General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - September 2025

Sep 2025

Apr 01, 2026

OpenAI appoints Kiran Mani as Managing Director for Asia-Pacific

OpenAI announced the appointment of Kiran Mani as Managing Director for Asia-Pacific operations, with the role to begin in June 2026 from OpenAI’s Singapore office. Mani currently serves as CEO of Indian streaming service JioStar and previously led M&A integrations, including the Viacom18-Star India merger. In his new role, he will report to the Chief Strategy Officer. Mani brings over 25 years of experience in digital and consumer technology and is expected to drive APAC growth, partnerships, and local policy engagement as OpenAI expands its regional footprint.

Appointee: Kiran Mani as MD, APAC at OpenAI.
Starting: June 2026; based in Singapore.
Background: Former CEO of JioStar; led major media mergers.
Expected impact: Growth, partnerships, policy engagement in APAC.

AP Science City signs MoU with CSIR-NIScPR to boost science outreach

Andhra Pradesh Science City (APSC) signed a five-year MoU with CSIR-NIScPR (National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research) on 30 March 2026 to enhance science outreach and policy-focused research. The collaboration focuses on science popularisation, STEM education, and evidence-based policymaking to inform governance and development strategies. The non-financial agreement aims to build a culture of scientific thinking across the country and improve public understanding of science. The partnership envisions joint activities in science communication, policy studies, and public engagement, with potential extensions based on mutual agreement.

MoU date: 30 March 2026.
Parties: AP Science City and CSIR-NIScPR.
Objectives: Science outreach, STEM education, policy research.
Nature: Non-financial; five-year term with extension option.

Mar 30, 2026

Hidden Ocean Found Deep Inside Earth’s Mantle

Scientists report a vast water reservoir located about 700 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface. The water is not in liquid form but is chemically bound within the mineral ringwoodite in the mantle’s transition zone. This discovery reshapes understanding of Earth’s deep water cycle and mineral storage. Ringwoodite can hold significant amounts of water under high pressure, altering theories about how Earth’s oceans may have originated and persisted.

Location: about 700 km below surface
Water storage: bound within ringwoodite in mantle
Region: transition zone of mantle
Significance: implications for Earth’s water cycle
Formation: water stored in high-pressure mineral

IIMA Launches Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence with ₹100 Crore Endowment

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad announced the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence on 27 March 2026. The new school receives a ₹100 crore endowment from Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon. It will combine AI research with management education to translate innovations into real-world solutions. The school aims to offer global collaboration, translational research, and programs that improve decision-making, productivity, and cross-sector problem solving. IIMA expects the school to bridge technical advances with practical business and policy applications, strengthening India’s position in AI leadership and deployment.

Endowment: ₹100 crore from Chandrika K. Tandon & Ranjan Tandon
Institution: Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence
Location: IIMA campus, Ahmedabad
Goal: translate AI research into real-world solutions
Focus: global platform, management integration, translational research

Japan’s 275 kmph Cargo Shinkansen Demonstrates Freight Speed

Japan has introduced a freight-only high-speed Shinkansen, achieving speeds up to 275 kmph. The vehicle, built on the passenger E3 Series design, has been adapted into open cargo space by removing seats. The service operates between Morioka and Tokyo, completing the journey in just over three hours. This development showcases rapid, high-capacity logistics solutions and cross-sector innovation in rail technology, with potential applications for international supply chains and freight efficiency.

Speed: up to 275 kmph
Type: freight-only Shinkansen (E3 Series redesign)
Route: Morioka–Tokyo
Travel time: just over 3 hours
Significance: faster, more efficient logistics

Mar 28, 2026

Railways approves ₹1,236 crore Kavach and fibre projects to strengthen safety and connectivity

Indian Railways has approved infrastructure projects worth ₹1,236 crore to strengthen its communication systems and expand the indigenous Kavach train protection system across key routes. A major portion funds expansion of optical fibre infrastructure. In Central Railway, projects worth ₹623.63 crore have been sanctioned to establish a dual-path network across Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Bhusaval and Solapur divisions. The plan includes installation of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) along 2,250 route kilometres and laying underground optical fibre cables over 2,673 route kilometres. The dual system will provide redundancy and ensure uninterrupted communications, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Railways approves ₹1,236 crore Kavach and fibre projects.
Focus on safety and digital backbone with Kavach and enhanced optics.
Central Railway gets ₹623.63 crore for dual-path network across multiple divisions.
OPGW along 2,250 route kilometres; underground fibre on 2,673 route kilometres.
Dual system aims to ensure redundancy and uninterrupted communications.

Mar 27, 2026

IIM Kozhikode enters QS Top 100 Rankings 2026

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has entered the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 top 100 for the first time. The QS rankings assess universities globally using criteria such as academic reputation, employer reputation, research output, and employment outcomes. IIM-K’s inclusion in the top 100 marks a notable milestone for Indian management education, reflecting stronger international visibility and performance in management disciplines. The development contributes to India’s rising presence in global higher education rankings and signals continued improvement in Indian business schools' global standing.

IIM Kozhikode joins QS Top 100 Rankings 2026 by subject.
QS rankings evaluate reputation, research, and outcomes.
marks a milestone for Indian management education.
Indicates rising global visibility of Indian business schools.
Supports India’s broader higher-education expansion agenda.

Mar 26, 2026

NASA Artemis 2 set for April 2026 launch; first crewed lunar flyby in decades

NASA's Artemis 2 mission is set for launch on 1 April 2026. The mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed mission to go beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. Artemis 2 will not land on the lunar surface; instead, the crew will perform a lunar flyby and return to Earth. This flight is the first crewed test under NASA's Artemis program, designed to demonstrate long-duration deep-space operations ahead of future surface landings. The mission underscores the United States’ capability for sustained human exploration of cislunar space, and science objectives will include experiments in life support, navigation, and communications.

Launch date: 1 April 2026
Crew of four astronauts
10-day lunar flyby mission
First crewed beyond LEO since 1972
Part of NASA's Artemis program
No lunar landing during Artemis 2

Kiran Mani named APAC Chief to drive OpenAI's India growth

OpenAI appointed Kiran Mani, former CEO of JioStar, as Asia-Pacific chief to lead India growth plans. The announcement was made on 25 March 2026. Mani will head OpenAI's Asia operations from a Singapore base and report to Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon. Mani is a technology and business leader with experience at Google, Microsoft, and IBM, including a long stint directing Android and Google Play operations in Asia-Pacific and Japan. The appointment signals OpenAI's intensified focus on high-potential markets in the region and is expected to bolster partnerships, product deployment, and AI research collaboration in India and nearby markets.

Appointed: 25 March 2026
Role: APAC Chief, OpenAI
Base: Singapore; reports to CSO Jason Kwon
Past roles: JioStar CEO, Google, Microsoft, IBM
Focus: India growth and regional expansion
Implications: stronger partnerships and AI collaboration

Akasha300 3D printer delivered to ISRO's LPSC

The Akasha300, a high-temperature 3D printer, was delivered to ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. Developed by Kerala-based startup Spacetime 4D, the printer is designed for space mission components and operates as a multi-material extrusion device capable of handling engineering plastics and composite materials. Supported by the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (STIIC) at IIST and Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), the unit aims to boost domestic manufacturing for space hardware. The development supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing import reliance and enabling faster prototyping of critical propulsion and structural parts.

Device: Akasha300 high-temperature 3D printer
Delivered to ISRO's LPSC
Developer: Spacetime 4D (Kerala)
Capabilities: multi-material extrusion
Supports STIIC at IIST and KSUM
Advances domestic space manufacturing

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