SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH: Mission Overview Date: March 2, 2025 Operator: Firefly Aerospace Significance: Second-ever private lunar landing. First to land upright. Part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Landing and Location Landed at: Mons Latreille, Mare Crisium on the Moon. Preceded by: Intuitive Machines’ first commercial lunar …

GS3 SCIENCE AND TECH:  Supreme Court recently ordered States to address transparency issues in tendering and procuring ART drugs for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) /AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients. About ART ART is a combination of medicines that help control HIV by reducing the virus in the body. HIV …

GS3 SCIENCE AND TECH:  India’s Aditya-L1 mission achieved a historic breakthrough on February 22, 2025, when its Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) captured the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel’ in the lower solar atmosphere. This discovery enhances our understanding of solar activity and its impact on Earth’s space …

GS 3 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Context: NASA is set to launch the PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, a Small Explorer initiative aimed at capturing global, three-dimensional observations of the young solar wind, extending from the outermost solar atmosphere (Corona) to the inner heliosphere. Key Features: …

GS3 SCIENCE AND TECH:  Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, including Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and Predictive Analytics, are being harnessed to modernize judicial processes, legal research, and law enforcement in India. AI’s Role in Judiciary and Law Enforcement Judicial Modernization: Phase III of the …

GS3 SCIENCE AND TECH:  India’s debut indigenous semiconductor chip is slated for production by 2025, a milestone in reducing reliance on imports and bolstering its global semiconductor standing. Currently, India depends heavily on nations like Taiwan and China for chips. Benefits of Indigenous Chips Developing local chips will strengthen national …

GS3 SCIENCE AND TECH:  India’s space sector is poised for a fivefold increase, playing a vital role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Overview of India’s Space Economy Current Value: Valued at $8.4 billion, India holds a 2% share of the global space market. Economic Contribution: Over the …

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH:  On February 13, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced the successful development of the world’s largest 10-tonne Vertical Planetary Mixer for solid propellants. This breakthrough, achieved in collaboration with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), Bengaluru, is a significant step toward self-reliance in space …

GS3 SCIENCE AND TECH: India’s Deep Ocean Mission has achieved a milestone with the successful testing of Matsya-6000, a deep-sea submersible developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology. Designed for ocean exploration, it can operate at depths of up to 6,000 metres, aiding in marine research and resource discovery. …

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH:  Context: Recently, researchers have detected High-energy cosmic neutrinos under Mediterranean Sea. What are Neutrinos? Neutrinos are tiny particles with no electric charge and very little mass. They are incredibly difficult to detect because they rarely interact with matter. Where Do They Come From? The Sun: Produced …

GS 3 – Science and technology The RSVC was developed under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA). The center aims to integrate state-of-the-art technologies with rural requirements, improving the quality of life and empowering rural communities through sustainable solutions. The concept of RuTAGe was proposed …

GS 3 – Science and technology Context: Cybersecurity researchers have raised concerns about a new vulnerability in AI chatbots known as Indirect Prompt Injection attacks. Understanding Indirect Prompt Injection This attack method involves manipulating AI chatbots into executing unintended or harmful commands. It exploits the fundamental ability of large language …

GS 3 – Science and technology Context: India is on track to become the sixth nation to develop its own Deep Sea Mission. During the initial phase of harbour trials, the submersible is expected to reach depths between 40 and 50 meters. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has …

GS 3 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron, recently visited the ITER facility in France, highlighting the project’s progress, particularly the assembly of the world’s largest tokamak. ITER aims to demonstrate fusion as a viable, carbon-free energy source. What Is ITER? International …

GS 3 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY The KM3NeT (Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope) Collaboration is making significant strides in neutrino research through deep-sea observatories in the Mediterranean Sea. These detectors aim to study neutrinos—subatomic particles that can provide crucial insights into cosmic events. A recent breakthrough involved detecting a record-breaking ultra-high-energy …

GS3 – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY  Context: India has developed its first indigenous aerospace-grade semiconductor chip, Shakti, through a collaboration between IIT Madras and ISRO under the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) initiative. This marks a significant step towards semiconductor self-reliance and strengthening India’s strategic autonomy. About Shakti Semiconductor Chips What is …

GS3 – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY  Context: The Union Minister for Science & Technology has launched Sṛjanam, India’s first indigenous automated biomedical waste treatment plant, at AIIMS, New Delhi. What is Sṛjanam? Sṛjanam is an eco-friendly, non-incineration biomedical waste treatment system designed to disinfect pathogenic medical waste without burning, thereby reducing …

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH:  Overview Scheduled for launch in 2025, Pandora aims to study exoplanet atmospheres. The mission addresses the high demand for observation time on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Focus areas include clouds, hazes, and the presence of water in distant worlds. About Exoplanets Exoplanets orbit stars …

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH: On February 7, 2025, ISRO conducted a successful ignition trial of the CE20 cryogenic engine at the High Altitude Test Facility in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This engine powers the upper stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) and is crucial for the Gaganyaan mission. Significance of …

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH:  Chandrayaan-3 Mission India’s third lunar exploration mission by ISRO achieved a historic soft landing on the moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. Key components included the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, which collected critical data on lunar geology. Age Estimation The Shiv Shakti point is …