Operation Brahma

♦ In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, the Government of India launched 'Operation Brahma' to help Myanmar on 29 March 2025.  

♦ Two C-17 aircraft, carrying a 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital Unit along with 60 tonnes of relief material  to provide immediate assistance to the injured.

♦ The massive earthquake that devastated Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand killed over 1,600 people and caused widespread destruction.

♦ Approximately 52 Tons of relief material have been embarked onboard these ships, including HADR pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores. 

Enhancing the Armys mechanised infantry capabilities

♦ The Ministry of Defence inked a contracts worth Rs.2,500 crore for Nag anti-tank missile tracked platforms and 5,000 light vehicles for the armed forces on 27 March 2025.

♦ The deals were signed with Armoured Vehicle Nigam Ltd, Force Motors, and Mahindra & Mahindra, Enhancing the Army's mechanised infantry capabilities.

♦ NAMIS is a third-generation anti-tank missile with fire-and-forget anti-tank missile and sighting system, and the tracked system is mounted on a BMP-2 chassis.

♦ The light vehicles to be procured are designed in accordance with contemporary vehicle technology, with enhanced engine power to cater to a payload of 800 kgs, according to the Ministry.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed the Rolling experiment as part of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission.

♦ The “Rolling” or “Rotating” experiment involves circumnavigation of one of the satellites to verify control over satellite maneuvering.

♦ The experiment will help ISRO understand what it takes to bring an object to a desired spot from different orientations for docking.

♦ It will also help ISRO learn whether docking could be done vertically and so on.

♦ This experiment, crucial for future missions like Chandrayaan-4, will provide valuable data and help ISRO validate multiple software and ground station controls.

♦ Earlier, on 13 March 2025, ISRO had completed the undocking of two satellites as a part of the SpaDEx mission. 

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

♦ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy conducted the successful flight-test of indigenously-developed Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM).

♦ The trial conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on 26 March 2025.

♦ The flight test was carried out from a land-based vertical launcher against a high-speed aerial target at very close range and low altitude.

♦ It has established the Near-Boundary-Low Altitude capability of the missile system.

Centre for Development of Telematics

♦ The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has launched ‘Samarth’, a dedicated incubation program aimed at fostering innovation in telecommunications and IT sectors.

♦ “Samarth” Incubation Program is designed to provide comprehensive support for startups and innovators engaged in creating next-generation technologies in the fields of Telecom Software Applications, Cyber Security, 5G/6G Technologies, AI, IoT Applications & Quantum Technologies.

♦The program aims to encourage the development of sustainable and scalable business models, offer access to cutting-edge resources, and help startups bridge the gap from ideation to commercialization.

♦ C-DOT has selected Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as the Implementation Partner to drive the vision of nurturing high-impact, innovative solutions and start-ups in the tech ecosystem. 

India BioEconomy Report 2025

♦ Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh released the "India BioEconomy Report 2025" (IBER 2025)  at the BIRAC Foundation Day ceremony at the National Media Centre in New Delhi on 21 March 2025.

♦ On this occasion he said, India's bio-economy has witnessed a remarkable 16-fold rise in 10 years of the past one decade, from $10 Billion in 2014 to an impressive $165.7 Billion in 2024. 

♦By the Department of Biotechnology and BIRAC that tracks the growth and performance of India’s bioeconomy, mapping its size, structure, and key trends, and providing insights for policy and investment decisions

♦ The report highlighted the progress made by the bioeconomy sector and as per the report, the sector is contributing 4.25% to the overall GDP. The sector has shown a CAGR of 17.9% over the past four years, showcasing India’s potential as a global biotech powerhouse.

Memorandum of Understanding

♦ Japan’s Astroscale have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based space companies Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace to collaborate on technology and services.

♦ The collaboration aims to drive active debris removal, satellite servicing, and sustainable in-orbit mobility, contributing to a cleaner and safer space environment.

♦ Astroscale Japan is a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc., is leading the charge in developing cutting-edge solutions for in-orbit servicing and space debris mitigation.

♦ The company offers a range of scalable services, including life extension, in-situ space situational awareness, end-of-life disposal, and active debris removal.

Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned to Earth

♦ NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon Spacecraft.

♦ They stayed at the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months. 

♦ They came alongside NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

♦ Sunita Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998 and she underwent training at the Johnson Space Center.

♦ She also worked in Moscow with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the International Space Station.

♦ She launched on her first mission on December 9, 2006 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery to join ISS Expeditions 14 and 15 for a 195-day stint in orbit.

♦ Williams returned to the space station on July 17, 2012 onboard Russian spacecraft Soyuz for a four-month stay before returning to earth on November 19. 

♦ On April 16, 2007, she became the first person to run a marathon in space, completing the Boston Marathon on a treadmill on the space station in 4 hours and 24 minute She became the only second woman to lead the International Space Station during her second spaceflight in 2012. 

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the flight acceptance hot testing of the cryogenic engine designated for the sixth operational mission of the LVM3 launch vehicle (LVM-M6).

♦ The test was conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The LVM3, also known as Launch Vehicle Mark-3, is a three-stage medium-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO.  

♦ According to ISRO, the CE20 engine’s performance during the test met all objectives, with parameters closely aligning with predictions throughout the test duration. 

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the successful completion of its SpaDeX mission’s space de-docking on 13 March 2025.

♦ It marked a significant achievement in India’s journey towards advanced space exploration.

♦ The undocking process involved a series of carefully coordinated steps, resulting in the successful separation of the SDX-01 (Chaser) and SDX-02 (Target) satellites.

♦ These satellites were launched on December 30, 2024, aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C60 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

♦ ISRO had previously achieved the docking of the two SpaDeX satellites on January 16, 2025, marking India’s entry into an elite group of countries—alongside China, Russia, and the United States—that possess space docking technology.

♦ The SpaDeX mission aims to demonstrate India’s capability in spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking, which are crucial for future missions such as satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary exploration.

Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)

♦ The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) successfully conducted the test launch of India’s homegrown Astra, a Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) AF MK1 prototype on 12 March 2025.

♦ The test was carried out off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha.

♦ The launch proved to be a great success, with the Astra missile making a direct hit on a flying target, showcasing its accuracy and effectiveness.

♦ All subsystems of the missile performed optimally, meeting all mission parameters and objectives, demonstrating the missile’s advanced capabilities.

♦ Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Astra missile is designed to engage targets over 100 kilometers away.

♦ Its advanced guidance and navigation systems enable it to destroy targets with exceptional precision.

♦ The missile has already been inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF), further enhancing India’s air defense capabilities.

♦ This successful test-firing marks a significant milestone toward the induction of the LCA AF MK1A variant, bringing India closer to achieving its goal of strengthening its indigenous defense systems. 

NASA

♦ A NASA telescope named SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) was launched into space from California for a mission to explore the origins of the universe and to scour the Milky Way galaxy for hidden reservoirs of water, a key ingredient for life.

♦ This was carried aloft by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

♦ During its planned two-year mission, the observatory will collect data on more than 450 million galaxies, as well as more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way.

♦ It will create a three-dimensional map of the cosmos in 102 colors – individual wavelengths of light – and will study the history and evolution of galaxies.

♦ The mission aims to deepen the understanding of a phenomenon known as cosmic inflation, referring to the universe’s rapid and exponential expansion from a single point in a fraction of a second after the Big Bang that

occurredroughly 13.8 billion years ago.

World Air Quality Report 2024

♦ Swiss air quality technology company IQAir released the World Air Quality Report 2024 on 11 March 2025.

♦ Accordong to this thirteen of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list.

♦ It said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked as the world's fifth most polluted country in 2024, down from third in 2023.
Highlights:

♦ India saw a 7 percent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Yet, six of the world's 10 most polluted cities are in India.

♦ The 13 Indian cities in the world's top 20 most polluted cities are Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Loni, New Delhi, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida.

♦ Overall, 35 per cent of the Indian cities reported annual PM2.5 levels exceeding 10 times the WHO limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.

SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking)

♦ The world's first commercial space surveillance satellite, SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) was commissioned on 8 March 2025.

♦ This was developed by Bengaluru-based spacetech start-up Digantara and launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rocket on 14 January 2025. 

♦ SCOT is designed to track and monitor objects as small as five centimetre, with a high revisit rate for frequent, precise observations of orbital activity.

♦ In a statement, Digantara said the SCOT satellite achieved first light on March 8 and its inaugural image while passing over South America -- a breathtaking view of Earth's limb, with the city of Buenos Aires glowing against the planet's curvature.

♦ As space becomes increasingly congested, this capability is essential for mitigating collision risks and promoting sustainable space operations by providing accurate and dependable data to satellite operators and regulatory bodies.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted high-altitude trials of the Indigenous On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS)-based Integrated Life Support System (ILSS) for the LCA Tejas aircraft.  

♦ The OBOGS-based ILSS is a state-of-the-art system designed to generate and regulate breathable oxygen for pilots during flight.

♦ This system eliminates the need for traditional liquid oxygen cylinder-based systems, providing greater efficiency and safety. The ILSS underwent rigorous testing on the LCA-Prototype Vehicle-3 aircraft, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). 

♦ The system was tested under extreme conditions, including altitudes of up to 50,000 feet above mean sea level and high-G maneuvers, to ensure its performance met stringent aeromedical standards. 

♦ Manufactured by L&T as a Development cum Production Partner, the system represents a remarkable collaboration between DRDO and Indian defence industries. Notably, the ILSS has 90% indigenous content, reflecting India’s growing self-reliance in aerospace technology. With suitable modifications, the system can be adapted for use in other aircraft, such as the MiG-29K.

Blue Ghost Spacecraft

♦ US firm Firefly Aerospace achieved its first successful moon landing with the Blue Ghost spacecraft on 2 March 2025.

♦ It touched down near Mons Latreille, a volcanic formation in Mare Crisium on the moon’s North-Eastern near side. 

♦ The uncrewed lander, carrying 10 scientific payloads, marks Firefly as the second private company to land on the moon, following Intuitive Machines’ partial success last year (2024).

♦The spacecraft travelled 2.8 million miles over three loops around Earth before landing, beginning a 14-day research mission powered by solar panels.

♦ The mission precedes the U.S. plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2027.

♦ Five nations have made successful soft landings in the past—the then-Soviet Union, the U.S., China, India, and Japan.

Indias first indigenous Automated Bio Medical Waste Treatment

♦ Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India's first indigenous Automated Bio Medical Waste Treatment Plant named “Sṛjanam” at AIIMS New Delhi on 10 February 2025. This innovative, environmentally friendly technology, developed by CSIR-NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology), offers a significant advancement in the sustainable management of biomedical waste.

♦ The “Sṛjanam” rig can disinfect pathogenic biomedical waste such as blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables, without the use of costly and energy-intensive incinerators. Additionally, the rig imparts a pleasant fragrance to the otherwise foul-smelling toxic waste. With a daily capacity of 400 kg, the equipment is capable of handling 10 kg of degradable medical waste per day in the initial phase.