SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Science and Technology spans space missions, AI developments, and indigenous defence-adjacent innovations. Pay attention to which organisation developed a given technology and its stated purpose or milestone.

Indigenous Bio-Bitumen Technology Could Save ₹40,000 Crore in Imports

• Developed by CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP, the technology converts crop residue into road-grade bitumen.
• India generates nearly 600 million tonnes of crop residue annually, much of it currently burnt, worsening air pollution.
• Large-scale industry adoption is being pursued through dedicated technology-transfer events.

Artemis II Sends Astronauts Around the Moon and Safely Home

• The mission marked humanity's first crewed lunar journey in over fifty years, using NASA's Orion capsule 'Integrity'.
• Unlike Apollo 11, Artemis II orbited the Moon without landing, testing systems for future missions.
• All four crew members returned safely, splashing down off the California coast after a ten-day journey.

About NASA: Formed 29 July 1958 • HQ: Washington, D.C. • Administrator: Jared Isaacman.

ISRO Studies Astronaut Readiness in Ladakh's High Altitude

• Mission MITRA, conducted near Leh, simulated space-like conditions including hypoxia and extreme cold.
• The behavioural study was jointly designed with the Institute of Aerospace Medicine.
• Findings will feed into crew-safety planning for the Gaganyaan human-spaceflight programme.

Airtel Becomes World's Second-Largest Mobile Operator

• The company crossed 650 million global subscribers, per GSMA data, operating across India and thirteen African countries.
• Within India, Airtel alone serves over 368 million mobile customers.
• The milestone reflects sustained network expansion and service-quality investment.

Japan Deploys Upgraded Long-Range Missile System

• The Type-12 land-to-ship missile, now with roughly five times its earlier range, was stationed at Camp Kengun.
• The deployment gives Japan a standoff strike capability against distant targets.
• It marks a notable shift away from Japan's traditionally strict self-defence posture.

About Japan: Capital: Tokyo • Currency: Japanese Yen • Prime Minister: Sanae Takaichi.

Meta Launches 'Muse Spark' AI Model to Rival Google and OpenAI

• The model, part of an internal series called Avocado, is designed to be small, fast, and efficient.
• It supports cross-domain reasoning spanning science, mathematics, and healthcare use cases.
• Meta plans to eventually replace its Llama-based chatbots across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.

ISRO Validates Parachute Recovery Systems for Gaganyaan

• The second Integrated Air Drop Test at Sriharikota assessed controlled-descent systems for the crew module.
• Successful validation is a key milestone ahead of India's first crewed spaceflight.
• The test forms part of a broader series of safety trials for the Gaganyaan programme.

KABIL Secures Argentine Clearance for Lithium Exploration

• The environmental clearance allows exploration of five lithium brine blocks in Catamarca province.
• It follows an earlier exploration agreement with a state-owned Argentine entity.
• The move supports India's push to secure critical mineral supply chains for battery manufacturing.

OpenAI Launches GPT 5.4 Cyber for Cybersecurity Applications

• The fine-tuned model is optimised for vulnerability detection and malware-behaviour analysis.
• It forms part of OpenAI's Trusted Access for Cyber programme supporting security professionals.
• The launch reflects growing demand for domain-specialised AI tools in digital defence.

North Korea Tests Missiles from a New-Class Destroyer

• Cruise and anti-ship missiles were launched from the 5,000-tonne Choe Hyon-class warship.
• The trials tested integrated weapons-command systems and crew readiness.
• The tests come amid continued regional concern over North Korea's naval build-up.

About North Korea: Capital: Pyongyang • Currency: Korean People’s Won.

JSW Steel and POSCO Approve Joint Venture for Odisha Steel Plant

• The 50:50 venture will build a 6-million-tonne-per-annum integrated steel plant.
• It strengthens strategic ties between two of the region's major steel producers.
• The project is expected to boost Odisha's industrial output and employment base.

Ola Pulls AI Assistant 'Kruti' From App Stores

• The consumer-facing chatbot, powered by Ola's in-house 12-billion-parameter model, was withdrawn from major platforms.
• It had previously handled ride bookings, food orders, and customer-support queries within the Ola ecosystem.
• No official reason was given for the sudden withdrawal.

US Launches Space Nuclear Energy Push, Eyes Moon Reactor by 2030s

• The initiative directs NASA to advance low- and mid-power nuclear reactor technology for orbital and lunar use.
• It targets eventual reactor deployment on the Moon and Mars during the 2030s.
• The programme reflects intensifying global competition in space-based energy technology.

DRDO Hands Over Indigenous 'Prajna' Satellite Imaging System

• The AI-enabled system, developed by DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, was handed to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It strengthens real-time decision support for internal security agencies.
• The handover took place at a formal ceremony in New Delhi.

Ministry of Home Affairs — Cabinet Minister: Amit Shah.

India Hosts Inaugural BRICS Academic Forum in New Delhi

• The Track II initiative under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship aims to generate policy recommendations ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit.
• The forum's theme centred on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.
• It brought together researchers and policy experts from BRICS member nations.

Tata Steel to Install World's First Large-Scale EASyMelt Technology

• The retrofit solution, developed with Germany's SMS Group, can be fitted onto existing blast furnaces.
• It aims to significantly cut carbon emissions at Tata Steel's Jamshedpur plant.
• The project follows a multi-year engineering study after an initial 2023 agreement.

China Completes Underwater Rail Tunnel Beneath the Yangtze

• The 11-kilometre-plus tunnel forms part of the broader Chongming-Taicang high-speed rail link.
• It was constructed using an advanced shield tunnelling machine named 'Linghang'.
• The project showcases China's continued investment in ambitious rail infrastructure.

GalaxEye to Launch World's First OptoSAR Satellite

• The satellite combines optical sensors with synthetic aperture radar for all-weather Earth imaging.
• It overcomes the limitations of using either technology alone in cloudy or low-light conditions.
• The launch marks a notable step for India's growing private space sector.

NASA Unveils Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

• The wide-field observatory will study dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets beyond the solar system.
• It is named after NASA's first Chief Astronomer, celebrated for her contributions to space science.
• The telescope is expected to significantly expand humanity's understanding of the universe's structure.

SkyHop Aviation Nears Approval as India's First Seaplane Operator

• The venture has completed float testing and built jetty infrastructure across Lakshadweep islands.
• It aims to improve mainland-island air connectivity using a Twin Otter seaplane.
• Final regulatory clearance is expected to make it India's first dedicated seaplane airline.

India Inaugurates First Integrated Lithium-Ion and Rare Earth Recycling Facility

• The Uttar Pradesh facility can process 10,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries annually.
• It also recovers rare earth magnets critical to EVs, electronics, and defence applications.
• The plant supports India's push toward a circular economy for critical minerals.

Union Minister Lays Foundation for New Astrophysics Building in Bengaluru

• The ₹75 crore, seven-storey facility at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics will span nearly a lakh square feet.
• It aims to strengthen India's capacity in advanced astronomy instrumentation and research.
• The project is expected to support technologies also used in ISRO and international space missions.

Jordan Becomes 63rd Signatory to the Artemis Accords

• The non-binding principles, co-led by NASA and the US State Department, guide international space cooperation.
• India remains among the accords' signatories alongside founding nations like Australia, Japan, and the UK.
• Jordan's accession reflects the accords' steadily widening global membership.

IITM Pune Commissions New Doppler Weather Radar Under Mission Mausam

• The radar, installed at a high-altitude cloud-physics laboratory in Mahabaleshwar, will improve real-time weather monitoring.
• It supports the broader national push to build a weather-ready India.
• Scientists from IITM and ISRO collaborated on the radar's commissioning.

NASA Confirms 2028 Mars Launch for the Rosalind Franklin Rover

• SpaceX's Falcon Heavy will carry the ESA-led rover as part of the ExoMars mission.
• The rover aims to drill up to two metres beneath the Martian surface in search of signs of past or present life.
• NASA has approved a dedicated support project to enhance the mission's chances of success.

About ESA: Leads the ExoMars mission in partnership with NASA; coordinates European space exploration policy.

Pakistan Tests Indigenous 'Taimoor' Anti-Ship Missile

• The air-launched cruise missile was jointly deployed by the Pakistan Navy and Air Force during trials.
• The test aims to boost coordinated air-sea strike capability.
• It reflects Pakistan's continued push toward indigenous missile development.

China Selects Two Pakistani Astronauts for Tiangong Station Training

• The selection marks the first inclusion of foreign astronauts in China's crewed spaceflight programme.
• The chosen candidates will undergo advanced training ahead of a future space-station mission.
• It underscores deepening China-Pakistan cooperation in space technology.

Melania Trump Unveils Humanoid Robot at White House AI Summit

• The robot, developed by California-based Figure AI, was billed as the first American-made humanoid robot to appear at the White House.
• It was showcased during a global summit focused on AI's role in education.
• The event drew attention to the accelerating integration of robotics in public-facing settings.

Rocklink Opens India's First Integrated Battery-Recycling Plant

• Located in Uttar Pradesh, the facility processes both lithium-ion batteries and rare earth magnets.
• It supports critical-mineral recovery for electric vehicles, electronics, and renewable-energy applications.
• The plant adds to India's emerging circular-economy infrastructure for battery materials.

India's Semiconductor Mission Reports Steady Progress on Fab Projects

• Officials updated Parliament on construction timelines for chip-fabrication and assembly units approved under the mission.
• The programme aims to reduce India's reliance on imported semiconductors for strategic and consumer electronics.
• Several states continue to compete for fresh investment under the mission's incentive framework.

⚡ QUICK REVISION — SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Artemis II — first crewed lunar mission since Apollo; crew returned safely via Orion capsule 'Integrity'
• ISRO's Mission MITRA studies astronaut readiness in Ladakh
• Airtel becomes world's 2nd-largest mobile operator, crossing 650 million subscribers
• NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to study dark matter and exoplanets
• Rosalind Franklin Mars rover launch confirmed for 2028 via SpaceX Falcon Heavy
• Jordan becomes the 63rd signatory to the Artemis Accords