General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - October 2021

Oct 2021

Sep 18, 2026

TCS launches Custom SoC Design Services

On 17 September 2026, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) launched Custom System-on-Chip (SoC) Design Services for automotive manufacturers and semiconductor companies. The end-to-end engineering service helps design, verify, implement and validate customized chips for next‑generation software‑defined vehicles. The initiative aligns with rising demand for specialised computing in cars, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electric mobility, connectivity and centralized computing architectures. TCS says its service will assist original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce development time and costs while improving performance. The move signals India’s growing role in global semiconductor and automotive technology ecosystems.Industry experts say the offering could attract foreign partners and spur local talent in chip design.

Launched on 17 September 2026 by TCS.
Targets automotive OEMs and semiconductor companies.
End-to-end design, verification, implementation and validation.
Focus on ADAS, electric mobility and centralized computing.
Possible attraction of foreign partners and growth of local talent.

Sep 17, 2026

India’s 51st Doppler Weather Radar Inaugurated in Sambalpur

India inaugurated its 51st Doppler Weather Radar in Sambalpur, Odisha, strengthening national weather surveillance. Located near the Mahanadi river basin, the radar will improve nowcasting, crop protection planning, and water-management decisions around the Hirakud Reservoir region. The instrument is part of a nationwide radar network intended to enhance short-range forecasting and disaster readiness. Officials say the radar will provide timely advisories to farmers and enable authorities to issue early warnings during extreme weather events. Sambalpur’s installation demonstrates ongoing investment in meteorology and climate-resilient infrastructure as India expands capacity to monitor atmospheric conditions.

51st Doppler Weather Radar inaugurated in Sambalpur, Odisha.
Aids nowcasting, crop protection, and water management near Hirakud Reservoir.
Part of national radar network for better disaster readiness.
Will provide timely farmer advisories and early warnings.
Reflects ongoing investment in meteorology and climate resilience.

SEMICON India 2026 Inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, marking the fifth edition of the flagship event. Organized by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and SEMI, the theme was Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem. The conference focuses on strengthening India’s semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, supply chains, and innovation ecosystem. Leaders highlighted policy support, investments in fabrication facilities, talent development, and international partnerships to accelerate domestic production. The inauguration signals India’s ambition to become a global chip and electronics manufacturing hub and to advance digital transformation across sectors through collaborative R&D and industry ties.

PM Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi.
Fifth edition organized by ISM, MeitY, and SEMI.
Theme: Silicon to Systems—Building the Ecosystem.
Focus on manufacturing, supply chains, and partnerships.
Aims to position India as a global semiconductor hub.

Sethuraman Panchanathan Receives 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award

Sethuraman Panchanathan, a renowned Indian American scientist, has received the 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award from the National Academy of Engineering in the United States. The honor recognizes outstanding contributions to engineering, technology, and innovation. Panchanathan serves as the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, leading federal efforts to advance research, development, and STEM education. He is the first Indian American to receive the Bueche Award, highlighting increasing contributions from Indian-origin scientists on the global stage. The award acknowledges decades of work in computing, information technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration that have accelerated discovery and practical applications. His achievement is celebrated by peers and Indian communities worldwide.

First Indian American to win the 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award.
Award given by the National Academy of Engineering for engineering, technology, and innovation.
Panchanathan is director of the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Recognition reflects contributions in computing and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Significance for Indian-origin scientists on the global stage.

Sep 16, 2026

BRIC-NIPGR launches SPROUT facility to accelerate climate-resilient crop development

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the SPROUT facility at BRIC-NIPGR in New Delhi, a controlled-environment platform for high-throughput phenotyping and rapid screening of crops under diverse conditions. SPROUT, combined with SpeedSeed technology, enables generation cycles of about 40 days in chickpea, drastically shortening traditional breeding timelines. The initiative, part of the BioE3 framework, aims to connect genomics and genome editing with trait validation, supporting climate-resilient crops. Experts from BRIC-NIPGR, DBT, and other institutions attended the event, which also featured discussions on communication and stakeholder engagement to translate lab advances into field benefits.

SPROUT facility inaugurated at BRIC-NIPGR on 16 September 2026
Purpose: high-throughput phenotyping and climate-resilient crops
SpeedSeed enables ~40-day generation cycles in chickpea
Part of BioE3 policy emphasizing biotechnology and circular bioeconomy
Focus on farmer outreach and industry collaboration

Sep 12, 2026

Qualcomm and Amazon collaborate on AI data centre silicon

Qualcomm announced a multi-generational collaboration with Amazon to develop customised silicon for Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centre infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence workloads. The partnership also includes advancements in optical connectivity and broader use of AWS design tools by Qualcomm for chip-development workloads. The agreement aims to accelerate silicon development cycles, improve efficiency in AI infrastructure and reduce time-to-market for advanced AI capabilities. This collaboration reflects growing ties between chipmakers and cloud providers to deliver scalable, energy-efficient hardware for AI applications and larger data-centre workloads.

Partnership between Qualcomm and Amazon (AWS)
Focus: customised silicon for AI data centres
Includes optical connectivity improvements
Qualcomm to use AWS design tools for chip workloads
Aim: faster development cycles and scalable AI hardware
Significance: strengthens cloud‑chip ecosystem

Sep 11, 2026

APNIC 62 conference held in Mumbai highlights internet infrastructure progress

The 62nd Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) Conference, also known as APNIC 62, was held in Mumbai, Maharashtra, hosted by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The gathering brought together internet experts, network operators, policymakers, researchers, and technical professionals from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss internet infrastructure, routing systems, network operations, and digital connectivity. The event underscored India's role in shaping regional internet governance and IP routing standards while highlighting ongoing projects to improve connectivity, data security, and cyber resilience across the subcontinent. Delegates also discussed capacity-building for operators and IPv6 adoption programs.

APNIC 62 held in Mumbai, hosted by NIXI under MeitY.
Attendees included internet experts, operators, policymakers, and researchers.
Focus on internet infrastructure, routing, and digital connectivity.
India's role in regional internet governance and IPv6 adoption highlighted.
Discussions on capacity-building for operators and IPv6 deployment.

International Space Summit 2026 in Paris signs Indo-French space cooperation

International Space Summit 2026 took place in Paris, France, in September 2026. During the summit, Indian and French private space companies signed three agreements covering satellite launches, space surveillance, and microsatellite technology, signaling growing private-sector collaboration between the two nations. The event saw 51 major announcements across space projects, with investments and contracts totaling nearly €20 billion, reflecting rising global interest in space and Indo-French cooperation. The agreements cover joint ventures, technology sharing, and the development of small satellites to enhance monitoring capabilities. Indian participation highlighted the nation's expanding role in the European and global space economy. This week, the summit underscored accelerating private-sector space activities amid growing international partnerships.

Summit held in Paris, September 2026.
Three Indo-French private space agreements signed: satellite launches, space surveillance, microsatellites.
Total announcements at the summit were 51 with nearly €20 billion in investments.
Indo-French private-sector collaboration is a key feature.
India's role in European and global space activities is expanding.

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