Current Affairs - Technology

Astroscale, a company based in Japan, has partnered with India’s Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace to provide space debris removal and on-orbit servicing technologies. This collaboration marks Astroscale's first operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan's Astroscale is leveraging India’s liberalized space policy and a $116 million fund for startups, which have attracted global space firms. The partnership aims to offer orbital services to Indian clients within the next 1-2 years.

The National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR) was launched by MeitY and the Drone Federation India under the 'SwaYaan' initiative. This challenge aims to boost India's capabilities in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), particularly in applications such as agriculture, disaster management, and healthcare. NIDAR is part of India's goal to become a global drone hub by 2030, promoting innovation and research in the drone industry.

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has developed two 32-bit microprocessors, Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201, for space applications. The Vikram 3201 is India's first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, specifically qualified for use in launch vehicles. This development is a significant advancement from the 16-bit Vikram 1601, which has been operational in ISRO's avionics systems since 2009. These microprocessors will enhance the capabilities of ISRO's space missions and technologies.

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has partnered with DigiLocker to help investors store their demat and mutual fund holdings digitally, thus reducing the occurrence of unclaimed assets in the Indian securities market. This initiative includes a nomination facility that allows legal heirs to seamlessly transition assets upon the investor's demise. Additionally, KYC Registration Agencies (KRAs) will verify and notify the nominees, ensuring smooth access to financial information and streamlining the process for asset inheritance.

The Shri S Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Science Research was launched at IIT Madras. This state-of-the-art facility aims to address thermal challenges in space applications, particularly focusing on heat dissipation in satellites and launch vehicles. The centre is part of a collaboration between ISRO and IIT Madras, designed to enhance India’s self-reliance in space technologies and contribute to the country's future deep-space missions. The centre will also foster industry-academia collaborations to improve space research capabilities.