocean submersible, Matsya-6000, has successfully completed its wet testing at the harbour in Chennai.
♦ The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) announced this on 17 February 2025—the test was conducted as part of the Samudrayan Project.
♦ ‘Samudrayan’ is an ambitious project of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is being implemented as part of the `4,800 crore ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ (DOM).
♦ Under the ‘Samudrayan’ project ‘Matsya-6000’ will descend up to a depth of 6,000 metres in the Indian Ocean in stages by 2026. NIOT is an autonomous society under the MoES.
Posted Date: February 17, 2025Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed and released the world’s largest 10-tonne propellant mixer for solid rocket motors.
♦ This was designed by ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in collaboration with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute in Bengaluru.
♦ The mixer weighs 150 tonnes and stands 8.7 meters tall, with a length of 5.4 meters and a breadth of 3.3 meters.
♦ It ensures precise and safe mixing of solid propellant ingredients, essential for rocket launch.
Posted Date: February 16, 2025♦ Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Electronic Warfare and Laser Warning System-310 (LWS-310).
♦ This agreement strengthens the longstanding partnership between the two companies, which began in 2005 during the development of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Programme.
♦ The MoU provides for a Maintenance Transfer of Technology, which aligns with the Indian Defence Procurement Procedure so that HAL will gain the capability to manufacture LWS-310 within India.
♦ The LWS-310 is an advanced laser warning and electronic warfare system designed to enhance combat vehicles' survivability against laser-guided threats.
♦ The system detects and classifies laser threats in real-time, allowing a combat management system to employ effective countermeasures.
Posted Date: February 14, 2025♦ The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur’s Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra has introduced an innovative solar dehydration technique aimed at preserving agricultural produce using sustainable energy.
♦ This pioneering method allows farmers to dry fruits and vegetables through solar energy, offering a cost-effective solution to fluctuating market prices.
♦ By enabling the storage of produce for longer periods, farmers can sell their goods at more favorable prices during peak demand, thereby increasing profitability.
♦ The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) Kancheepuram and the Education and Research Network of India (ERNET) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance research collaboration.
♦ As part of this agreement, a Joint Research Lab dedicated to the "Internet of Things (IoT) Functionality Validation Sandbox" has been inaugurated at IIITDM Kancheepuram.
♦ This collaboration is expected to boost research in emerging technologies, enhance industry-academia linkages, and provide students with advanced training opportunities.
♦ The initiative aims to strengthen India's innovation ecosystem through joint projects, funding proposals, and access to ERNET's technological infrastructure.
Posted Date: February 12, 2025♦ ISRO successfully carried out the ignition trial of the indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine powering the upper stage of LVM3, with a Multi-element igniter under vacuum conditions, which simulates the engine ignition in the vacuum condition of space.
♦ This test was carried out in the High Altitude Test Facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
♦ This engine is crucial for the Gaganyaan mission, India's ambitious crewed space mission.
♦ During this test, the ignition of the engine Thrust Chamber was carried out with a multi-element igniter in vacuum, under the tank pressure conditions that are expected to prevail at the time of restarting the cryogenic engine in flight.
♦ The performance of the engine and the facility during the test was normal and as expected.
♦ The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed contracts worth a total of Rs.10,147 crore with three prominent Indian companies - the Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL), Munitions India Ltd (MIL), and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) on 6 February 2025.
♦ The contracts aim to enhance the Indian Army’s firepower with advanced rockets for the PINAKA Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
♦ Under the contracts, the EEL will supply the Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1 (DPICM), and the MIL will provide the High Explosive Pre Fragmented (HEPF) Mk-1 (Enhanced) rockets.
♦ Moreover, a contract for upgrades to the SHAKTI Software has been signed with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), further contributing to the technological enhancement of India’s defence systems.
Posted Date: February 6, 2025♦ The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and IIT Indore have launched AgriHub, an AI-driven Center of Excellence, to revolutionize Indian agriculture.
♦ This is an AI-driven Center of Excellence (CoE) to foster technological innovation, startup incubation, and industry collaboration in agritech.
♦ AgriHub aims to empower farmers, researchers, and businesses, fostering a self-sustaining agritech ecosystem through innovation, startup incubation, and industry partnerships.
Posted Date: February 4, 2025♦ Maharashtra is set to establish the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) university in the country and a task force has been formed for the planning and implementation of the project.
♦ The university will promote research and development in AI and related fields and will be a centre of excellence, encouraging collaboration between the industry, academia and government.
♦ The task force includes experts from the academia, industry and government. It will work on creating an institution focused on AI education, research and innovation.
♦ The task force will be chaired by the Information Technology department's principal secretary. It includes directors of the IIT Mumbai and IIM Mumbai, representatives from organisations like Google India, Mahindra Group, and L&T, and officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.
Posted Date: February 5, 2025♦ Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three successive flight-trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on 1 February 2025.
♦ These tests were carried out against high-speed targets flying at very low altitude. The flight-tests were carried out in final deployment configuration where in two field operators carried out weapon readiness, target acquisition and missile firing.
♦ VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence system designed and developed indigenously by Research Center Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Development cum Production Partners. The missile system has the capability to meet the needs of all the three branches of the Armed Forces, viz. Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
