Science & Technology
♦ Bengaluru-based Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) company successfully launched India’s first indigenous unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B on 3 September 2024. The bomber FWD 200B is classified as a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) and represents India's increasing self-reliance in defence technology.
♦ The FWD 200B boasts a wingspan of 5 metres (16.4 feet) and a length of 3.5 metres (12.1 feet). It has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 102 kg and can carry a payload of 30 kg.
♦ The UAV operates at a cruising altitude of 12,000 feet and can reach up to 15,000 feet. It has a cruise speed of 152 km per hour and a maximum speed of 250 km per hour, with an endurance of 7 hours and a range of 800 km. The drone also requires a runway of just 300 metres, making it versatile for shorter airstrips.
Posted Date: September 3, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan officially inaugurated the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Abu Dhabi campus on 2 September 2024. The inaugural batch of 52 students were welcomed, embarking on their undergraduate (UG) journeys in Computer Science and Engineering and Energy Engineering. Students for the UG programs were rigorously selected through the JEE Advanced exam and the newly introduced Combined Admission Entrance Test (CAET) designed specifically for international students.
♦ IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi had previously launched its first Masters of Technology (M.Tech) program in Energy Transition and Sustainability in January 2024.
Science & Technology
♦ The second Arihant-Class submarine ‘INS Arighaat’ was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 29 August 2024. It was constructed using ‘advanced design and manufacturing technology’ following detailed research and development.
♦ The country's first home-made nuclear submarine - INS Arihant was launched in July 2009 and quietly commissioned in 2016.
♦ The Arihant class submarines are named after a Sanskrit word meaning the “Destroyer of the Enemy”.
♦ INS Arighaat was constructed by the Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam. It can travel at a maximum speed of up to 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged and 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) when surfaced. It shares the same hump as the INS Arihant and has four launch tubes. It can carry 12 K-15 SLBMs with a range of about 750 km or up to four nuclear-armed K-4 SLBMs with a range of over 3,500 km.
Science & Technology
♦ Fruit flies will be used in an experiment in space during the Gaganyaan manned mission, which is scheduled for 2025. These scientific name is Drosophila melanogaster. The flies have been developed by the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad.
♦ Fruit flies share about 77% of genes that cause human diseases. The flies are crucial in studying the formation of kidney stones among astronauts in space.
♦ Fruit flies are important to better understand how the molecular mechanisms work when kidney stones are formed among humans in space. The experiment will help come up with improved treatments, particularly for Indian astronauts.
♦ A special kit to keep the flies in space is being developed by IIST, Thiruvananthapuram.
♦ 10 male and 10 female flies will be sent to space and the cost of this study is Rs.78 lakh.
♦ The Gaganyaan mission by the ISRO will send a crewed spacecraft into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 400km altitude.
Science & Technology
♦ India launched its first reusable hybrid rocket ‘RHUMI- 1’ from Thiruvidandhai in Chennai on 24 August 2024. This is developed by the Tamil Nadu-based start-up Space Zone India with Martin Group.
♦ The rocket, carrying 3 Cube Satellites and 50 PICO Satellites, was launched into a suborbital trajectory using a mobile launcher.
♦ These satellites will be collecting data for research purposes on Global warming and Climate change. RHUMI Rocket is equipped with a generic-fuel-based hybrid motor and electrically triggered parachute deployer, RHUMI is 100% pyrotechnic-free and 0% TNT.
♦ The RHUMI-1 rocket combines the advantages of both liquid and solid fuel propellant systems to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
Science & Technology
Public sector unit Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Marine Engineering of the Indian Navy to develop advanced marine applications for defence. This agreement is pivotal in enhancing bilateral cooperation for the indigenous design, development, manufacture, testing, and product support of critical marine equipment and systems.
Science & Technology
Zen Technologies Limited has granted a patent in India for its innovative "Mine Detection System". The system integrates GPS/GIS technology to accurately record mine coordinates, enhancing safety and efficiency in demining operations. Designed to operate in extreme conditions, it is user-friendly and compatible. t is designed to function in extreme environmental conditions, operating at temperatures ranging from minus 25°C to plus 45°C and altitudes up to 15,000 feet above mean sea level.
Science & Technology
♦ Students from the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM, GIDA) have designed a unique AI human-robot to ensure the safety and security of the country's soldiers. This robot can fire bullets from a distance of 2 km. With a weight and height of 55 kg and 6.6 feet respectively, the robot is made of metal, steel, and fiber.
♦ This robot can be deployed in bunkers built on the border. With its help, the army will not be spotted by the enemies.
♦ Built at a cost of about Rs 1,80,000, the unique device took six months to be prepared.
Posted Date: August 18, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on 16August 2024. The launch was carried out using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in its third and final developmental flight.
♦ The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission, designed for a one-year duration, include developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites.
♦ The satellite is built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus and carries three key payloads: the Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry Payload (GNSS-R), and the SiC UV Dosimeter.
♦ The EOIR payload is designed to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, both during the day and night, for applications such as satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring. The GNSS-R payload demonstrates the capability of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland waterbody detection.
Science & Technology
♦ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out successful maiden flight test of Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), GAURAV from Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha on 13 August 2024.
♦ GAURAV is an air-launched one thousand-kilogram class glide bomb, capable of hitting targets at long distances.
♦ It has been designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.
♦ During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s island with pinpoint accuracy.
Posted Date: August 13, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The Ministry of External Affairs and ISRO's NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signed an agreement to grant assistance for launching the Nepal-built Munal satellite. Munal is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal under the aegis of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
♦ Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN), a Nepalese space startup, has assisted Nepalese students in the design and fabrication of this satellite. It aims to build a vegetation density database of the earth's surface.
Posted Date: August 12, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Researchers at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) – Hyderabad developed a new AI-based tool that promises to revolutionise the way malnutrition is detected among children. This tool represents a significant departure from the traditional practice of manual recording of measurement scales, which are prone to human errors.
♦ The tool has been developed by the IIITH researchers after they were approached by i-Saksham, a Bihar-based NGO that turned to AI to drive its various initiatives focused on women empowerment and Anganwadi centres.
Posted Date: August 10, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System at ITR, Chandipur in Odisha on 24 July 2024. This system defends against ballistic missiles of the 5,000 km class. Phase 1 of the BMD, which can intercept ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 km, has already been deployed.
♦ The weapon system radars, strategically positioned on both land and sea, promptly detected the incoming Target Missile and activated the AD Interceptor system in response.
♦ This system comprises Long Range Sensors, a low latency communication system, the Mission Control Centre (MCC), and advanced Interceptor missiles.
Posted Date: July 25, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the biennial, multinational exercise Pitch Black 2024 at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base in Darwin, Australia on 12 July 2024. This year’s iteration is poised to be the largest in its 43-year history, featuring participation from 20 countries, with over 140 aircraft and approximately 4,435 military personnel. This exercise was scheduled from July 12 to August 2.
♦ The exercise initially began as unilateral, but in 1983 became a joint Australia-US training event. Apart from Australia and India, countries that are regular participants include France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Other countries such as Brunei, Canada, Fiji and New Zealand have a few personnel participating in the exercise. Countries participating for the first time include Papua New Guinea, Italy, Spain and the Philippines.
♦ The IAF previously took part in the 2018 and 2022 editions of this exercise.
Posted Date: July 12, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced an online platform called MeDevIS (Medical Devices Information System). This is the first global open access clearing house for information on medical devices. It is designed to support governments, regulators and users in their decision-making on selection, procurement and use of medical devices for diagnostics, testing and treatment of diseases and health conditions.
♦The MeDevIS platform includes 2301 types of medical devices used for a broad-ranging health issues, including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes as well as infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
Posted Date: July 11, 2024Science & Technology
♦ According to the Patent Landscape Report, India ranked fifth with 1,350 GenAI patents. GenAI, or Generative AI, allows users to create content including text, images, music or software code, powering a range of industrial and consumer products, including chatbots such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini or Baidu’s ERNIE. This report was published by the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It analysed the data between 2014-2023 and assigned ranks. China got first rank in this report with 38,210 patents followed by the United States (6,276 patents), the Republic of Korea (4,155 patents), and Japan (3,409 patents).
♦ India has also overtaken the UK (sixth with 714 patents) and Germany (708) when it comes to number of GenAI patents published.
♦ The top 10 patent applicants are:
♦ Tencent (2,074 inventions), Ping An Insurance (1,564), Baidu (1,234), Chinese Academy of Sciences (607), IBM (601), Alibaba Group (571), Samsung Electronics (468), Alphabet (443), ByteDance (418), and Microsoft (377).
Posted Date: July 8, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) unveiled the country’s indigenous light tank Zorawar. It was jointly developed by the DRDO along with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the lead integrator. The project was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in 2022 to strengthen the Indian Army's operational capabilities in challenging terrains.
♦ The weight of the tank has been kept at 25 tons for higher mobility at extreme altitudes and will feature a 105 mm gun made by John Cockerill, which will also be produced in India.
♦ The tank is powered by a 1,000 hp advanced combat engine from Cummins, which provides an excellent power-to-weight ratio.
Posted Date: July 7, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The U.S.-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) announced India as a partner country in its human spaceflight programme on 1 July 2024. SERA will offer citizens worldwide six seats on a future mission of New Shepard, Blue Origin’s reusable suborbital rocket.
♦ The selected citizens will undertake the 11-minute journey in New Shepard, Blue Origin's reusable suborbital rocket, after training at its West Texas launch site.
♦ Any Indian citizen can register for the programme by paying a fee of around $2.5 to cover the costs of verification checks that ensure safe and fair voting. The final candidates will be voted on by the public for an opportunity to fly to space onboard the New Shepard mission.
Posted Date: July 1, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed an agreement with the Thales Group to manufacture 70mm rockets in India. Thales is a French multinational company that designs and manufactures equipment for the aerospace, defence, transportation and security sectors.
♦ The 70mm rockets manufactured as part of this tie-up would be used by HAL Rudra, and Prachand helicopters, crucial assets of the Indian Air Force.
Posted Date: June 28, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy on 26 June 2024. Microwave Obscurant Chaff is a niche technology developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur. It obscures radar signals and creates a microwave shield around platforms and assets, and reduced radar detection.
♦ Special type of fibres have been assembled in the medium range chaff rocket. The rocket forms microwave obscurant cloud in space when fired, spreading over a sufficient area.
Posted Date: June 26, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its annual report, ' SIPRI Yearbook 2024' on 17 June 2024. According to this, India possesses more nuclear weapons than Pakistan, while China has expanded its nuclear arsenal from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 by January 2024.
♦ India's "stored" nuclear warheads were 172 in January this year, while the number for Pakistan was 170.
♦ Russia and the US together possess almost 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons.
♦ World nuclear forces, January 2024:
♦ United States - 5044, Russia - 5580, United Kingdom - 225, France - 290, China - 500, India - 172, Pakistan - 170, North Korea - 50, Israel - 90.
Posted Date: June 17, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Three recently discovered craters on the surface of Mars have been named for renowned cosmic ray physicist late Devendra Lal and the towns of Mursan and Hilsa in northern India. While the discovery was made by a team of scientists which included researchers working at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here in 2021, the naming was approved by an international body earlier this month.
♦ The three craters are situated in the Tharsis volcanic region of the Red Planet, said the Ahmedabad-based PRL, a unit of the Department of Space of the Government of India.
♦ Tharsis is a vast volcanic plateau centered near the equator in the western hemisphere of Mars. The region is home to the largest volcanoes in the Solar System.
Posted Date: June 14, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released images of the Sun captured by the Aditya L1 satellite during a major geomagnetic storm in May.
♦ The two remote sensing payloads, namely the Solar UltraViolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) and the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), along with other payloads, captured these images from the Lagrange point in space.
♦ It erupted several X-class and M-class flares, which were associated with Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
Posted Date: June 10, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Indian Army's Vice Chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi was launched 'Vidyut Rakshak'. It is an integrated generator monitoring, protection and control system. It was developed by the Army Design Bureau (ADB).
♦ Vidyut Rakshak is an Internet of Things-enabled integrated generator monitoring, protection and control system. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interrelated devices that connect and exchange data with other IoT devices and the cloud.
Posted Date: June 10, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Indian researchers have discovered a new ant species from Arunachal Pradesh’s remote Siang Valley. The new ant has been named Paraparatrechina neela – the word “neela” derived from its unique blue coloration. This remarkable discovery comes over 121 years after the last addition was made to the Paraparatrechina genus.
♦ Researchers from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and a documentation team from Felis Creations Bangalore embarked on a series of journeys to the valley, a “Himalayan biodiversity hotspot”, under the banner ‘Siang Expedition’. They wanted to resurvey and document the region’s biodiversity.
Posted Date: June 5, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched mobile app 'Saa₹thi 2.0' on personal finance for investors with comprehensive tools aimed at simplifying complex financial concepts.
♦ The app includes financial calculators and has modules that introduce and explain KYC procedures, mutual funds, ETFs, buying and selling shares on stock exchanges, investor grievances redressal mechanism, and the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform.
Posted Date: June 3, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-Bombay) has entered a strategic partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to develop India’s first Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager. This advanced sensing tool will hold the potential to unlock new levels of precision in the examination of semiconductor chips, reduce chip failures and improve the energy efficiency of electronic devices.
♦ The collaboration between TCS and IIT Bombay is aligned with the National Quantum Mission -- an initiative by the government to position the nation as a global quantum technology leader.
Science & Technology
♦ IIT Madras’ startup, Agnikul Cosmos has launched the world’s first rocket with a single piece 3D printed engine on 30 May 2024. This remarkable feat has been achieved entirely through indigenous design and development.
♦ The launch took place from India’s first privately developed launchpad called ‘Dhanush’ established by Agnikul at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
♦ The rocket Agnibaan SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator) is also India’s first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch that was completely designed and manufactured indigenously.
♦ Agnibaan is a two-stage rocket with a capacity to carry up to 300 kg to a height of 700 km. The rocket engines are powered by liquid oxygen or kerosene. It can access both low- and high-inclination orbits and is completely mobile, designed for accessing more than 10 launch ports, as per the company.
Science & Technology
♦ India successfully test-fired a RudraM-II air-to-surface missile from a Su-30 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) off the coast of Odisha on May 29, 2024. The flight-test met all the trial objectives, validating the propulsion system and control & guidance algorithm.
♦ RudraM-II is an indigenously-developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system meant for air-to-surface role to neutralise several types of enemy assets. A number of state-of-the-art indigenous technologies developed by various DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) laboratories have been incorporated in the missile system.
Science & Technology
♦ The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) launced “PRAGATI- 2024” (Pharma Research in AyurGyan And Techno Innovation). It offers a very useful opportunity for collaborative reasearch in the filed of Ayurveda.
♦ The initiative aims to provide an opportunity for collaborative research between CCRAS and the ayurveda drug industry.
♦ The PRAGATI-2024 initiative is a significant step forward in the development of the ayurveda industry in India. It is expected to provide a platform for collaboration and research that will eventually lead to the growth and advancement of the sector.
Science & Technology
♦ NASA successfully launched the first of a pair of small climate satellites from the Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The mission, dubbed PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment), aims to study heat emissions at the Earth’s poles, shedding light on the intricate interplay between these regions and global climate change. The PREFIRE mission consists of two shoebox-sized CubeSats, each equipped with a sophisticated thermal infrared spectrometer capable of measuring the far-infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s coldest and most remote regions.
♦ The PREFIRE mission was jointly developed by NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory managing the mission and providing the spectrometers. Blue Canyon Technologies built the CubeSats, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison will process the data collected by the instruments.
Posted Date: May 26, 2024Science & Technology
♦ L&T Technology Services inaugurated a simulation centre of excellence (CoE) for Airbus at its Bengaluru campus.
♦ The CoE is designed to provide engineering support for Airbus aircraft structural simulation activities across its business units in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain.
♦ It aims to standardise processes across all Airbus European business units and aircraft programmes, streamline efficiency, and enhance productivity.
Posted Date: May 25, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has appointed Dr. Bikramjit Chaudhuri as Chief of Measurement Science and Analytics.
♦ He will succeed Dr. Derrick Grey. BARC is the world’s largest television audience measurement organization.
Posted Date: May 21, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Fifty years ago (on 18 May 1974), India conducted its first nuclear test in Pokhran, code-named Operation Smiling Buddha.
♦ India became the sixth country in the World to conduct a successful Nuclear Test after America, the Soviet Union, Britain, France, and China.
♦ It was also the first confirmed nuclear weapons test by a country outside the Five Permanent members of the United Nations security council.
♦ How India's Nuclear Test Began?
♦ In 1944, Homi Jahangir Bhabha established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), and the foundations of India's nuclear program were laid.
♦ After independence, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave formal permission for nuclear research.
♦ Under the leadership of Bhabha, steps were gradually taken towards the design of nuclear weapons.
♦ This research gained momentum between 1954 and 1959. After Bhabha's death, the nuclear research program was overseen by physicist Raja Ramanna.
♦ After Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister, physicist Vikram Sarabhai was appointed as the head of the nuclear program.
♦ But Shastri, who was committed to Gandhi's principles, limited this project to peaceful needs.
♦ After Indira Gandhi again took over as Prime Minister in 1966, the nuclear program gained momentum again.
♦ On September 7, 1972, Indira Gandhi authorized the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) to develop and prepare a nuclear device for testing.
♦ ''Operation Smiling Buddha''
♦ The code name: Operation Smiling Buddha was the Assigned code name of India's First succesful Nuclear Bomb test.
♦ Its code name came from the test’s date being on the same day as Buddha Jayanti, the birth date of Gautam Buddha. The Ministry of External affairs designated its as Pokhran -1.
♦ “The Buddha has finally smiled,” Raja Ramanna, the then director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), had conveyed to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after the test’s success.
♦ Why in Pokhran?
♦ Pokhran is a remote location in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district.
♦ The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre preferred to conduct the tests in the remote desert of Rajasthan due to the topography and the weather of the region.
♦ The test was conducted during the month of May when the wind in the region created serious sandstorms.
♦ The sandstorms obstruct a clear view to American spy satellites. Also, the infrared sensors do not pick up such activity due to the temperature that increases over 50 degrees during the daytime.
♦ To maintain the secrecy of the test the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre conducted the nuclear test in Pokhran. After the detonation, it came to be known as Operation Smiling Buddha while the MEA called it "Pokhran I".
Posted Date: May 18, 2024Science & Technology
♦ NASA has appointed David Salvagnini as the agency’s first chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) officer. Salvagnini joined NASA in June 2023 after more than 20 years working in technology leadership in the intelligence community. Prior to his role at NASA, he served the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as director of the architecture and integration group and chief architect.
♦ Prior to Salvagnini’s appointment, the agency’s Chief Scientist Kate Calvin served as NASA’s acting responsible AI official.
Posted Date: May 16, 2024Science & Technology
♦ ISRO developed a 2,000 kN (kilonewton) thrust semi-cryogenic engine working on a Liquid Oxygen (LOX) Kerosene propellant combination. This is used to enhance the payload capability of Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) and for future launch vehicles.
♦ Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is the lead centre for the development of semi-cryogenic propulsion systems with the support of other launch vehicle centres of ISRO.
Science & Technology
♦ Defence and aerospace company Flying Wedge unveiled its bomber UAV – FWD-200B. The firm claimed that it is India’s first indigenous bomber unmanned aircraft.
♦ FWD-200B is a MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) UAV with a fuel capacity of 100 kg. It comes with optical surveillance payloads and is integrated with missile-like weapons for precision air strikes.
♦ The UAV has a maximum speed of 370 kmph (200 knots), an endurance capacity of 12 to 20 hours, and a ground control station range of 200 km.
♦ At six metres long, with an eight-metre wingspan, the aircraft can carry a maximum take-off weight of 498 kg and has an operational altitude of 9,000 ft above mean sea level.
Posted Date: May 5, 2024Science & Technology
♦ A new species of marine tardigrade discovered from the South-East coast of Tamil Nadu has been named Batillipes chandrayaani. Researchers at the Cochin University of Science and Technology named it in honour of the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.
♦ The new species belong to the phylum Tardigrada, which comprises more than 1,300 described species. Among them, only 17 percent are marine species.
♦ The present species is similar in size to other tardigrades, measuring around 0.15 millimeters (mm) in length and 0.04 mm in width, characterised by four pairs of legs. The researchers said, they are one of the toughest animals on earth and have survived all five mass extinctions. They are also the first known animal to survive after exposure to outer space.
♦ This is the third time a marine tardigrade is described from the Indian waters and also the second time from the East coast. Earlier, the same research team discovered a marine tardigrade from the South-West coast (Stygarctus keralensis) in 2021 and the South-East coast (Batillipes kalami) in 2023.
Posted Date: May 2, 2024Science & Technology
♦ India conducted a successful flight test of the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system on 1 May 2024.
♦ This was held from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
♦ The SMART system represents the next generation of missile-based lightweight torpedo delivery systems, designed to bolster the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities beyond the conventional ranges of lightweight torpedoes.
♦ This was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Posted Date: May 1, 2024Science & Technology
♦ SJVN Limited inaugurated India's first Multi-purpose (Combined Heat & Power) Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at SJVN’s 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh.
♦ The green hydrogen produced from the project will be utilized for High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) Coating Facility of NJHPS for meeting its combustion fuel requirements.
♦ In addition, it will also generate electricity through its fuel cell of 25 kW capacity.
Posted Date: April 26, 2024Science & Technology
♦ CMD of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) Pradip Kumar Das participated in the 26th edition of the World Energy Congress in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
♦ He was involved in a panel discussion on 'The New Interdependencies: Trust, Security and Climate Resilience'.
♦ During the discussion, Pradip Kumar shared insights into India's journey towards energy transition and underscored IREDA's crucial role in advancing renewable energy adoption within the country.
♦ He also highlighted India's commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by the year 2070.
Posted Date: April 26, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur (IIT-J) signed an agreement for “Automated Service Management in 5G and Beyond Networks Using AI”.
♦ The primary objective is to develop AI frameworks for automated network management, fault detection, and diagnostic techniques by utilizing continuous information generated within the network like 5G.
Posted Date: April 25, 2024Science & Technology
♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed India's lightest bullet proof jacket for protection against highest threat level 6 of BIS. Its unit, Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur, the DRDO has created the jacket for protection against 7.62 x 54 R API (Level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition. The bulletproof jacket can stop six bullets.
Posted Date: April 23, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Gandhinagar-based Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and Starburst Aerospace of France entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance aerospace, defence, and homeland security innovation.
♦ The MoU includes the creation of a venture capital fund of 100 million euros for aerospace, defence and security technology and provides export promotion support for Indian start-ups to explore international markets.
♦ About Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU):
Rashtriya Raksha University is a specialized university in the field of security studies, established by the Government of Gujarat, India in 2009. It aims to provide quality education and training in the areas of national security, defence, policing, and allied fields.
♦ About Starburst:
Founded in 2012, Starburst Aerospace is an innovation catalyst in the global Aerospace and Defence (A&D) industry.
Science & Technology
♦ Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory at the Academy of Armed Forces in Uzbekistan. The Lab has been established with Indian assistance. The development is in accordance with the commitment made by India and Uzbekistan to build an IT laboratory, during the Defense Ministers meeting in September 2018.
♦ The Lab, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, is expected to enrich the training resources available to Uzbek armed forces and foster a deeper understanding and cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.
Science & Technology
♦ India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines on 19 April 2024. In January 2022, the Philippines concluded a $375-million deal with India for three batteries of a shore-based, anti-ship variant of the BrahMos becoming the first export customer for the joint venture missile between India and Russia.
♦ The first batch was delivered onboard transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force which landed in the Philippines. The Philippines is acquiring the systems under the Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Programme.
Science & Technology
♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the long-range subsonic Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) on 18 April 2024.
♦ This test was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
♦ The flight of the missile was also monitored from the Su-30-Mk-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
♦ The missile is developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment along with contributions from other laboratories and Indian industries.
Posted Date: April 18, 2024Science & Technology
Apple has formed a joint venture with renewable energy firm Cleanmax to deploy solar solutions in India. The joint venture has installed 14.4 megawatts of rooftop solar installations across six industrial sites in India which will help Apple in addressing the emissions associated with its corporate operations in India. The partnership aims to bolster renewable energy projects across India, marking a significant step forward in the nation's green energy landscape
Science & Technology
Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, for co-operation in research and technology, product development, in the areas of semiconductors, quantum technologies, and drones. The MoU aims at leveraging the complementary strengths and capabilities of BEL and IIT-Mandi. It will support indigenisation of products/ solutions being supplied by BEL to its customers and is in line with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Science & Technology
♦ The 5th edition of India- Uzbekistan joint military Exercise DUSTLIK started at Termez, the Republic of Uzbekistan on 15 April 2024. This exercise will be held until 28 April 2024. DUSTLIK is a yearly event conducted alternatively in India and Uzbekistan. Last edition was conducted at Pithoragarh (India) in February 2023.
♦ This exercise aims to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in mountainous as well as semi urban terrain. It would focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and basics of special arms skills.
Science & Technology
The Indian Army has successfully carried out field trials of indigenously-developed man-portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) weapon system, paving way for its induction into the force’s armoury. The weapon system was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The MPATGM Weapon System is a comprehensive solution that includes the MPATGM missile, Launcher, Target Acquisition System, and the Fire Control Unit.
Science & Technology
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane presided over the first steel cutting of the Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). The FSS, under construction at HSL, is first-of-its-kind with displacement of 44,000 tons and will play a crucial role in replenishing the fleet at sea with fuel, water, ammunition, and stores, thereby extending the operational capabilities of the Navy and enhancing its strategic reach.
Science & Technology
♦ Russia successfully launched the Angara-A5 rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome on 11 April 2024.
♦ The Angara-A5 is a heavy-lift rocket designed to carry payloads exceeding 20 tonnes into orbit, roared into the sky.
♦ The Angara family of rockets, developed to replace the Soviet-designed Proton rockets.
Posted Date: April 11, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) was signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) for Technical & Knowledge cooperation for Critical Minerals. Under the MoU, KABIL will leverage the technical expertise and services of CSIR-IMMT to undertake various projects, including the design and analysis of metallurgical test work-plans.
♦ KABIL is a JV company of three Indian public sector undertakings - National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
Science & Technology
♦ Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) launched India’s first private sector-built sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, TSAT-1A, in collaboration with Satellogic. The satellite was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, by SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
♦ The satellite was assembled at TASL’s facility in Karnataka. Elon Musk's SpaceX launched a total of 11 satellites in its maiden Bandwagon flight. TASL is Tata Sons' wholly-owned subsidiary.
Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Army has received the first batch of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), along with 100 missiles from Russia. In 2023, November, India signed a contract with Russia for 120 launchers and 400 missiles.
♦ The Igla-S system consists of a single launcher and a missile.
♦ MANPADS are portable surface-to-air missile systems and air defence units in high mountainous regions use MANPADS to neutralise low-altitude aerial threats such as aircraft, drones, and missiles.
Science & Technology
♦ The new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime was successfully flight-tested from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. This test was conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
♦ The ‘Agni Prime’ or ‘Agni-P’ is a nuclear-capable new-generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is a two-stage canisterised missile with a maximum range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
♦ The ‘Agni Prime’ missile is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
Science & Technology
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu launched India’s first home-grown gene therapy for cancer 'CAR-T cell therapy' at IIT Bombay on 4 April 2024. This therapy was developed in collaboration with IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Hospital in association with industry partner ImmunoACT.
Science & Technology
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered two Dornier 228 planes to the Guyana Defence Force. The President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali stated that the planes arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Guyana is located on the North Atlantic coast of South America.
Science & Technology
European accelerator Starburst collaborated with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Mumbai for promoting Aerospace, new Space, and Defence (ASD) startups in India. The partnership aims to develop the ecosystem centred around IIM Mumbai, providing vital support and resources to ASD startups across the nation, stated a press release by IIM Mumbai.
Science & Technology
♦ The SatCom Industry Association of India (SIA-India) announced a partnership with ABRASAT, the Brazilian Satellite Communications Association, to boost advancement in the space sector. The two associations signed an MoU to foster collaboration in the space sector, paving the way for innovative ventures and technological cooperation.
♦ India and Brazil have previously worked together in bilateral, multilateral, and plurilateral forums, including BRICS, IBSA, G4, G20, BASIC, the UN, WTO, UNESCO, and WIPO.
♦ The MoU between SIA-India and ABRASAT will explore the new market dynamics, infrastructure development, technological advancements, entrepreneurship, funding sources, and private investments, providing a platform for industry players to network and capitalise on emerging prospects.
Posted Date: March 29, 2024Science & Technology
♦ Researchers have discovered a new species of deep-sea isopod off the Kollam coast, Kerala. The newly discovered species has been named Brucethoa ISRO, in honor of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
♦ The tiny fish-parasitic crustacean, belonging to the genus Brucethoa, was recovered from the base of the gill cavity of the Spinyjaw greeneye, a marine fish.
♦ The identification of Brucethoa isro was conducted by a team including P. T. Aneesh, A.K. Helna, and A. Biju Kumar, who are associated with various research institutions.
Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully executed a landing mission for its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named 'Pushpak' on 22 March 2024. This test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Karnataka's Chalakere.
♦ This was the second of the series after the RLV-LEX-01 mission was accomplished in 2023, April. RLV-LEX-02 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of RLV from off-nominal initial conditions at release from Helicopter.
♦ The mission was accomplished by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) along with the Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) and the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).
Science & Technology
♦ Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) announced the launch of the BhashaNet portal at the Universal Acceptance Day event held in Delhi on 21 March 2024. The event was held with the active support of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
♦ The event marked a significant milestone in advancing digital inclusion and promoting Universal Acceptance across India.
♦ The theme of the event is "BhashaNet: Impetus Towards Universal Acceptance".
Science & Technology
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched ‘PB-SHABD’ - Prasar Bharati’s news sharing service and the revamped websites of DD News and Akashvani News. The shared feeds can be used for customized storytelling across different platforms. As an introductory offer, the services would be available free of cost and help the smaller newspapers, TV channels and digital portals immensely.
Science & Technology
♦ Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first-of- its-kind "National Speed Breeding Crop Facility" at the premier National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) in Mohali.
♦ The facility will directly help a) Scientists and Researchers from government institutions, private institutions and leading industries in India engaged in agricultural and biotechnology research and development of improved crop varieties and products, b) Plant Breeders working for crop development and c) Progressive farmers who are contributing to adoption of new varieties with superior yield and nutritional traits.
Science & Technology
♦ According to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India continues to be the world’s top arms importer. India’s arms imports increased by 4.7 percent between 2014-18 and 2019-23. Russia has retained India’s main-arms-supplier status, accounting for 36 percent of its arms imports.
♦ Saudi Arabia was the world's second-largest arms importer during 2018-22 and received 9.6 percent of all arms imports in the period. Qatar's arms imports increased by 311 percent between 2013-17 and 2018-22, making it the world's third-biggest arms importer during 2018-22.
♦ The SIPRI said, the five largest arms importers in the world during 2018-22 were India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Australia and China. The five largest arms exporters were the United States, Russia, France, China and Germany.
♦ The United States' share of global arms exports increased from 33 to 40 percent, while Russia's fell from 22 to 16 percent.
Science & Technology
♦ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted first successful flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle ( MIRV) technology on 11 March 2024. The flight test named Mission Divyastra was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
♦ The test flight of Agni-5, marked the first time that the MIRV technology was tested, which aims to deploy multiple warheads at different locations in a single launch. The Agni-5 weapon system is equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages, which ensured that the re-entry vehicles reached the target points within the desired accuracy.
♦ The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and India are among the nations that possess the MIRV technology.
Science & Technology
♦ Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and Meta have announced the launch of Frontier Technology Labs (FTLs) in schools. FTL is an advanced version of Atal Tinkering Lab equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including all components of the Tinkering Lab to empower students to innovate using technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & Virtual Reality, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Internet of Things.
♦ Till date, AIM has established 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools across 722 districts in India. The objective of ATLs is to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, physical computing etc.
Science & Technology
Union Minister of state for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh inaugurated the groundbreaking technical centre in Ahmedabad. This centre was established by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide unprecedented opportunities for the private sector to test and validate their space technologies comprehensively. The newly inaugurated technical centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities tailored for the design, development, simulation, and testing of space technologies.
Science & Technology
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the National Dolphin Research Center (NDRC) in Patna. This is India’s first-ever dolphin research centre built at a cost of Rs.30 crore, stands on the banks of the Ganges inside the Patna University campus. This center will help students and researchers understand the behavior of freshwater dolphins, particularly those found in the Ganges.
Science & Technology
♦ Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies Inc to establish a strategic partnership that will foster innovation in India and support indigenous developers and start-ups working on innovative products and use cases. Qualcomm Technologies will support C-DOT with expertise and best practices, state-of-the-art technology, intellectual property training and tools, for enabling Indian startups, academia, and OEMs, and fast tracking the development and commercialization of indigenous telecom products utilizing Qualcomm wireless solutions and technologies.
♦ The collaboration announced at just concluded Mobile World Congress 2024 at Barcelona in Spain.
Science & Technology
Larsen and Toubro (L&T) commissioned its first indigenously manufactured hydrogen electrolyser at the green hydrogen plant in Hazira, Gujarat. The electrolyzer, featuring a rated power capacity of 1 MW (expandable to 2 MW), can produce hydrogen of 200 Nm3/Hr (normal meter cubed per hour), a unit to measure gas flow rate.
Science & Technology
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the second spaceport of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on 28 February 2024. The new launch complex of the Indian space agency is worth around Rs.986 crores and is set to accommodate 24 launches per year. This spaceport will be operational in the next two years.
Science & Technology
♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the names of four astronauts who were selected for ISRO’s ambitious mission Gaganyaan on 27 February 2024. The four astronaut-designates are Prashanth Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla. They are already undergoing training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru for the country’s maiden human space flight mission. The Prime Minister also presented astronaut wings to the astronauts.
♦ ISRO is set to launch India's first human space flight programme – Gaganyaan Mission – by the end of 2025.
Science & Technology
U.S. based Intuitive Machines achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first private entity to successfully land on the moon. Intuitive Machines, through a NASA-sponsored program, successfully landed a lander on the moon on 23 February 2024. This achievement marks the return of the United States to the lunar surface for the first time since the closure of NASA's Apollo program in 1972.
Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) launched India’s largest Drone Pilot Training Organization, aligned with PM’s Namo Drone Didi initiative. Spanning across an expansive 18-acre area, this facility boasts the remarkable ability to operate nine medium-class drones simultaneously, thus earning the distinction of being India’s largest Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO).
♦ IITG in collaboration with EduRade, a brand owned by RC HobbyTech Solutions Pvt. Ltd, and incubated at IIT Guwahati Research Park, have launched the country’s largest RPTO.
♦ IIT Guwahati is currently hosting a groundbreaking drone training initiative tailored for diverse defence personnel. The IITG-RPTO now plans to launch a diverse range of drone-based courses aimed at catering to various skill levels and interests, thereby ensuring comprehensive education and upskilling opportunities for individuals.
Science & Technology
♦ ISRO successfully launched its next-generation weather observation satellite INSAT-3DS on 17 February 2024. This satellite was carried by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-F14 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
♦ The mission aims to maintain the continuity of services offered by the current operational INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites. It focuses on enhanced meteorological observations, monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning, along with providing Satellite Aided Search and Rescue Services.
Main objectives:
♦ Monitor Earth's surface, observe oceans, and analyze the environment through various essential meteorological perspectives.
♦ Provide information on diverse atmospheric conditions through vertical profiles.
♦ Manage data collection and dissemination from Data Collection Platforms (DCPs).
♦ Support Search and Rescue services.
Science & Technology
♦ A professor in the Electrical Engineering Department of IIT Jammu, Dr. Karan Nathwani developed an anti-drone system that works mainly on sound technology. The drone system is not only cost effective but also user-friendly, making it accessible to the general public.
♦ The drone system is the first of its kind which is developed based on an entirely new technology called 'sound-based detection'. This system detects the sound emitted by drones, producing a unique signature that helps in their identification.
♦ The cost of this system is about Rs. 4 lakh. The Sound-based drone detection systems will detect even drones and birds coming from Pakistan.
Science & Technology
♦ The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has unveiled the 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative, inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) from various sectors. This is an unparalleled venture inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) from industry pioneers, startups, MSMEs, academia, innovators and forward-thinkers.
♦ Digital Twin technology offers a solution by creating virtual replicas of physical assets, allowing for real-time monitoring, simulation and analysis for experimental iterations and feedback loop to adapt to the changes for achieving the best outcomes.
Science & Technology
♦ Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar unveiled the first indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Hyderabad on 10 January 2024. This was manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace. The Drishti 10 Starliner is an advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform with 36 hours of endurance and a 450 kg payload capacity. The UAV will now be taken from Hyderabad to Porbandar to be inducted into naval maritime operations.
Science & Technology
♦ The Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) launched an assault rifle 'Ugram' on 8 January 2024. The weapon was developed at the Armament Research and Development Establishments (ARDE), Pune. This is designed to meet the Indian Army's 'GSQR' (General Staff Qualitative Requirement) of a rifle weighing less than four kg. Ugram weighs less than four kilograms and has an effective range of 500 metres. Having a 20-round magazine, the rifle has a rivet-free design and is capable of firing in both single as well as full auto mode. Ugram, a state-of-the-art assault rifle of the 7.62 x 51 mm calibre.
Science & Technology
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C58 X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission on January 1, 2024. This was conducted from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. XPoSat is the first dedicated scientific satellite from ISRO to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources. The Satellite configuration is modified from the IMS-2 bus platform. The Configuration of the mainframe systems are derived based on the heritage of IRS satellites.
The objectives of this mission are:
♦ To measure polarisation of X-rays in the energy band 8-30keV emanating from about 50 potential cosmic sources through Thomson Scattering by POLIX payload.
♦ To carry out long term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources in the energy band 0.8-15keV by XSPECT payload.
♦ To carry out polarisation and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources by POLIX and XSPECT payloads respectively in the common energy band.
Science & Technology
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurated a new design and test facility at Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru, Karnataka on December 29, 2023. The AERDC is currently involved in the design and development of several new engines including two strategic engines - Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE) of 25 kN thrust for powering trainers, UAV’s, twin engine small fighter aircraft or regional jets and Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE) of 1200 kN thrust for powering light and medium weight helicopters (3.5 to 6.5 tonnes in single/ twin engine configuration).
Science & Technology
A group of researchers from Visva-Bharati University's botany department discovered a bacteria capable of boosting plant growth on 24 December 2023. They named it Pantoea Tagorei in honour of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The bacteria has immense potential to revolutionise agricultural practices, microbiologist Bomba Dam.
♦ The Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) has officially recognised Visva-Bharati's groundbreaking discovery, further cementing the significance of this momentous breakthrough in the field of agriculture.
♦ Visva-Bharati University is located in West Bengal.
Science & Technology
♦ The Ministry of Textiles launched “Paat-Mitro” - a mobile application on 22 December 2023 to provide important information about MSP and agronomy to jute farmers. This app was developed by the Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCI) during ‘Jute Symposium’. Farmers will also be able to track the status of their payments for the raw jute sold to JCI under MSP Operation. The ‘Jute Symposium’ was organised to create awareness and popularize Jute-based technical textiles with a special emphasize on Jute Geotextiles.
Science & Technology
♦ Indian Navy and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote technology development, bring innovative solutions and be involved in joint R&D.
♦ This MoU signed at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi on 18 December 2023.
♦ Rear Admiral K Srinivas, Asst Chief of Materiel (Dockyard and Refits) and Professor Subramaniam Ganesh, Officiating Director IIT Kanpur concluded this MoU.
♦ The MoU would serve as a broader framework and enable both sides to enhance capacity building, provide solutions to field level issues and enhance training effectiveness through exchange of faculty/ guest lectures.
♦ The structured collaboration focuses on joint Research and Development initiatives involving teams from Centre of Excellence (Marine Engg) at INS Shivaji, Lonavla and IIT Kanpur.
Posted Date: December 19, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully testfired its SAMAR air defence missile system at Air Force Station Suryalanka in Andhra Pradesh on 17 December 2023.
♦ The IAF has developed the Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) air defence missile system by using its old Russian-origin air-to-air missile systems.
♦ The missile system participated for the first time in the exercise to test its surface-to-air weapon systems and carry out their operational field trials.
♦ The system can engage aerial threats with missiles operating at a speed range of 2 to 2.5 Mach.
Posted Date: December 17, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a flight trial of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
♦ This test was conducted from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, in Karnataka.
♦ UAV is an indigenous high-speed flying wing.
♦ The autonomous flying wing technology demonstrator has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
♦ The autonomous landing of this high-speed UAV, without the need for ground radars or infrastructure or pilot, showcased a unique capability demonstration, allowing take-off and landing from any runway with surveyed coordinates.
Posted Date: December 16, 2023Science & Technology
♦ India and the US will launch the joint microwave remote sensing satellite for Earth observation, named NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) in the first quarter of next year.
♦ This was said by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh during a meeting with a high-level delegation of NASA led by its Administrator Mr Bill Nelson in New Delhi on 29 November 2023.
♦ NISAR is targeted for launch onboard India’s GSLV.
♦ Data from NISAR will be highly suitable for studying the land ecosystems, deformation of solid earth, mountain & polar cryosphere, sea ice and coastal oceans in regional to global scale.
Posted Date: November 29, 2023Science & Technology
♦ IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS) set up an innovation lab at the IBM Client Experience Center in Bangalore. The lab is a first-of-its-kind for the IBM-AWS collaboration.
♦ It is open to clients from around the world to explore companies’ solutions and test prototypes and proof of value that aim to help accelerate innovation across industries such as banking and financial services, automotive, manufacturing, energy and utilities, travel and transportation, and healthcare, among others.
Posted Date: November 9, 2023Science & Technology
♦ NASA astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly (87) passed away in Arlington, Virginia on 31 October 2023. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said this on November 4.
♦ His full name is Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II.
♦ Ken Mattingly is best remembered for his vital role in the safe return of the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft to Earth. His contributions to space exploration, both on the ground and in orbit, have left an indelible mark on NASA’s history.
♦ Mattingly joined NASA in 1966. He helped with development of the spacesuit and backpack for the Apollo moon missions.
Posted Date: November 4, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Kerala discovered a new species of mushroom, named Candolleomyces albosquamosus. They found this at the JNTBGRI campus in the Western Ghats.
♦ Candolleomyces albosquamosus sports a honey-yellow cap, white stem, grows to 58 mm. Its habitats include dead logs or bamboo culms in the natural forest
♦ This discovery sheds light on the region’s remarkable biodiversity and encourages further exploration of fungal diversity in the area.
Science & Technology
♦ Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Safran Aircraft Engines of France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop industrial cooperation in manufacturing ring forgings for commercial aircraft engines.
♦ The MoU was signed by Mihir Kanti Mishra, CEO (Bangalore Complex), HAL, and Dominique Dupuy, Senior Vice-President (Purchasing), Safran Aircraft Engines, in Bengaluru.
♦ The products that HAL and Safran will jointly produce in Bengaluru will power the Airbus A320 Neo family and the Boeing 737 Max single-aisle airliners.
♦ The joint development and manufacture of aircraft engines by Safran and HAL underscores the strategic cooperation that increasingly characterises the Indo-French security agenda.
Science & Technology
♦ Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited unveiled India's first satellite-based giga-fibre service 'JioSpaceFibre'. The aim of this service is to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to areas hard to reach.
♦ The Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Akash Ambani, introduced the project to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of an exhibition at the 7th edition of the India Mobile Congress in Delhi.
♦ Currently, Jio provides high-speed broadband services to more than 450 million consumers in India, offering both fixed-line and wireless options.
♦ JioSpaceFiber is an Internet network relying on satellites.
♦ Jio SpaceFiber is already accessible in four of India's most distant locations, including Gir (Gujarat), Korba (Chhattisgarh), Nabarangpur (Odisha), and ONGC-Jorhat (Assam). The company plans to make it available across the entire country.
Science & Technology
♦ Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first trainer version of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas to Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari at a ceremony in Bengaluru.
♦ HAL has an order of 18 twin seaters from IAF and is planning to deliver eight of them during 2023-24.
♦ The aircraft is part of an earlier order for 40 Mk-1 jets in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations -- the first variants of the LCA. Of the 40 Mk-1s, the IAF has inducted 32 single-seater jets and raised two LCA squadrons. The remaining eight aircraft are trainers.
♦ LCA Mk1A is the most advanced version of the LCA Tejas.
Science & Technology
♦ Geoscientists have discovered a new continent that had been hiding in plain sight.
♦ The small team of geologists and seismologists has created a newly refined map of Zealandia or Te Riu-a-Maui.
♦ The researchers found it by using the data obtained from dredged rock samples recovered from the ocean floor.
♦ Zealandia was originally part of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana.
♦ Zealandia as a vast continent of 4.9 million square kilometres (1.89 million sq miles) - about six times the size of Madagascar.
♦ The new continent is 94 percent underwater, with just a handful of islands, similar to New Zealand.
Posted Date: September 28, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Researchers at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) have identified a new species of marine tardigrade which they have named after the late former President and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
♦ Tardigrades are extremely tiny animals whose size is approximately 0.17mm long and 0.05mm wide, characterized by four pairs of legs.
♦ Their microscopic size, however, belies their toughness.
♦ They are known for their extraordinary resilience and survival instincts. Studied using microscopes, these water-dwelling animals also go by the rather unlikely moniker ‘water bears.’
Science & Technology
♦ The National Medical Commission (NMC), India has achieved the prestigious World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Recognition Status for a remarkable tenure of 10 years.
♦ This recognition is a testament to NMC’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards in medical education and accreditation.
♦ As part of this recognition, all the 706 existing medical colleges in India will become WFME accredited and the new medical colleges that will be set up in the coming 10 years will automatically become WFME accredited.
♦ The recognition will further enhance the quality and standards of medical education in India by aligning them with the global best practices and benchmarks.
About World Federation for Medical Education (WFME):
♦ The World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) is a global organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of medical education worldwide.
♦ WFME's accreditation program plays a pivotal role in ensuring that medical institutes meet and uphold the highest international standards of education and training.
About National Medical Commission (NMC):
♦ The National Medical Commision (NMC) is India's premier regulatory body overseeing medical education and practice.
♦ Committed to upholding the highest standards in healthcare education, N M C ensures the delivery of quality medical education and training across the nation.
Science & Technology
♦ Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched the 'One Week One Lab' (OWOL) programme in New Delhi.
♦ During the programme, each of the 37 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR laboratories, spread across the country, will showcase their research outcomes and achievements.
♦ It will continue till 16th September.
♦ The programme will open its doors to the public and invite them to visit its departments and witness its academic and research initiatives.
Science & Technology
♦ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the first observation mission to the Sun, Aditya-L1.
♦ The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - C57 rocket carrying the orbiter lifted off successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
♦ It will travel 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) from the Earth over 125 days.
♦ Aditya-L1 will be the first space-based observatory to study the Sun.
Science & Technology
♦ ISRO's Aditya-L1 will be launched on the 2nd of September at 11.50 hrs from Sriharikota space station in Andhra Pradesh.
♦ This will be the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun.
♦ It will launch the PSLV-C57 for this mission.
♦ The satellite will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point L1 of the Sun-Earth system which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
♦ It will take around four months to reach the Lagrange point.
Posted Date: August 28, 2023Science & Technology
♦ India’s lunar exploration mission Chandrayaan-3 soft landed near the Moon’s South pole.
♦ With this achievement India has become the first country in the world to land on the South pole of the moon. This mission was launched by ISRO on 14 July 2023 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
♦ ISRO has named the lander of Chandrayaan-3 mission as 'Vikram' and 'rover' as 'Pragyan' which is a scientific payload.
♦ 'Pragyan' is a robotic vehicle which translates to 'knowledge' in Sanskrit.
Posted Date: August 23, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA, Bangalore) have discovered a unique star named HE 1005-1439.
♦ They classified this star as a carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP).
♦ Scientists said that the iron content of the star is a thousand times less than that of the sun and it is heavily enriched with neutron-capture elements.
Posted Date: August 16, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at IPRC, Mahendragiri.
♦ This test involved five liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440 N and sixteen reaction control system (RCS) thrusters with a thrust of 100 N.
♦ The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India’s capability for human spaceflight.
Posted Date: July 21, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Two major components of the NISAR satellite have been combined to create a single spacecraft in Bengaluru, India.
♦ Set to launch in early 2024, NISAR – short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar – is being jointly developed by NASA and the ISRO, to track movements of Earth’s land and ice surfaces in extremely fine detail.
♦ NISAR monitors nearly every part of our planet at least once every 12 days.
Posted Date: July 14, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated an indigenous Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) called Sagar Sampark.
♦ It aims to boost digitalisation in the maritime sector.
♦ Sagar Sampark’s primary objective is to improve the precision of positioning data by rectifying errors and inaccuracies found in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
Posted Date: July 14, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched Chandrayaan-3.
♦ It was India’s third moon mission.
♦ It was launched from the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) rocket from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
♦ The lander is due to reach the Moon on 23-24 August.
♦ P Veeramuthuvel is the project director of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft and its mission of soft landing on the Moon.
Posted Date: July 14, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The Union Minister for Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane launched ‘CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal’, ‘Mobile App for Geo-tagging of Cluster Projects, Technology Centers’ and 'MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0' for women entrepreneurs.
♦ They were launched on the occasion of International MSME Day on June 27. On the occasion, Rane emphasized the importance of MSMEs in the country’s GDP and exports.
♦ He also expressed hope that MSMEs will contribute to 50% of the country’s GDP by 2030.
Science & Technology
♦ India has decided to join the Artemis Accords, which brings like-minded countries together on civil space exploration, and NASA and ISRO have agreed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.
♦ The agreement could give a significant boost to India's space exploration ambitions.
♦ The Artemis Accords are based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and serve as a non-binding framework of principles to guide civil space exploration and utilisation in the 21st century.
Science & Technology
♦ The world’s leading aircraft engine maker GE Aerospace signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Washington to jointly produce fighter jet engines for Indian Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk-II - Tejas.
♦ The agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier commitment to build 99 engines for the IAF as part of the LCA-Mk-II programme.
♦ The agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier commitment to build 99 engines for IAF as part of the LCA Mk2 programme.
Science & Technology
♦ The defence ministry approved the procurement of US-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones (Predators).
♦ India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth slightly over $3 billion (Rs.29,000 crore).
♦ The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 Reaper, has been chosen by India for its diverse capabilities, including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and over-the-horizon targeting.
♦ The Indian Navy is set to receive 14 drones, while the Indian Air Force and Army will each receive eight.
Posted Date: June 15, 2023Science & Technology
♦ ‘Sanshodhak’, the fourth of four ships of Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project was launched at Kattupalli, Chennai.
♦ This was built by L and T/ GRSE for Indian Navy.
♦ The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on 30 Oct 2018.
♦ The first three ships of the project, Sandhayak, Nirdeshak and Ikshak were launched on 05 Dec 2021, 26 May 2022 and 26 Nov 2022 respectively.
♦ SVL ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships, with new generation hydrographic equipment, to collect oceanographic data.
Science & Technology
♦ Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal launched the ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’ online dredging monitoring system in order to accelerate the ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative of the Ministry.
♦ This system has been developed by National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) the technological arm of MoPSW.
Posted Date: June 12, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The new generation ballistic missile ‘Agni Prime’ was successfully flight-tested by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
♦ The first pre-induction night launch of the missile with a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000 km was carried out.
♦ In 2022 December, India successfully test-fired Agni-V missile that can strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km.
♦ The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and they have already been deployed.
Posted Date: June 8, 2023Science & Technology
♦ India conducted Asia's first demonstration of performance-based navigation for helicopters for a flight from Juhu to Pune using GAGAN satellite technology.
♦ GAGAN refers to GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation.
♦ It is a space-based augmentation system for providing the best possible navigational services over the Indian FIR (Flight Information Region) with the capability of expanding to neighbouring FIRs.
♦ It was jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Posted Date: June 6, 2023Science & Technology
♦ A training launch of a Medium-Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-1 Successfully launched from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
♦ The missile is a proven system, capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision.
Posted Date: June 2, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Ajay Yadav took charge as Managing Director (MD) of Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI).
♦ He is a 2005 batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre.
♦ SECI is a nodal agency of the central government for auctioning renewable energy projects.
♦ It is a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) established in 2011.
Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GSLV-F12/NVS-01 mission was successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
♦ The 51.7-metre GSLV-F12 placed the NVS-01 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
♦ GSLV-F12 is the 15th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 9th flight with an indigenous cryostage.
♦ The NVS-01 is the first in the second-generation navigation satellite series, which will ensure continuity of legacy NavIC services and also provide new service in the L1 band.
Posted Date: May 29, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Researchers have discovered a new species of tree in Adi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh.
♦ They named it Meiogyne arunachalensis. It was discovered by the researcher during a biodiversity expedition to the “Adi hills of Arunachal Pradesh”.
♦ The scientists said this is a subgenus of the Meiogyne. Meiogyne arunachalensis is the largest species of the genus described so far in terms of tree height and girth of the tree trunk.
Science & Technology
♦ American private space habitat company Axiom Space launched their latest mission, Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) in the International Space Station (ISS).
♦ It will conduct several experiments on human stem cell ageing, inflammation, and cancer in the low Earth orbit lab.
♦ The Ax-2 mission will now determine if two inhibitory drugs can reverse the regeneration in an organoid model of breast cancer.
Science & Technology
♦ Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Israel to build an ‘India-Israel Center of Water Technology’ (CoWT) in Water Resources Management and Water Technologies.
♦ The Centre aims to build human capacity to ensure the implementation of the best technologies of Israel in a tailor-made context for the Indian requirements and pilot sustainable technologies to ensure water security for the country.
Posted Date: May 22, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The second edition of the naval exercise between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started at Port Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
♦ This exercise was known as 'AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2023.' From India INS TARKASH and INS SUBHADRA participated in this exercise.
♦ The inaugural edition of the exercise was successfully conducted in 2021. 'AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2023' encompasses a series of exercises conducted on land and at sea by the two friendly navies.
Posted Date: May 21, 2023Science & Technology
♦ AYUSH Ministry and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaborative and cooperative momentum on health research in the field of Integrated Medicine.
♦ This cooperation will focus on identified areas of national importance in healthcare for promoting high impact research to generate evidence utilizing modern scientific methods.
♦ This MoU will also strengthen research capacity through training of Ayush researchers.
Posted Date: May 11, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated India’s first Indian Air Force (IAF) heritage centre in Chandigarh’s Sector 18.
♦ The Centre has been set up under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Union Territory of Chandigarh and the IAF which was signed in 2022.
♦ The heritage centre spread across 17,000 sqft at the Government Press Building, it highlights the IAF’s role in various wars.
Posted Date: May 8, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘ADC-150’ from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa.
♦ ‘ADC-150’ is an indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container with 150 kg payload capacity.
♦ Three DRDO laboratories - Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam; Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru - have been involved in the development of ADC-150 container.
Posted Date: May 3, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The first-ever ASEAN-India maritime exercise (AIME-2023) started on 2nd May 2023.
♦ The exercise will conclude on 8th May 2023.
♦ The Harbour Phase of the exercise is scheduled to be held at Changi Naval Base (Singapore) from 02 to 04 May 2023 and the Sea Phase will be conducted from 07 to 08 May 2023 in the South China Sea.
♦ The naval exercise involves nine ships, six aircraft, and over 1,800 personnel from the ASEAN Member States and India.
Posted Date: May 2, 2023Science & Technology
♦ India and United Kingdom will together jointly create India-UK "NET Zero" Innovation Virtual Centre.
♦ It was announced During the India-UK Science & Innovation Council meeting, chaired by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and attended by UK Minister George Freeman.
♦ The two leaders called for enhanced Science & Technology cooperation between India and the United Kingdom.
Posted Date: April 28, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras will set up its first International campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, with plans to start the classes by October 2023.
♦ This was confirmed by its Director V Kamakoti in his presidential address at IIT Madras' 64th Institute Day.
♦ In February, 2023 a team of five professors from IIT Madras visited Tanzania and held discussions with various officials on starting the campus.
Posted Date: April 25, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC) at the Discovery Campus of IIT, Madras.
♦ This centre aims at enabling Research & development for the marine sector enabling solutions towards achieving the ultimate goal of building a robust marine industry in the country.
♦ This state-of-the-art centre will ensure advancement in the field of maritime technology, as well as modernisation & upgradation possibilities in the port & operations towards achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047.
Posted Date: April 25, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Fighter jets of the air forces of India and the United States participated in a joint exercise at Kalaikunda Air Force Station in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal.
♦ As part of the Cope India 2023 exercise, five top-notch fighter jets of the two air forces took off in quick succession from the air force base.
♦ The Indian Air Force has employed Tejas, Rafale, Jaguar and Su-30 MKI fighter jets while F-15 is representing the United States Air Force in the exercise.
Posted Date: April 24, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore in collaboration with the NASA-Caltech from the US and Sweden's University of Gothenburg has developed a low-cost camera setup which can provide multispectral imaging of four chemical species in a flame using single DSLR camera.
♦ It can simultaneously capture multiple spectral three-dimensional images of four chemical species in a flame, whereas earlier scientific imaging required a complex system with four cameras.
Posted Date: April 18, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission (Juice).
♦ It lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
♦ It marks the beginning of an ambitious voyage to uncover the secrets of the ocean worlds around the giant planet Jupiter.
Posted Date: April 16, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE).
♦ It was launched from its spaceport in French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcehr.
♦ The mission aim to discover whether Jupiter's icy moons are capable of hosting extraterrestrial life in their vast, hidden oceans.
Posted Date: April 14, 2023Science & Technology
♦ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a high-resolution air pollution monitoring instrument TEMPO or Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution Instrument.
♦ TEMPO was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
♦ TEMPO can measure atmospheric pollution down to a spatial resolution of four square miles (10 square kilometres), or neighbourhood level.
Posted Date: April 9, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Sunday successfully launched and landed a reusable launch vehicle.
♦ This development brings India one step closer to having its own reusable rocket.
♦ ISRO dropped the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Experiment (RLV LEX) mission from a helicopter hovering 4.5 km above ground, and had it land safely on its wheels, ready to be used again.
the test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Posted Date: April 3, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s largest Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) rocket/OneWeb India-2 Mission with 36 satellites onboard from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
♦ These satellites belong to UK-based Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb).
Posted Date: March 26, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine.
♦ The Engine will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
♦ This test was conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. ISRO said the hot test was carried out for a planned duration of 25 seconds at the High Altitude Test Facility.
Posted Date: February 28, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023 was launched by the Martin Foundation in association with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India in Tamil Nadu.
♦ More than 5000 students from Grade 6th to 12th, from various parts of the country, have been enabled to design and develop 150 PICO satellites, to be launched through the rocket, in this initiative.
Posted Date: February 19, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said, Global electricity demand is set to grow at an accelerated pace and Asia will account for half of the world’s electricity consumption by 2025.
♦ More than 70 percent of the growth in global electricity demand is set to come from developing economies, led by China, India, and Southeast Asia.
♦ Most of Asia’s electricity use will be in China. It is a country with 1.4 billion people whose share of global consumption will rise from a quarter in 2015 to a third by the middle of this decade.
Posted Date: February 14, 2023Science & Technology
♦ ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) - D2 rocket successfully orbited three satellites from the first launch pad at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.
♦ SSLV-D2 put into orbit an Earth Observation Satellite-07 (EOS-07) weighing about 156.3 kg and two others - 10.2 kg, Janus-1 belonging to ANTARIS of the US and 8.7 kg AzaadiSat-2 belonging to Space Kidz India, Chennai into a 450 km circular orbit.
Posted Date: February 10, 2023Science & Technology
♦ An earth-observation satellite jointly developed by NASA and ISRO that will help study Earth's land and ice surfaces in greater detail is all set to be shipped to India later this month for a possible launch in September.
♦ NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally consistent data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, ground water and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.
Posted Date: February 8, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled Skye UTM, touted as the most cutting-edge unmanned traffic management system in the world.
♦ This is capable of handling 4,000 flights per hour and 96,000 flights per day.
♦ Skye UTM is a Cloud-based aerial traffic management system that integrates unmanned air traffic with the manned aviation airspace.
Science & Technology
♦ Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) plans to develop a training module for the Indian Spaceflight Programme using Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality/ Mixed Reality (AR/ VR/ MR).
♦ Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) would utilize the advanced technologies created at the newly-established experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) at IIT Madras to promote Research and Development (R&D) in the domain of Extended Reality.
♦ A MoU towards was signed recently between ISRO and IIT Madras for collaboration on the application of Extended Reality (XR) and other technologies in Indian Human Spaceflight Program.
Science & Technology
♦ A team of Indian and Australian scientists has developed brain-like computing.
♦ They used scandium nitride (ScN), a semiconducting material with supreme stability and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility, to develop brain-like computing.
♦ This invention can provide a new material for stable, CMOS-compatible optoelectronic synaptic functionalities at a relatively lower energy cost and hence has the potential to be translated into an industrial product.
Posted Date: January 30, 2023Science & Technology
♦ Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, iNNCOVACC.
♦ It is developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance (BIRAC).
Posted Date: January 26, 2023Science & Technology
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out a training launch of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile, Prithvi-II from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Odisha coast on 11th January. Prithvi-II missile is a well-established system and has been an integral part of India’s nuclear deterrence.
Posted Date: January 11, 2023Science & Technology
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Microsoft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 6th January to help Indian space tech start-ups with technology tools, go-to-market support and mentoring to help them scale and become business ready. This comes at a time when the Indian space tech start-up ecosystem is seeing a lot of activity.
Posted Date: January 6, 2023Science & Technology
♦ The heaviest rocket LVM3 of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched 36 satellites of British start-up OneWeb Broadband Communication Satellites from the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota on 23 October 2022.
♦ It will mark the the launcher’s entry into the global commercial launch service market.
♦ The launch is first for LVM3 - M2 to place the satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO up to 1,200 kms above the Earth) unlike Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Posted Date: October 31, 2022Science & Technology
♦ The spectrometer on Chandrayaan-2 mapped abundance of sodium on the moon.
♦ The X-ray spectrometer called CLASS (Chandrayaan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer) aboard the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter detected a large amount of sodium on the moon for the first time.
♦ Sodium is found in the Moon’s exosphere, where atoms rarely interact.
♦ X-ray florescence is commonly used to find the composition of minerals in a nondestructive manner.
Science & Technology
♦ An avalanche monitoring radar, the first of its kind in India, has been installed in North Sikkim by the Army and Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE) on 23 September 2022.
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♦ It has the capability to detect avalanches within three seconds of its trigger and will assist in saving lives of troops and reducing damage to property in super high altitude areas. ♦ The radar was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. Tarun Kumar Aich, General Officer Commanding of Sukna-based 33 Corps. |
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Science & Technology
♦ Satellite internet service provider, Hughes Communications India (HCI) launched India’s first high throughput satellite (HTS) broadband service powered by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellites.
♦ This service would provide broadband connectivity to remote locations and most backward areas of India by using ISRO’s GSAT-11 and GSAT-29 satellites.
Posted Date: September 28, 2022Science & Technology
♦ The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub and Meta, announced the launch of an programme to support and accelerate XR technology startups across India.
♦ This program focuses on skilling and building technological capabilities for the metaverse, and will help shape the ecosystem for these emerging technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the country.
Posted Date: September 28, 2022Science & Technology
♦ Tripura Government has setup India’s first Bio-Village at Daspara village.
♦ This have been setup in Tripura by the Directorate of Bio-Technology under the Science and Technology department.
♦ Currently, 64 families live in Daspara. The concept of Bio Village 2.0 has been recognized as one of the best practices to attain sustainable development goals.
Posted Date: September 28, 2022Science & Technology
♦ For the first time, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has taken a direct image of a planet outside the Solar System.
♦ The exoplanet called HIP 65426 b, is about 6 to 12 times the mass of Jupiter and it is 15 to 20 million years old.
Science & Technology
✧ The Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) program was announced on 27th April 2022 by the government of India.
✧ It’s aim is to create Microprocessors for the country’s and the world’s future and to achieve industry-grade commercial silicon and design for the next generation of microprocessors by the month of December 2023.
✧ RISC-V is an open and free ISA that will enable a new era of processor innovation through collaboration.
Posted Date: June 10, 2022Science & Technology
US scientists have developed a rapid and sensitive diagnostic system, consisting of a smartphone app and a testing kit, to detect SARS-CoV-2, its variants and the flu virus. Developed by researchers at the University of California (UC)Santa Barbara, US, the system can provide a platform for inexpensive home-based testing.It can be readily adapted for other pathogens with pandemic potential including deadly variants of SARS-CoV-2 and flu, they said. The system, described in the journal JAMA Network Open, succeeded in achieving rapid and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 variants, and flu viruses.
The app uses a smartphone's camera to measure a chemical reaction and determines a diagnosis in 25 minutes, at a fraction of the cost of current diagnostic methods."As new COVID variants emerge globally, testing and detection remain essential to pandemic control efforts," said study lead author Michael Mahan from UC Santa Barbara.
Posted Date: February 12, 2022Science & Technology
On 26 December 2021, Defence minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of the Defence Technology and Test Centre and BrahMos manufacturing centre that will be established by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Lucknow.
The BrahMos Manufacturing Centre, announced by BrahMos Aerospace, is a modern, state-of-art facility in the Lucknow node of Defence Industrial Corridor, Uttar Pradesh.
