India Launches AI Chatbot Abhay to Combat Online Scams
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an AI-powered chatbot named Abhay to help citizens verify official notices and avoid digital scams. The platform will be officially unveiled by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Surya Kant, marking a major step in using artificial intelligence for public safety and cybercrime prevention. Abhay enables users to check the authenticity of notices allegedly issued by the agency, reducing panic from fraudulent communications and lowering the risk of financial exploitation. The initiative arises amid rising digital arrest frauds where criminals impersonate officials demanding money. Experts say the tool could be scaled nationwide and integrated with other government notices.
Tool: AI-powered chatbot named Abhay by CBI.
Purpose: verify notices and prevent online scams.
Launch involves Chief Justice Surya Kant.
Addresses digital arrest frauds and impersonation of officials.
Potential for nationwide scaling and integration with notices.
Blue Origin Lands Reused New Glenn Booster; Mixed Mission Results
Blue Origin successfully landed the reused first-stage booster of its New Glenn rocket, named Never Tell Me the Odds, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on 20 April 2026. The mission marked a milestone for reusable launch systems and potential cost reductions, yet the onboard BlueBird 7 satellite failed to reach its planned orbit, delivering mixed results. The booster touchdown occurred about 10 minutes after liftoff, signaling progress in reusable technology and competition with SpaceX. The mixed outcome highlights remaining challenges in achieving a fully successful mission while advancing reusable capabilities.
Context: positions Blue Origin amid competition with SpaceX.
Apr 20, 2026
Odisha to host India’s first advanced 3D semiconductor unit at Info Valley
The foundation stone for India’s first advanced 3D semiconductor packaging unit was laid in Info Valley, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 19 April 2026. Promoted by US-based 3D Glass Solutions through its Indian arm HIPSPL, the project costs about ₹1,943 crore and targets next‑generation packaging. The facility will enhance India’s AI, 5G/6G, and defence electronics capabilities by enabling advanced 3D packaging techniques. Located in Khordha district, the project marks a major step toward domestic self-reliance in high-end electronics manufacturing and a stronger position in the global semiconductor value chain.
Foundation stone laid on 19 April 2026 at Info Valley, Odisha.
Promoter: 3D Glass Solutions (HIPSPL).
Investment: ₹1,943 crore.
Facility specializes in 3D heterogeneous integration packaging.
Aims to boost AI, 5G/6G, and defence electronics sectors.
IIT Kharagpur Establishes Vikram Sodhi Centre for AI-Driven Mining Systems
IIT Kharagpur announced the establishment of the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-enabled geological and mining systems. The center aims to transform India’s mining sector through artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation, combining geology, mining engineering, and computer science into a single research framework. The project carries a funding commitment of ₹15 crore over five years, provided by Vikram Sodhi, a business leader linked with Mineros SA and Sun Valley Investments. Researchers will work on automated ore assessment, predictive maintenance, and safety analytics. The new hub highlights industry-academia collaboration to solve real-world challenges and accelerate responsible mineral extraction and energy efficiency.
New center: Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-enabled mining.
Institution: IIT Kharagpur.
Funding: ₹15 crore over five years.
Funded by: Vikram Sodhi (Mineros SA, Sun Valley Investments).
Focus areas: AI in geology, ore assessment, predictive maintenance, safety analytics.
Goal: Industry-academia collaboration for sustainable mining.
Apr 19, 2026
Punjab Deploys AI System For Real-Time Crime Tracking
The Punjab government, in collaboration with IIT Ropar, is deploying an artificial intelligence-based system for real-time crime tracking and analysis. The project aims to modernise policing by converting scattered data into actionable intelligence and supporting ongoing anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns. IIT Ropar will design a structured data system with analytics, voice recognition, and dashboard monitoring to help law enforcement track criminal activity in real time and generate faster insights. The system will integrate structured and unstructured data, digitising records such as scanned documents and handwritten notes into a single database. Officials expect significant improvements in investigative speed and accuracy.
Partnership: Punjab government with IIT Ropar for AI policing.
Features: data analytics, voice recognition, dashboards for real-time tracking.
Data integration includes structured and unstructured records into a single database.
Expected outcomes: faster investigations and improved accuracy.
Apr 17, 2026
Infosys signs multi-year AI-driven sports partnership with Carlos Alcaraz
Infosys announced a multi-year partnership with tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, naming him global brand ambassador. The collaboration centers on Infosys Topaz, an AI-first platform used to build match analytics tools and a personalized performance application. The arrangement aims to deliver real-time insights, opponent pattern analysis, and performance metrics to coaching teams, strengthening decision making, training, and tactical planning. For Alcaraz, the partnership provides access to advanced digital tools and data-driven strategies, while Infosys expands its footprint in sport tech and AI-enabled athlete performance services.
Infosys names Carlos Alcaraz as global brand ambassador.
Partnership centers on the Infosys Topaz AI platform.
Focus areas: real-time match analytics, performance applications, and tactical insights.
Mutually beneficial for athlete performance and Infosys’ sport-tech ecosystem.
Apr 16, 2026
Scientists turn plastic waste into Parkinson’s drug levodopa
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have engineered bacteria to convert common plastic waste into levodopa, a key medicine for Parkinson’s disease. In a proof-of-concept study, genetically modified E. coli bacteria were used to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and convert its carbon into levodopa, offering a potential route to sustainable drug production. Levodopa remains a primary treatment for Parkinson’s, which affects more than ten million people globally. By turning discarded plastics into a chemical feedstock, this method could reduce waste and dependence on traditional supply chains while expanding access to essential medicines as populations age. The researchers emphasize scalability and safety testing in future work.
PET plastic is converted into levodopa by engineered bacteria.
Levodopa is a primary treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
Study uses genetically modified E. coli and PET breakdown.
Potential for sustainable, scalable drug production.
Future work includes safety and scalability testing.
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