Current Affairs - Technology

India ranks fifth in Generative AI (GenAI) innovations, having accumulated 1,350 patents from 2014 to 2023. Despite being behind China, the US, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, India exhibits the highest annual growth rate in GenAI patent publications, indicating significant potential for future advancements in artificial intelligence technologies.

ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, has shortlisted two of its four trained Gaganyaan astronauts to participate in the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This private spaceflight mission, operated by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, aims to advance commercial activities in space and conduct various scientific experiments in microgravity. The mission is scheduled for 2024 and will utilize a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket, highlighting ISRO's involvement in international space collaborations.

India has been designated as a partner country by the U.S.-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) for its human spaceflight program in collaboration with Blue Origin. This collaboration involves six citizen astronauts, including an Indian, who will undertake an 11-minute journey aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket after undergoing training in West Texas.

IRA Mumbai recently partnered with IIT Bombay to advance maritime safety through the development of a software tool for predicting ship trajectories. This collaboration aims to create a homegrown solution to enhance early warning systems and improve planning for rescue operations in scenarios involving disabled ships.

Russia has set out plans to build its own orbital station by 2033. This project includes launching modules, conducting flight tests of new spacecraft, and developing necessary infrastructure both in space and on Earth. The decision comes as Russia prepares to gradually withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) partnership by 2028, aiming to enhance its capabilities in space exploration and national security through independent orbital initiatives.