General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - November 2021

Nov 2021

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.

Apr 15, 2026

Andhra Pradesh launches India's first sovereign hardware ecosystem in Amaravati

On 14 April 2026, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled India's first sovereign hardware ecosystem in Amaravati. The announcement introduced the Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility (AQRF), comprising Amaravati 1S and Amaravati 1Q, part of the Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative. The facility hosts open‑access quantum computers designed, assembled and tested within India, backed by a supply chain spanning multiple institutions. The project aims to accelerate indigenous manufacturing of advanced computing systems and strengthen digital sovereignty for the nation. Officials described the move as a milestone for India's hardware ecosystem, inviting industry and academia to participate in home‑grown quantum programs.

AQRF comprises Amaravati 1S and Amaravati 1Q, announced in Amaravati.
Part of the broader Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative.
Open‑access quantum computers to be designed, assembled, tested in India.
Supply chain involvement from multiple Indian institutions.
Aim: accelerate indigenous hardware manufacturing and digital sovereignty.

Apr 14, 2026

Andhra Pradesh inaugurates India's first indigenous quantum testbeds on World Quantum Day

On 14 April 2026, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated India’s first indigenous quantum computing testbeds, named 1S and 1Q, at SRM University AP and Medha Towers near Vijayawada. The launch coincides with World Quantum Day. The testbeds establish the country’s first dedicated infrastructure to test and validate quantum technologies. 1S relies on superconducting technology and operates at temperatures close to absolute zero to maintain quantum coherence, while 1Q complements these capabilities. Officials describe the arrangement as a milestone for domestic quantum research, aiming to accelerate innovation and industry collaboration within India.

Date of inauguration: 14 April 2026
Locations: SRM University AP campus and Medha Towers near Vijayawada
Testbeds: 1S (superconducting); 1Q
Operating conditions: ultra-low temperatures near absolute zero
Purpose: test and validate quantum components; boost domestic ecosystem

PACE satellite tracks pollution at factory level precision

NASA’s PACE mission, launched in February 2024, now enables highly refined tracking of pollution by pinpointing nitrogen dioxide emissions at the level of individual factories and major highways. The Ocean Color Instrument provides hyperspectral data across ultraviolet to shortwave infrared, supporting detailed air and ocean studies. This capability advances air quality monitoring and climate research, offering researchers a powerful tool to link emissions to specific sources. PACE’s data helps improve regulatory oversight and informs policy decisions on pollution reduction.

Mission: NASA PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and Ocean Ecosystem)
Launch: February 2024; orbit: Sun-synchronous
Capabilites: high-resolution NO2 pollution tracking
Instrument: Ocean Color Instrument (OCI)
Impact: enhanced source attribution; better policy guidance

Apr 13, 2026

Asia’s First 3D-Printed Mars Radiation Shield by AAKA Space Studio

Ahmedabad‑based AAKA Space Studio has developed and tested Asia’s first 3D‑printed radiation shield for Mars habitats. Demonstrated during a large‑scale analog space mission, the shield aims to protect astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation during long‑duration stays on the Red Planet. The design also enhances thermal stability and structural strength for extreme conditions. This breakthrough marks progress in India’s space hardware capabilities and sustainable habitat construction for Mars missions. If deployed, the shield could mitigate radiation risks for crews and support longer stays on Mars, contributing to future interplanetary exploration goals.

Location: Ahmedabad; project: 3D‑printed Mars radiation shield.
Status: tested during a large-scale analog mission.
Purpose: protection from cosmic radiation; improved thermal stability.
Implications: supports long‑duration Mars habitation and structural integrity.
Significance: demonstrates India’s growing space hardware capability.

NARIT AI Tool Launched by Gujarat Police for NDPS Cases

On 10 April 2026, Gujarat Police launched NARIT AI, a Narcotics Analysis and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) based investigation tool, as part of modernizing narcotics cases under the NDPS framework. The system relies on pre‑trained legal databases rather than open‑source Internet data to reduce errors and improve accuracy in legal guidance and charge-sheet preparation. Developed by the Western Railway Police in Vadodara with a Mumbai AI startup, NARIT AI marks a first‑of‑its‑kind deployment in Indian policing. Officials expect faster case handling and better evidence collection, with potential expansion to other law‑enforcement agencies.

Launch date: 10 April 2026; jurisdiction: Gujarat Police.
Tool: NARIT AI stands for Narcotics Analysis & RAG-based Investigation Tool.
Technology: Retrieval Augmented Generation using pre-trained legal databases.
Developer partners: Western Railway Police (Vadodara) and a Mumbai AI startup.
Impact: aims to improve speed and accuracy in NDPS investigations.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

June GK, May GK, April GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26