Current Affairs - Technology

Microsoft collaborated with EY India to introduce the AI Skills Passport, a free online learning initiative created to help India’s youth acquire essential artificial intelligence (AI) competencies. Targeted at individuals aged 16 and above, the program seeks to bridge the growing digital skills gap and prepare learners for future job markets increasingly shaped by AI technologies. By providing accessible, high-quality AI education, the partnership underscores Microsoft’s commitment to fostering digital inclusion, empowering the next generation of innovators, and supporting India’s transition toward a tech-driven economy.

India’s first Semiconductor Innovation Museum was inaugurated in Hyderabad by the Technology Chip Innovation Program (T-Chip) on October 12, 2025. The museum aims to promote innovation, investment, and public awareness in semiconductor technology while showcasing India’s advancements in AI chips, robotics, and EV systems. Hyderabad has become a major hub for semiconductor research and fabless chip design, hosting global companies like AMD and Qualcomm. This initiative enhances India’s push toward becoming a global semiconductor powerhouse and underscores Hyderabad’s growing role in advanced electronics and deep-tech innovation.

Google has expanded its AI-driven no-code app builder, Opal, to 15 countries including India, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, and Canada. Developed by Google Labs, Opal enables users to create functional applications simply by describing them in natural language. This expansion is a major step in Google’s mission to democratise app development and make AI tools accessible to both developers and non-coders globally. With features like a visual editor, debugging tools, and instant sharing, Opal empowers users to design and deploy customised apps efficiently, promoting inclusivity in the digital innovation space.

NASA launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission to explore the heliosphere and space weather. The mission aims to map the boundary of the heliosphere, study solar wind, energetic particles, and magnetic fields, and understand how solar particles are energised. Additionally, IMAP helps study the heliosphere’s role in shielding Earth from harmful galactic radiation. Positioned at the Earth-Sun Lagrange Point 1 (L1), it provides a stable vantage point for continuous observations, enabling researchers to better understand space weather and its impact on Earth and the solar system.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) received the Changemaker of the Year Award at the BusinessLine Changemaker Awards in September 2025. Under the leadership of DG Raja Babu Ummalaneni, DRDO has advanced India’s indigenous defence technology programs, promoting self-reliance in critical strategic systems. The recognition highlights DRDO’s pivotal role in driving national transformation through research and development in defence, reinforcing the importance of technological innovation for strategic autonomy and enhancing India’s defence capabilities in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.