Current Affairs - Technology

Google introduced its next-generation AI photo editing tool, initially known as “Nano Banana” and later released as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image. Developed by Google DeepMind, this tool leverages natural language prompts to simplify complex editing tasks such as character consistency, design mixing, and image merging. It allows users to edit photos creatively by changing hairstyles, adding costumes, or merging multiple photos into a single coherent frame. Accessible through the Gemini app, Google AI Studio, and Vertex AI, the tool is affordable and designed for both casual users and enterprise developers, showcasing Google’s leadership in AI-powered creativity.

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.