Science and Technology (S&T) Digest (16-30 April 2025), Issue 60

Dr Saroj Bishoyi, Senior Fellow, VIF

May 23 , 2025 Views: 510 Comments: 0

In this Issue

I. Defence and Security

Strengthening India’s Small Arms Manufacturing Ecosystem

The Ministry of Science and Technology, through the Technology Development Board (TDB), has taken a pivotal step toward indigenizing India’s small arms manufacturing capability by extending financial assistance to M/s dvipa Defence India Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad (erstwhile M/s dvipa Armour Pvt. Ltd.). The project, titled “Development and Commercialization of 7.62 mm x 51 mm Assault Rifles,” aims to produce high-performance, indigenous assault rifles in alignment with the Indian Army’s General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR). TDB’s assistance will play a crucial role in enabling the development, testing, and commercialization of the UGRAM rifle, including the creation of a state-of-the-art in-house manufacturing unit with integrated quality assurance and testing infrastructure. Click here to read…

DRDO Achieves Significant Milestone in Scramjet Engine Development

Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has achieved a significant milestone in the field of Hypersonic Weapon Technology. DRDL conducted long-duration Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor ground testing for more than 1,000 seconds at the newly built state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Test Facility at Hyderabad on 25 April 2025. The ground-test is in continuation of the earlier test reported for 120 seconds in January 2025. With the successful test, the system will be soon ready for full scale flight worthy combustor testing. Click here to read…

Trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’ from Su-30 MKI Aircraft

The DRDO successfully conducted the Release Trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) ‘Gaurav’ between 08-10 April 2025 from the Su-30 MKI aircraft. During the trials, the weapon was integrated to multiple stations in different warhead configurations, with land target on Island. The trials successfully demonstrated range close to 100 kms with pin-point accuracy. LRGB ‘Gaurav’ is a 1,000 kg class glide bomb, designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat, Armament Research and Development Establishment and Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. Senior officials of DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated and reviewed these trials. Click here to read…

Advanced 3D Microscope Introduced for First Time in Army Hospital

In a first and a unique milestone for the Armed Forces, the Department of Ophthalmology in Army Hospital (Research and Referral), New Delhi has performed the minimally invasive glaucoma surgery using 3D Microscope. This three-dimensional visualisation system is very useful for eye surgeries, including treatment for squint, cataract, corneal, glaucoma and retinal issues. This system utilises special 3D polarisation glasses, and a 55-inch 4K ultra-HD display. Potential advantages include significantly lesser surgical time/complication rate compared to conventional microscope, decreased power of endo-illuminator, reduced photo-toxicity, ease of use in uncommon and complicated situations and high surgeon and nurse satisfaction scores. Click here to read…

Keel Laying of Fourth (ex-GRSE) Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel

Keel laying ceremony for Yard 3040, the fourth (ex-GRSE) Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), was held at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata, on 24 April 2025. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the construction of the NGOPV, further showcasing India's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. The contracts for indigenous design and construction of eleven Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV) were concluded on 30 Mar 23 with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), Goa and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, with seven ships to be constructed by Lead Shipyard GSL and four ships by Follow Shipyard GRSE. Click here to read…

II. STI in Space Sector

Indian Telescope Sheds Light on Elusive ‘Middleweight’ Black Holes

Tracing an intermedia black hole (IMBH) located in a faint galaxy about 4.3 million light-years away using India’s largest optical telescope, astronomers have found that gas clouds orbit the black hole at a distance of 125 light-minutes (around 2.25 billion kilometre) with a velocity dispersion of 545 km per second. The discovery refines our understanding about how black holes, especially those that weight between 100 and 100,000 Suns, grow and interact with their surroundings. For decades, astronomers have searched for a missing link in the cosmic black hole family: the elusive Intermediate-Mass Black Holes (IMBHs). IMBHs, are thought to be the seeds that grow into supermassive black holes. Click here to read…

International Space Mission Carrying Indian Astronaut Scheduled in May

India is poised to script a defining chapter in its space journey, international Space mission carrying Indian astronaut has been scheduled for next month. Announcing this after a high-level meeting held to review major future plans of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the coming months, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the mission will mark the visit of first Indian ever to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the first Indian astronaut to travel to Space in over four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 flight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. The announcement comes amid a flurry of activity in India’s space sector, which is gearing up for an ambitious slate of missions in the coming months. Click here to read…

India’s Space Journey and Emergence as a Global Space Power

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the journey of the country over the last five decades and said that while the month of April, 50 years ago, marked the launch of India’s first satellite ‘Aryabhata’, the country has since then evolved into a global space power and created a record by launching 104 satellites simultaneously. “Today, when we look back and remember this journey of 50 years, we realise how far we have come. This flight of India's dreams in space once commenced with just conviction. Some young scientists with the passion to do something for the nation”. PM Modi said during the 121st episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ that “It is the result of that very dedication and spirit of service to the nation that so much has changed today. Today, India has become a Global Space Power.” Click here to read…

ISRO Achieves Second Successful Satellite Docking under SPADEX Mission

The ISRO successfully completed the second docking of satellites under its SPADEX mission. Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the development and extended his congratulations to the ISRO team. In a post on X, he said, "Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully." This event marked yet another significant milestone in India's space research programme. On 13 March, ISRO announced the successful completion of its SpaDeX mission’s space de-docking. The undocking process involved a precise sequence of events, culminating in the separation of the SDX-01 (Chaser) and SDX-02 (Target) satellites, which were launched on 30 December 2024, using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C60 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Click here to read…

Tamil Nadu’s Space Policy to Attract Investment of Rs 10,000 cr

Tamil Nadu’s Space Policy plans to attract an investment of Rs 10,000 crore into Tamil Nadu’s space sector, highlighted T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu. In a social media post, the minister said, “Tamil Nadu is strapping on boosters to liftoff into the #spacetech orbit! In a landmark decision today, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet has approved the Tamil Nadu Space Industrial Policy 2025, a bold blueprint to catapult our state into the high-orbit economy of space technology and advanced manufacturing." He described this new policy as a bold blueprint to launch the state into a high growth economy driven by space technology and advanced manufacturing. Click here to read…

III. Nuclear Technology

IAEA Kicks Off 2025 Cooperation with G20 under South African Presidency

For the second year in a row, the IAEA has been invited to collaborate with the G20 on work related to nuclear power. The cooperation with the G20 resumed under the presidency of South Africa at meetings this week in Cape Town, kicking off with a side event hosted by the IAEA and South Africa on the role of nuclear energy in clean energy transitions, as one of the technology dialogues that the presidency is featuring throughout the yearlong process. The IAEA engagement will include publications tailored to inform the group on topics such as the prospects for nuclear power in Africa and repurposing coal-fired plants with nuclear power such as small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as participation in the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy, set for 23-26 September. Click here to read…

Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 NPT Review Conference

Diplomats representing most of the 191 states-parties to the 1968 nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), along with representatives from civil society, will convene in at UN headquarters in New York next week for consultations on how to hold together and strengthen implementation and compliance with the international nuclear arms control regime at a time when the risks of nuclear proliferation and nuclear competition are growing. The meeting arrives at a time of extreme uncertainty: the outcome of negotiations with Iran on its sensitive nuclear activities are not clear; the risk of arms racing is growing as the last remaining treaty regulating the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals is due to expire in less than a year, and as China is building up its arsenal. Click here to read…

First National Workshop to Strengthen Implementation of BWC in Congo

From 26 to 27 March 2025 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs and Justice of Congo organized a national workshop on strengthening the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). This was the first BWC capacity-building workshop in Congo since it deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention in 1978. The Republic of the Congo has made significant progress towards BWC implementation prior to the event, in particular with the nomination of a BWC National Contact Point (NCP) in 2024. UNODA and the NCP of Congo worked closely together in recent months to identify concrete steps that would raise awareness of the BWC nationally. Click here to read…

New Unit Assistance Industry Working Group (NUA I-WG) Meeting

The 19th New Unit Assistance Industry Working Group (NUA I-WG) Meeting was hosted by Emirates Nuclear Energy Company – ENEC Operations in Abu Dhabi on 15 & 16 April 2025. The meeting was led by Mr. N. Konstantinov, I-WG Chair and Rosenergoatom Deputy Director General. The meeting agenda included presentations and discussions related to lessons learnt and experience from nuclear units construction and commissioning. In addition, the results of the sub-group work on the development of industry guidelines were presented. The meeting discussed their plans for the group’s future activities and areas where the industry needs additional guidance, in particular, the commitment of the operating companies to build nuclear units with innovative reactors. Click here to read…

UAE International Nuclear Medicine Conference

Participants in the fifth annual UAE International Conference in cooperation with the Arab Society for Nuclear Medicine, which concluded at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, recommended the need to strengthen specialised training and qualification programmes for medical staff, and expand the use of modern technologies in nuclear medicine, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and chronic diseases. Participants stressed that recent developments in the field of molecular imaging and radioisotope radiotherapy open up broad prospects in providing accurate and personalised health care, based on targeting infected cells without affecting healthy tissue, which reduces side effects and raises therapeutic success rates. Click here to read…

IV. Emerging Technologies and Applications

India’s First Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over Multi-Core Fibre

In a landmark achievement, C-DOT, jointly with Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL), has successfully tested India’s first QKD transmission over a 4-core Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) – marking a major milestone in the nation’s journey towards quantum-secured communication networks. Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) technology provides a powerful solution by enabling data transmission across multiple cores within a single fibre, significantly saving physical space and infrastructure costs. In the context of QKD – which typically requires a dedicated dark fibre for the quantum channel, MCF offers a significant advantage: it enables the physical separation of quantum and classical signals into distinct cores within single fibre. Click here to read…

Innovative Aerostatic Drone for Enhanced Surveillance and Disaster Management

Forest surveillance, wildlife monitoring, border and disaster surveillance in the North East, may soon be much easier – thanks to the Aerostatic Drone developed with support from North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR). NECTAR, an autonomous body under Department of Science and Technology, Government of India organized a live demonstration of the technology developed by Airbotix Technologies, Gurgaon. It is the first of its kind in India, designed with high endurance and aero-statically stable capabilities to deploy for forest surveillance, wildlife monitoring, border and disaster surveillance application. Aerostatic drones are aerial platforms that derive their lift from both buoyancy and aerodynamics. This makes them very energy efficient making them a better alternative for tethered drones. Click here to read…

Bose Institute Scientists Receive Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

The Experimental High Energy Physics (HEP) group of Bose Institute (BI), currently consisting of Faculty members- Prof. Supriya Das, Dr. Sidharth Kumar Prasad and Dr. Saikat Biswas, Post Doctoral Fellow- Dr. Sanchari Thakur and Senior Research Fellow- Mr. Mintu Haldar, has been awarded the Breakthrough Prize 2025 in Fundamental Physics as a part of ALICE at CERN. The $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for 2025 is awarded to thousands of researchers from more than 70 countries representing four experimental collaborations at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – ATLAS, CMS, ALICE and LHCb. Click here to read…

ANRF Supports 7 Premier Institutions and 45 Partnering Spokes

Strengthening India’s Research Ecosystem through Strategic Mentorship and Collaboration Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has announced the selection of seven PAIR Networks (seven hubs and forty-five spoke institutions) under its flagship initiative—Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) programme. The network connects universities with top-tier, well-established institutions through a structured mentorship with the purpose of strengthening India’s higher education research environment. The seven Hub institutions selected under the programme include Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; University of Hyderabad; and, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar. Click here to read…

Electronics Component Manufacturing in Global Value Chains

Speaking at VVDN industry facility in Manesar, Haryana on 18 April, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the significant strides India has made in electronics manufacturing in the last 10 years. The Minister highlighted that the New Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, recently cleared by Cabinet, further strengthens India’s position in global electronics supply chains. The Minister also said that the scheme guidelines will be issued soon. In a landmark development for India’s electronics manufacturing landscape, he also inaugurated an VVDN Technologies’ state-of-the-art Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Line and Mechanical Innovation Park at the company’s Global Innovation Park in Manesar, Haryana. Click here to read…

V. International Cooperation

India-Russia to Advance Critical Mineral Technologies

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through its premier minerals research institute CSIR-IMMT, has signed two Joint Declarations of Intent (JDIs) with leading Russian institutions – the State Research and Design Institute of the Rare Metal Industry (JSC Giredmet), a premier research and design institute under the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom, Moscow and the National University of Science and Technology MISIS, Moscow (NUST MISIS) – to strengthen cooperation in critical mineral processing and sustainable resource development. Two separate Joint Declarations of Intent were signed by Dr. Ramanuj Narayan (Director, CSIR-IMMT) – one with Dr. Andrei I. Golinei (Director, Chemical Technology Unit, JSC Rosatom Science) and another with Dr. Michael R. Filonov (Vice-Rector, NUST MISIS). Click here to read…

India Takes Part in Africa’s Largest Tech & Startup Show GITEX Africa 2025

Africa’s largest tech and startup show, GITEX provides platform for policy leaders, changemakers and visionaries to collectively discuss and deliberate on the opportunities to collaborate and further the imperative of inclusive and equitable growth of the global economy. The three-day event just concluded at Morocco capital Marrakesh. Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary represented Republic of India at the summit. He took part in high-level bilateral meetings, panel discussions and interacted with Indian startups showcasing their innovations. Click here to read…

India-Frace Signed Agreement for 26 Rafale-Marine Aircraft for Indian Navy

The Governments of India and France have signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the procurement of 26 Rafale Aircraft (22 Single-Seater and four Twin-Seater) for the Indian Navy. It includes Training, Simulator, Associated Equipment, Weapons and Performance-Based Logistics. It also includes additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the IAF. In line with the Government’s thrust on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the agreement includes Transfer of Technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India. It also includes setting up of production facility for Rafale Fuselage as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities for aircraft engine, sensors and weapons in India. Click here to read…

India-Saudi Arabia Cooperation in Emerging Technologies

In the joint statement, India and Saudi Arabia underscored the importance of co-operation in technology including in new and emerging domains such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, semi-conductors etc. Highlighting the importance of digital governance, both sides agreed to explore collaboration in this area. They also expressed satisfaction on signing of the MOU between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and Communications, Space and Technology Commission of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for cooperation in regulatory and digital sectors. Both sides noted that the MoU on space cooperation signed during this visit will pave the way for enhanced cooperation in the field of space, including utilization of launch vehicles, spacecraft, ground systems; applications of space technology; research and development; academic engagement and entrepreneurship. Click here to read…

Elon Musk to Visit India Aimed at Advancing Tech Cooperation

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that he is looking forward to visiting India later this year. This followed his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The call reflects a continued dialogue between the two leaders on advancing cooperation in technology and innovation. “It was an honour to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year!” Musk posted on social media platform X following the call. The conversation builds upon their earlier in-person meeting at Blair House in Washington DC in February this year. During that meeting, PM Modi and Musk explored strengthening collaboration between Indian and US entities across key sectors including space exploration, artificial intelligence, innovation, and sustainable development. Click here to read…

VI. Regional and Global Trends

MIT Engineers Advance Toward a Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer

Researchers achieved a type of coupling between artificial atoms and photons that could enable readout and processing of quantum information in a few nanoseconds. In the future, quantum computers could rapidly simulate new materials or help scientists develop faster machine-learning models, opening the door to many new possibilities. But these applications will only be possible if quantum computers can perform operations extremely quickly, so scientists can make measurements and perform corrections before compounding error rates reduce their accuracy and reliability. The efficiency of this measurement process, known as readout, relies on the strength of the coupling between photons, which are particles of light that carry quantum information, and artificial atoms, units of matter that are often used to store information in a quantum computer. Click here to read…

New Chip Tests Cooling Solutions for Stacked Microelectronics

As demand grows for more powerful and efficient microelectronics systems, industry is turning to 3D integration – stacking chips on top of each other. This vertically layered architecture could allow high-performance processors, like those used for artificial intelligence, to be packaged closely with other highly specialized chips for communication or imaging. But technologists everywhere face a major challenge: how to prevent these stacks from overheating. Now, MIT Lincoln Laboratory has developed a specialized chip to test and validate cooling solutions for packaged chip stacks. The chip dissipates extremely high power, mimicking high-performance logic chips, to generate heat through the silicon layer and in localized hot spots. Click here to read…

US Commerce Secretary Visits TSMC Arizona for Groundbreaking

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) broke ground on its third semiconductor manufacturing fab in Arizona on 29 April 2025, US President Donald Trump's 100th day in office, featuring a visit from US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Lutnick visited TSMC's semiconductor fabrication facility in Phoenix where the company broke ground on a third fab facility, the US Department of State said in a news release. In the statement, Lutnick emphasized the importance of TSMC's investments in the US, saying: "We are at TSMC Arizona to celebrate the return of American manufacturing." During the visit, TSMC chairman and CEO C.C. Wei welcomed Lutnick and highlighted the progress made in its Arizona operation, the news release said. Click here to read…

New US AI Chip Sanctions to Harm Taiwanese Suppliers

The US Department of Commerce’s announcement that it would impose a fresh round of sanctions on exports to China by major US artificial intelligence (AI) chip designers is expected to harm suppliers, including those in Taiwan, analysts said. The department this week announced new export licensing requirements for Nvidia Corp’s H20 and Advanced Micro Devices Inc’s (AMD) MI308 chips, which are critical to AI development. The new US licensing requirements would further hamper Nvidia and AMD, while Taiwanese suppliers to the two companies would also be affected, Taiwan Industry Economics Services researcher Arisa Liu said. Click here to read…

Making AI-Generated Code More Accurate in Any Language

A new technique automatically guides an LLM toward outputs that adhere to the rules of whatever programming language or another format is being used. Programmers can now use large language models (LLMs) to generate computer code more quickly. However, this only makes programmers’ lives easier if that code follows the rules of the programming language and doesn’t cause a computer to crash. Some methods exist for ensuring LLMs conform to the rules of whatever language they are generating text in, but many of these methods either distort the model’s intended meaning or are too time-consuming to be feasible for complex tasks. A new approach developed by researchers at MIT and elsewhere automatically guides an LLM to generate text that adheres to the rules of the relevant language, such as a particular programming language, and is also error-free. Click here to read…