Current Affairs - Technology

Agnikul Cosmos received ₹200 crore under an agreement signed with the Technology Development Board (TDB) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) to develop the fully reusable Agnibaan launch vehicle. The funding is provided through Optionally Convertible Debentures under the Research Development and Innovation Fund. The project aims to advance Agnibaan’s Technology Readiness Level from TRL-4 to TRL-8. The vehicle uses a semi-cryogenic liquid propulsion system with deep-throttling and restart capabilities. Agnikul Cosmos, established in 2017 and headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is also known for developing the Agnilet, a single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine.

Naidupeta in Andhra Pradesh is the location of India’s largest solar cell manufacturing facility, commissioned by Premier Energies on September 21, 2026. The facility has a 7 GW production capacity for N-type TOPCon G12R solar cells, increasing the company’s total solar cell manufacturing capacity to 10.6 GW. Developed with a capital expenditure of ₹3,293 crore, the plant covers 101 acres and is designed to produce around 88,000 solar cells per hour. It incorporates Artificial Intelligence and digital systems for predictive performance analysis and process control, along with a Zero Liquid Discharge system to maximise water recycling and reuse.

The European Space Agency (ESA) signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to expand their existing space cooperation to include human and robotic exploration. The agreement was signed in Paris in September 2026, during the International Space Summit. The existing Cooperative Agreement was extended for five years and will remain valid until January 8, 2032. The expanded cooperation also covers space weather and the sustainability of outer space activities. The exchange of letters was conducted by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. The ISRO-ESA partnership originally began in January 2002.

Hyderabad is the location of Microsoft’s fourth cloud region in India, launched on September 21, 2026. The new South Central cloud region expands Microsoft’s hyperscale cloud infrastructure in the country, alongside existing regions in Pune, Chennai and Mumbai. The launch forms part of Microsoft’s broader $20.5-billion investment commitment to strengthen cloud, operations and artificial intelligence infrastructure in India. India generates around 20% of global data but currently has only about 3% of global data centre capacity. Microsoft also aims to skill 20 million Indians in AI by 2030, including 2 million teachers, supporting the country’s growing AI ecosystem.

Assam will host ISRO’s Advanced Radar Research Centre at Chandrapur, near Guwahati. The facility is being developed under Project NETRA (Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis), which aims to strengthen India’s Space Situational Awareness capabilities. The Assam government has allotted 200 bighas of land for the project. The centre will monitor and track orbital debris and other space objects, helping protect critical national space assets from potential collisions. The project marks a significant expansion of advanced space infrastructure and technology into Northeast India. ISRO, established in 1969, is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.