Current Affairs - Technology

The PARAM SHAKTI supercomputing facility has been launched at IIT Madras, featuring the indigenous PARAM RUDRA system with a peak capacity of 3.1 petaflops. Built entirely in India under the National Supercomputing Mission, it will accelerate research in fields such as climate modelling, nuclear studies, aerospace engineering, and advanced drug discovery. The facility incorporates modern cooling, uninterrupted power supply, and open-source software to support high-performance computing tasks. Hosting PARAM SHAKTI at IIT Madras enables interdisciplinary research, strengthens India’s computing ecosystem, and contributes to technological advancements aligned with initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission.

National Physical Laboratory plays a crucial role in strengthening India’s quality and measurement ecosystem through the inauguration of two apex calibration facilities. These include the Solar Cell Calibration Facility, which enables highly accurate photovoltaic testing and supports solar manufacturing and exports, and the Environmental Standard Laboratory, which allows domestic calibration of air-quality monitoring instruments. As India’s premier measurement standards institution under CSIR, the laboratory ensures precision, reliability, and global comparability of measurements. Such initiatives reduce dependence on foreign calibration services, improve industrial competitiveness, and enhance environmental monitoring capabilities across the country.

India’s first government hospital–based AI clinic was launched at GIMS Noida as a pioneering step in integrating artificial intelligence into public healthcare. Established under the GIMS Centre for Medical Innovation, the clinic focuses on enhancing patient safety, improving diagnostic precision, and reducing treatment time through the use of AI-driven tools. In addition to direct patient benefits, the facility also acts as a real-world testing and validation platform for AI healthcare startups, supporting innovation and practical deployment of emerging technologies within the government healthcare system.

Hyderabad-based start-ups TakeMe2Space and EON Space Labs developed and tested a 14-kg mini Earth observation satellite, highlighting the city’s growing role in India’s private space sector. The satellite, built at a fraction of conventional costs, is designed for commercial and defence applications and will operate in Low Earth Orbit. After testing in Ahmedabad, it was shipped to Sriharikota for launch aboard ISRO’s PSLV mission. This achievement underscores Hyderabad’s contribution to high-tech innovation, start-up-led aerospace initiatives, and the expansion of India’s private space ecosystem.

The world’s first administration of ITVISMA gene therapy took place in Abu Dhabi at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. This historic achievement marked a major advancement in precision medicine and genomics-based healthcare. ITVISMA is a one-time gene therapy designed to treat spinal muscular atrophy by addressing its genetic root cause. The successful administration positioned Abu Dhabi as a global leader in advanced healthcare and rare disease treatment. It also demonstrated the UAE’s strong regulatory framework, clinical readiness, and commitment to providing world-class medical innovations to patients.