Current Affairs - Technology

PhonePe introduced an AI-powered natural language search feature built on Microsoft Foundry, transforming how users interact with the app. The feature enables customers to make payments, recharge FASTag, check gold prices, and track transactions using simple voice or text commands. Designed with a hybrid AI model combining on-device and cloud inferencing, it ensures strong privacy safeguards and secure data handling. The conversational interface replaces traditional menu-based navigation with intent-driven routing, making digital payments more intuitive and personalised. With millions of users and merchants across India, this innovation significantly enhances convenience and accessibility in fintech services.

IIT Hyderabad entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with NMDC’s R&D Centre to promote long-term academic and industry collaboration in mineral and metals research. The partnership integrates NMDC’s practical field expertise with the institute’s academic strength and technological innovation. The collaboration focuses on critical areas such as iron ore beneficiation, green steelmaking technologies, alternate ironmaking processes using indigenous raw materials, and advanced modeling and simulation in mining and metallurgy. This initiative aims to support India’s mineral security, encourage sustainable industrial practices, and enhance self-reliance in strategic materials through research-driven solutions.

To Boost Digital Governance is the central objective behind the launch of the ‘Blockchain India Challenge’ by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The initiative encourages Indian startups to build secure, permissioned blockchain solutions tailored for government use cases. It focuses on enhancing regulatory control, transparency, auditability, and tamper-proof record management across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, land records, and public distribution systems. Implemented with support from C-DAC, the programme provides stage-wise funding to selected startups, aiming to create scalable, field-ready solutions that strengthen efficiency and trust in public service delivery systems across India.

Lucknow is the city where IBM’s AI GovTech Innovation Centre was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The centre aims to promote AI-driven governance, enhance transparency, and improve public service delivery across the state. It focuses on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, deep tech, robotics, drone technology, medical technology, and quantum computing. The initiative includes collaborations with IIT Kanpur and the signing of MoUs with state departments to develop AI-based applications and introduce AI literacy in schools, supporting the vision of developing the city as an “AI City.”

AIIMS Delhi hosted the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH), inaugurated jointly by India and France during the RUSH 2026 meetings. The centre serves as a dedicated hub for advancing artificial intelligence applications in healthcare, brain health, neuroscience, and clinical decision-support systems. It reflects a strong collaboration between leading Indian and French institutions to promote interdisciplinary research, academic exchange, and innovation in digital health. The initiative strengthens sovereign AI capabilities, supports responsible health data usage, and enhances global cooperation in medical research, education, and technology-driven healthcare solutions.