General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - July 2019

Jul 2019

Aug 15, 2026

Total Solar Eclipse on 12 August 2026: not visible in India

A total solar eclipse occurred on 12 August 2026, drawing global attention but not visible from India. NASA’s eclipse path included Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic, and parts of Spain and Portugal, with India experiencing nighttime conditions during the event. Indian observers were advised to watch live streams and broadcasts from space agencies for real-time viewing. The occurrence provides an opportunity for public outreach in astronomy and science education, while highlighting the global nature of celestial events and the value of digital channels for learning when direct viewing is unavailable.

Total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 not visible in India
NASA path: Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Atlantic, Spain, Portugal
IST timing places event after sunset in India
Live streams available from NASA/ESA
Opportunities for astronomy outreach and education
Demonstrates value of digital viewing for sky events

IIT Guwahati develops two-stage microalgae CO₂ capture process

Researchers at IIT Guwahati introduced a two-stage microalgae-based process to enhance carbon dioxide capture and bioenergy production. The approach improves carbon fixation efficiency by optimizing cultivation conditions and nutrient supply, enabling higher biomass yields and downstream energy conversion. In the first stage, microalgae are grown under controlled light and carbon regimes; the second stage concentrates and processes biomass into bioenergy precursors. Led by Professor Kaustubha Mohanty of the Chemical Engineering Department, the work seeks a scalable, lower-cost route for carbon management and renewable energy generation. If validated at pilot scale, the technology could complement emissions-reduction efforts and support India’s climate and energy goals.

Two-stage microalgae CO₂ capture process developed
Improved carbon fixation and bioenergy potential
Stage 1: optimized cultivation; Stage 2: biomass processing
Led by Prof. Kaustubha Mohanty, IIT Guwahati
Potential for scalable, low-cost carbon management
Supports renewable energy and climate objectives

IIHT SUTRA 2026 National Conclave on Handloom Innovation held in New Delhi

The first National Conclave of Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology (IIHT) — IIHT SUTRA 2026 — was held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The event carried the theme 'IIHTs: Weaving the Future of the Indian Handloom Sector – Educate. Innovate. Transform.' Organisers highlighted capacity-building, skill development, and technology adoption as keys to modernising traditional textiles. Delegates discussed training curricula, research collaborations, and market links to help rural weavers access new design competencies and supply chains. Government partners emphasised measurable outcomes for employment and export growth, while handloom institutions showcased pilot projects in turbine looms, dye chemistry, and e-commerce platforms. The conclave underlined the sector’s potential to sustain heritage and livelihoods through innovation.

Conclave theme focuses on education, innovation, and transformation.
Emphasis on skill development and technology in handloom sector.
Discussion on curricula, research, and market access for weavers.
Aims to boost employment and export growth.

Aug 14, 2026

L&T Vyoma.AI to Build Nvidia B300 AI Factory at Chennai Campus

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) through its data-centre arm Vyoma.AI has won India’s largest single-cluster AI infrastructure project for the US-based startup Together AI. The plan involves establishing a Nvidia B300 AI Factory on Vyoma.AI’s Chennai data-centre campus in Tamil Nadu. The facility is valued at about ₹10,000 crore to ₹15,000 crore and will support large-scale AI training, model fine-tuning, and high-throughput inference workloads. The Chennai campus is being developed as a gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure hub with expansion capacity to meet rising compute demands. This project marks a significant step in India’s drive to build domestic AI infrastructure and attract global tech talent.

Vyoma.AI selected to host Nvidia B300 AI Factory for Together AI.
Facility location: Vyoma.AI data-centre campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Project value: ₹10,000 crore–₹15,000 crore.
Intended uses: large-scale training, fine-tuning, and inference.
Chennai campus designed as a gigawatt-scale AI hub with future expansion.
Part of India’s strategy to expand domestic AI infrastructure.

Aug 12, 2026

Amgen Announces Centre in Genome Valley, Hyderabad

US biotechnology major Amgen announced a new Science and Innovation Centre at Genome Valley in Hyderabad, Telangana. The centre is expected to become operational in 2027 and will expand the company’s research and development presence in India. It will focus on areas such as discovery chemistry, precision medicine, drug metabolism and digital technologies. The initiative is expected to further strengthen Hyderabad’s position as a major global life-sciences hub. The project aligns with India's aim to grow its biotech ecosystem through foreign investment, academia collaboration, and transfer of advanced capabilities to the Genome Valley region.

Amgen to set up a new centre at Genome Valley, Hyderabad.
Centre operational in 2027; expands India R&D footprint.
Focus areas: discovery chemistry, precision medicine, metabolism, digital tech.
Aims to bolster Hyderabad as a life-sciences hub.
Demonstrates global biotech investment in India.

Aug 10, 2026

HAL Airport Bengaluru adopts satellite-guided helicopter approach

Bengaluru's HAL Airport became the first Indian airport to implement a satellite-guided helicopter approach in August 2026. The system uses satellite navigation data to guide helicopter arrivals and departures with higher precision, supporting safer landings under marginal visibility and challenging wind conditions. Aviation authorities say the technology will improve flight safety, reduce separation minima and standardise procedures across helicopter operations in busy airspace. Officials emphasise the initiative as part of a broader push to modernise India's air navigation infrastructure and enhance resilience of regional transport links, particularly in densely populated cities. The project includes training for air traffic controllers and flight crews on the new procedures.

First in India to use satellite-guided helicopter approach
Location: HAL Airport, Bengaluru
Improves precision, safety in low visibility
Aims to standardise helicopter procedures nationwide
Includes controller and crew training

PM Modi inaugurates Param Pragya AI supercomputing facility at IIT Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Param Pragya, an AI-powered supercomputing facility, at IIT Delhi during August 2026. The inauguration occurred at the institute's 57th Convocation ceremony. Param Pragya is intended to strengthen advanced research, artificial intelligence, scientific computing and complex simulations across sectors such as healthcare, climate, and defence technology. Officials describe the center as a cornerstone of India's growing high-performance computing ecosystem, with capacity to run large-scale models and data analytics. The project aligns with government plans to expand domestic AI capabilities, foster industry-academia collaboration, and position India as a regional hub for innovation in data science.

Inaugurated at IIT Delhi during 57th Convocation
AI-powered supercomputing facility named Param Pragya
Aims to boost AI research, computing and simulations
Part of expanding India's HPC ecosystem
Supports industry-academia collaboration

Astrobase unveils EVEREST: India's first privately developed high-thrust FFSC rocket engine

Astrobase Space Technologies, a Bengaluru-based company, unveiled its EVEREST rocket engine in August 2026. The engine is classified as an 800 kN (80-tonne) thrust unit and marks India's first privately developed high-thrust Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) engine. Using liquid oxygen and methane as propellants, EVEREST is designed for multiple-use operations, with an emphasis on reusability for future launch vehicles. The developers say the FFSC cycle improves efficiency and reduces cost per launch, potentially strengthening India's private space-launch capabilities. Officials say testing programs are planned to validate performance across mission profiles, with industry partners eyeing collaboration on future commercial and strategic missions.

Thrust: 800 kN (80-tonne class) FFSC engine EVEREST
Propellants: liquid oxygen and methane
Developed by India’s private sector (Bengaluru)
Multi-use design for reusable launch vehicles
Upcoming testing and industry collaboration

Aug 09, 2026

IIT Guwahati develops 'E-Eye' portable device for rapid toxin detection

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed 'E-Eye,' a portable optical sensing device for rapid detection of toxic substances. The technology can identify contaminants such as heavy metals and other toxicants in environmental, biological and food samples. Its point-of-care design enables quick testing without the need for conventional laboratory infrastructure, making it suitable for fieldwork in remote areas and on-site monitoring. The device uses a compact optical sensor and data-processing module to deliver results in minutes, potentially reducing sampling time and laboratory load. Developers hope E-Eye will strengthen real-time monitoring of water and food safety, enabling earlier interventions and improved public health decisions for communities.

E-Eye detects heavy metals and other toxins in multiple sample types
Portable, point-of-care design eliminates need for full lab setup
Produces results within minutes using a compact sensor and processor
Aims to improve real-time water and food safety monitoring

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