Fintech Major PhonePe Takes on Google, Apple with Homegrown Indus Appstore
Fintech major PhonePe launched of its homegrown Indus Appstore specifically for the Indian market, in a bid to compete with global incumbents like Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.
The Indus Appstore is PhonePe's attempt at creating a more competitive and localized mobile app store economy for India, which is already the world's largest market for mobile apps.
Reliance Industries is Set to Launch 'Hanooman', a ChatGPT-style AI Service
Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, in collaboration with some of the country's premier engineering institutions, is poised to unveil its pioneering ChatGPT-style service named 'Hanooman' in March. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the advancement of AI capabilities within India, promising to bring a new era of digital innovation and accessibility.
The development of 'Hanooman' is a result of a concerted effort between Reliance Jio Infocomm, Centre, and several Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), including IIT Bombay. This collaborative endeavor, featuring a consortium of Reliance and eight affiliated universities, underscores the synergy between India's leading corporate powerhouse and its academic institutions in pushing the frontiers of technology.
One of the defining features of 'Hanooman' is its ability to operate across 11 local languages, catering to a wide spectrum of fields including healthcare, governance, financial services, and education.
Feb 21, 2024
Scientists Uncover Universe's Brightest Object
A team of astronomers in Australia identified an extraordinary celestial phenomenon. The most brilliant object ever detected in the universe. This massive quasar, energised by a colossal black hole, surpasses the brightness of our sun by an astonishing 500 trillion times.
The black hole central to this quasar is no ordinary one. With a mass 17 billion times that of our sun, it consumes the equivalent of the sun's material every day. This voracious consumption powers the quasar's remarkable luminosity, allowing it to be visible despite its light travelling an astonishing distance of 12 billion years to reach us.
Feb 19, 2024
ISRO Launches Meteorological Satellite INSAT-3DS
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched INSAT-3DS, a weather monitoring and disaster warning satellite.
The satellite was launched atop the GSLV-F14 rocket from Sriharikota. It will observe various atmospheric parameters and provide information related to the weather and the climate.
The INSAT-3DS satellite is a follow-on mission of the third generation meteorological satellite from geostationary orbit.
The GSLV or geosynchronous launch vehicle was termed the 'naughty boy' of Indian space due to its repeated failures in the past. Following successful launch, GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS Mission Director Tommy Joseph said that the GSLV had become a 'disciplined boy'.
NASA and JAXA Set to Launch World's First Wooden Satellite
NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would launch the LignoSat probe - the world's first wooden satellite into space, in an attempt to make spaceflight operations sustainable.
The tiny satellite has been built by the scientists at Kyoto University in collaboration with Sumitomo Forestry, a logging company. Scientists believe that the satellite's biodegradable nature may help preserve the Earth's environment.
Feb 17, 2024
Japan Successfully Launches Next-gen H3 Rocket
Japan's space agency successfully launch of its new flagship rocket, making it third time lucky for the H3 after years of delays and two previous failed attempts.
The H3 rocket, billed as flexible and cost-effective by space agency JAXA, "was put into orbit", after the rocket launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre in south-western Japan.
The next-generation H3 rocket has been mooted as a possible competitor to Space X's Falcon 9, and could one day be used to deliver cargo to bases on the Moon.
Developed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the H3 is the successor to the H-IIA launch system, which debuted in 2001.
Feb 16, 2024
Electronics & IT Ministry Hosts First Digital India Future Skills Summit in Guwahati
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT), hosted the Future Skills Summit in Guwahati. The event, inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, aimed to convene young Indians, thought leaders, industry experts, policymakers, educators, and technology enthusiasts to strategise on catalysing future-ready talent for India and the world.
The Summit placed a spotlight on the impact of rapid digitisation globally, underlining new opportunities for young Indians in cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Semiconductors, Robotics, and Cybersecurity. These advancements present significant prospects for the country's youth to thrive in a digitally-driven world.
The summit featured four panel discussions on pivotal themes: Semicon India, IndiaAI, Cyber Security & Emerging Technologies, and Digital India's Talent for the Global Workforce. Renowned experts and industry leaders engaged in these discussions, offering insights and strategies for building future skills that are indispensable in navigating the dynamic landscape of technology.