Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

♦ The 101st launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) failed mid-flight during its third stage on 18 May 2025.

♦ ISRO launched Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-09, aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C61 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

♦ The PSLV is a 4-stage rocket, and the first two stages were normal.

♦ However, during the third stage, there was a “fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case.

♦ This is the 63rd flight of the PSLV rocket, and the 27th using the PSLV-XL, completing a total 100 launches before May 18.

♦ EOS-09 is a repeat satellite of EOS-04, designed with the mission objective to ensure remote sensing data for the user community engaged in operational applications and to improve the frequency of observation, according to ISRO.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

♦ The world's first clinic where patients will be diagnosed using artificial intelligence (AI) has opened in Saudi Arabia.

♦ A China-based medical technology company called Synyi AI has partnered with Almoosa Health Group for the trial programme.

♦ The hospital began in the Eastern province of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

♦ The clinic aims to replace human doctors as the first point of contact for diagnosing and treating patients.

♦ However, humans are still involved in the system as "safety gatekeepers".

♦ After patients arrive at the clinic, they describe their symptoms using a tablet computer to an AI "doctor" called "Dr Hua".

♦ Once the consultation is over, Dr Hua provides a treatment plan, which is signed off by a human doctor after a thorough review.

♦ Human doctors remain available for emergencies that AI cannot handle.

Teesta Prahar

♦ The Indian Army carried out a large-scale integrated field exercise titled 'Teesta Prahar' at the Teesta field firing range on 15 May 2025.

♦ Various units of the Army, including infantry, mechanised infantry, artillery, armed corps, para special forces, army aviation engineering, and signals, participated in the exercise.

♦ The exercise holds significance in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.

Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)

♦ The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed a high-pressure nanoporous multi-layered polymeric membrane for seawater desalination.

♦ The advanced membrane, designed to withstand harsh saline conditions, has been developed by the Kanpur-based Defence Materials Stores and Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), a premier laboratory under DRDO.

♦ The indigenous technology has been specifically tailored to meet the operational needs of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships.

♦ The development, completed in a record time of just eight months, addresses the serious challenge of membrane degradation caused by exposure to chloride ions in saline water.

♦ DMSRDE, in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard, has successfully conducted initial technical trials using the new membrane in an existing desalination unit onboard an Offshore Patrolling Vessel (OPV).

♦ The initial safety and performance results have been found to be fully satisfactory.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

♦ The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to enhance India’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities.

♦ The MoU was signed between DRDO’s Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE) in Dehradun and DST’s Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital. 

♦ ARIES is a premier research institute in the field of astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric sciences and hosts state-of-the-art national observing facilities including the 3.6 m Devasthal Optical Telescope and ST Radar system.

♦ IRDE is a leading institution engaged in the design and development of Electro-Optical surveillance systems for the Armed Forces across ground, naval, airborne, and space platforms.  

♦ The scope of MoU include use of observing facilities at ARIES for monitoring and data acquisition on space objects, jointly developing Electro-Optics based systems for astronomy and SSA applications, development of image processing and data analysis techniques by integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) and knowledge exchange, training activities, and capacity building through scientific & technical research and development.

BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow on 11 May 2025

♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has virtually launched the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow on 11 May 2025.

♦ Built at a cost of Rs.300 crore, the facility will manufacture one of the world's fastest supersonic cruise missiles, with a range of 290 to 400 km and a top speed of Mach 2.8.

♦ The missile, a product of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India and Russia, can be launched from land, sea, or air and uses a "fire and forget" system.

Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs)

♦ The Indian Navy has received ‘Arnala’, the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs), at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu on 9 May 2025.

♦ The vessel was designed and built indigenously by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) under a collaborative public-private initiative with L&T Shipyard.

♦ The delivery marks a key development in the Indian Navy’s efforts toward self-reliance in defence production. Over 80% of the ship’s components are sourced domestically.

♦ The Indian Ministry of Defence signed contracts with GRSE and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in April 2019 to construct eight ASW SWC ships each. They are part of Make in India initiative.

♦ The ASW SWC are set to replace the existing Abhay-class corvettes currently in service. The Abhay-class corvettes entered service with the Indian Navy in 1989.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

♦ Indian Navy and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have successfully undertaken combat firing of the indigenously designed and developed Multi-Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) on 5 May 2025. 

♦ MIGM system is an advanced underwater naval mine and it is designed to enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities against modern stealth ships and submarines.

♦ Multi Influence Ground Mine is equipped with multiple sensors for recording of influences like acoustic, magnetic, pressure generated by marine vessels.

♦ It has a built-in electronics system that comprises data acquisition electronics with ARM processors along with peripheral devices for processing the data and to generate commands to initiate the desired course of actions.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out maiden flight-trials of its Stratospheric Airship Platform from Sheopur Trial site at Madhya Pradesh on 3 May 2025.

♦ Developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment at Agra in Uttar Pradesh, the airship was launched carrying an instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 kilometers.

♦ This system will uniquely enhance India’s earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities.