Current Affairs - Technology

IIT Bombay is the institution overseeing the ATMAN 3.0 accelerator programme through its Technology Innovation Hub for Translational Research on Internet of Things. This eight-week HealthTech-focused accelerator is designed to support promising startups by enhancing their research capabilities, technological validation, and market preparedness. The programme concludes with a Demo Day, where selected startups pitch to potential investors. Backed by the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and the Department of Science and Technology, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world healthcare solutions, while also providing significant seed funding opportunities to high-performing startups.

IIT Bombay, through its Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), has introduced India’s first incubator-linked deep tech venture capital fund with a total corpus of ₹250 crore. The fund aims to support around 25–30 early-stage startups, with each receiving up to ₹15 crore in investment. Its focus spans several high-impact sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced computing, manufacturing technologies, novel materials, space, defence, nuclear technology, climate solutions, and healthcare innovations. This initiative is designed to strengthen India’s deep tech ecosystem by nurturing breakthrough ideas at the pre-seed and seed stages, helping startups accelerate development and scale.

Indian astronomers Rashi Jain and Yogesh Wadadekar discovered the Alaknanda Galaxy using the James Webb Space Telescope. This spiral galaxy, located in the Abell 2744 cluster, existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old and exhibits well-formed spiral arms, challenging previous assumptions that early galaxies were small and chaotic. Its rapid star formation rate, approximately 63 solar masses per year, indicates accelerated development compared to the Milky Way. Naming the galaxy after the Himalayan river Alaknanda symbolically connects it to Indian tradition and highlights the significant contribution of Indian researchers to global astrophysics and our understanding of early cosmic evolution.

The 11th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025 is taking place in Panchkula, Haryana, from December 6 to 9, 2025. The festival, themed “Vigyan Se Samruddhi: for Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” showcases India’s achievements in science, technology, and innovation while promoting scientific temper and self-reliance. With over 150 technical sessions across fields such as AI, quantum technology, biotechnology, and climate science, IISF 2025 is expected to host more than 40,000 participants, including scientists, students, and industry leaders. The event emphasizes collaboration between scientific institutions and society and highlights India’s progress in cutting-edge technologies.

The roadmap reflects a strategic partnership in which IBM plays a central role in guiding India’s long-term quantum ambitions. With its expertise in quantum hardware, software, and research ecosystems, IBM contributes significantly to shaping pathways for indigenous capability building, talent development, and large-scale deployment of quantum technologies. The collaboration strengthens India’s efforts to expand quantum applications across defence, healthcare, logistics, finance, and energy. By combining IBM’s global experience with India’s research strengths and policy support, the initiative is designed to help the country achieve global competitiveness and emerge as a top-3 quantum economy by 2047.