Current Affairs - Technology

The National Test House (NTH) established a modern Shoe Testing Laboratory in Ghaziabad on May 17, 2026, to strengthen India’s footwear quality and manufacturing ecosystem. Located at the NTH Northern Region center, the laboratory provides easier access for footwear industries in nearby manufacturing hubs such as Delhi-NCR, Kanpur, and Agra. The facility is equipped with advanced instruments like the Bally Water Penetration Tester and Bata Belt Flex Tester to assess durability, slip resistance, material strength, and chemical safety according to Indian Standards. This initiative supports the Make in India mission and aims to improve export readiness and self-reliance in the footwear sector.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune inaugurated a dedicated Incubation Center for Startups in Weather and Climate on May 15, 2026, and also hosted the Weather and Climate Innovation Meet for Startups and Entrepreneurs (WISE-2026). The initiative was launched under the Ministry of Earth Sciences to encourage innovation and private sector participation in meteorological and climate services. The incubation centre operates as a major component of the National Enterprise for Atmospheric Technology (NEAT) initiative. The event witnessed participation from hundreds of attendees, including startup founders and experts from institutions such as IMD, NCMRWF, NCPOR, ICRISAT, IISER Pune, and several IITs to advance climate-tech innovation in India.

Uber partnered with the Adani Group to establish its first data centre in India as part of a strategic technology and infrastructure collaboration. The agreement was finalised after a meeting between Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad. The facility is expected to become operational by the end of 2026 and will support Uber’s technological expansion in India. The project aligns with Adani Group’s broader vision of investing $100 billion in renewable-energy-powered and AI-ready data centres by 2035. The infrastructure is being developed through Adani Connex, which is building a large-scale five-gigawatt data centre platform across India.

IIT Bombay commissioned India’s first Integrated Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) Field Laboratory Facility under Bharat Innovates 2026 on May 11, 2026. The indigenously developed pilot facility has the capacity to process up to 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide per day using advanced aqueous-based catalytic CO₂ capture technology. The system can capture carbon dioxide from ambient air and industrial emissions using non-potable water sources such as seawater and industrial effluents. The project also includes geological sequestration in the Deccan Traps to permanently store CO₂. IIT Bombay, established in 1958, is an Institute of National Importance located in Powai, Mumbai.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is an autonomous body operating under the Ministry of Science & Technology. It facilitated the transfer of 13 indigenous technologies developed by the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) during the National Technology Day event held on May 12, 2026. These technologies were related to fire safety, sustainable construction, infrastructure protection, energy efficiency, and advanced building materials. Headquartered in New Delhi and established in 1942, the organisation plays a major role in advancing scientific research, innovation, and industrial development in India through its network of laboratories and institutes.