Current Affairs - Technology

India has announced the selection of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the primary mission pilot, while Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will act as the backup. This mission marks a significant step in strengthening human spaceflight cooperation between ISRO and NASA and advancing India’s human space program. The experience from this mission will enhance India's human spaceflight capabilities and contribute to the Gaganyaan mission.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has partnered with tech firm GOQii to launch the Kotak – GOQii Smart Vital Plus smartwatch. This innovative device, priced at INR 3499, combines contactless payments with health monitoring features, enabling seamless transactions up to INR 5000 without requiring a PIN. The smartwatch also allows users to track vital health metrics and provides a user-friendly interface for easy access to payments, promoting a cashless, secure, and efficient lifestyle.

IIT Delhi transferred two indigenous healthcare technologies under the MeitY-funded NNetRA project. These technologies include the "DNA Aptamer for Prostate Cancer Detection" to HUMMSA Biotech Pvt. Ltd. and the "Photonic Chip based Spectrometric Biosensor" for pathogen detection to UNINO Healthcare Private Limited. The Photonic Chip, developed by Prof. Joby Joseph's team, is noted for its rapid and accurate pathogen detection capabilities.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has granted permission for the "First Approach to Criticality" of the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) located at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. This marks a significant milestone as it is India’s first indigenous PFBR. The approval was granted after a thorough safety review, inspections, and phased core loading activities, including the insertion of control and blanket sub-assemblies. This step is crucial in advancing India’s nuclear technology and energy capabilities.

SEBI launched 'SEVA,' an AI-powered chatbot, on July 29 to assist investors. SEVA provides crucial information on the securities market, the latest master circulars, and guidance on grievance redressal processes. It features speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionalities, enhancing accessibility for all users. Currently in its beta version, SEVA is available on SEBI’s investor website and the SAARTHI mobile app for both Android and iOS platforms. This initiative aims to improve investor experience and accessibility to important market information.