Current Affairs - Technology

The IADT-1 was designed to validate the parachute-based deceleration system of the Crew Module for the Gaganyaan mission. Ensuring safe landing is a critical component of human spaceflight. This test was carried out with the collaboration of ISRO, DRDO, the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard. It ensured that the parachutes and deceleration systems worked in real-world conditions to guarantee astronaut safety during re-entry and landing.

The Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications, has collaborated with MapmyIndia to implement DIGIPIN, India’s new digital addressing system. DIGIPIN, short for Digital PIN, assigns unique geocodes to every address, enabling precise geolocation, seamless navigation, and efficient service delivery. MapmyIndia, as India’s leading geospatial technology provider, will supply base maps, integrate real-time address generation, and embed DIGIPIN navigation tools into its Mappls platform. This initiative is expected to transform logistics, e-governance, and digital service ecosystems by offering citizens accurate addresses, businesses optimised supply chains, and governments improved planning and public service delivery.

Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR) achieved a historic milestone by becoming India’s first government institute and South Asia’s second to perform robotic custom laser cataract surgery. The breakthrough was made possible using the advanced ALLY Adaptive Cataract Treatment System, which allows for bladeless, computer-guided, and highly precise eye surgery. The hospital’s Ophthalmology Department has now entered the domain of robotic and laser-assisted cataract surgery, known as FLACS. This innovation not only showcases India’s progress in adopting cutting-edge medical technologies but also enhances patient safety, precision, and outcomes in complex eye procedures.

In 2025, India launched its first National Biofoundry Network (NBN) under the BioE3 Policy, a landmark initiative to drive indigenous biomanufacturing and strengthen the country’s biotechnology ecosystem. This network, comprising six premier institutions, is designed to provide end-to-end solutions from research and design to prototyping, testing, and scaling biotech innovations. With a strong focus on synthetic biology, gene editing, climate-smart agriculture, and green biotechnology, the initiative aims to achieve a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030. It will also generate employment, foster youth-led innovation, and position India as a global hub for sustainable biotechnology and entrepreneurship.

SpaceX achieved a significant milestone by completing its 10th successful test launch of the Starship vehicle from its Starbase facility in Texas. This fully reusable two stage launch system, comprising the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage, demonstrated controlled splashdowns, re-ignition in space, and payload deployment with Starlink simulators. These advancements strengthen SpaceX’s vision of sustainable, affordable space travel and are critical for future deep space missions. The test provided valuable data for NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission scheduled in 2027, highlighting Starship’s role as the designated lunar lander and paving the way for future Moon and Mars exploration.