Current Affairs - Technology

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Kanpur-based lab DMSRDE, has developed an advanced nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane specifically designed for high-pressure seawater desalination. This innovation supports the Indian Coast Guard by providing a stable and efficient onboard desalination solution tailored to India’s coastal conditions. The project was completed within eight months and has already passed technical trials on an Offshore Patrolling Vessel. The development marks a significant leap in indigenous defence and marine technology and aligns with the national vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, reducing dependency on imported systems and enhancing maritime self-reliance.

Google has initiated the AI First India 2025 Startup Accelerator as part of its effort to promote the growth of AI-driven startups in India. This program is tailored specifically for startups in the Seed to Series A stages and emphasizes areas such as Agentic AI and Multimodal AI. Startups selected for the program will benefit from mentorship provided by Google experts, access to Cloud TPUs, AI development tools, and technical guidance for implementing advanced AI models such as Gemini and Gemma. The program reflects Google's commitment to fostering innovation and AI talent within India's tech ecosystem.

HCLTech has joined the European Commission’s AI Pact, reinforcing its commitment to ethical and responsible AI development. This voluntary initiative is designed to align companies with the forthcoming EU AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for AI regulation. By signing the pact, HCLTech has pledged to implement strong AI governance strategies, identify and mitigate high-risk AI applications, and train its workforce in ethical AI use. The company has also established an Office of Responsible AI and Governance to drive fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI across its operations. This step positions HCLTech as a global leader in responsible AI innovation.

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications, has entered into a partnership with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited to develop drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology. This initiative aims to achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher, using the decoy-based BB84 protocol with polarization encoding—a key method for secure quantum communication. This collaboration is expected to pave the way for highly secure data transmission systems in India's future telecom and defence networks by leveraging emerging quantum technologies.

IBM and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have collaborated with the Andhra Pradesh government to launch the Quantum Valley Tech Park in Amaravati. This project is a pivotal development under India’s National Quantum Mission and features the deployment of IBM’s 156-qubit Heron processor—India’s most powerful quantum computer. The partnership aims to establish a robust quantum ecosystem, supporting advanced research in cryptography, materials science, and governance. It will also create jobs, foster global investments, and bridge the gap between academia and industry through quantum computing infrastructure and cloud-based access. IBM contributes the hardware and expertise, while TCS focuses on applications and hybrid models.