Top 20 Science & Technology News (2025–2026)

🛰️ SPACE TECHNOLOGY

1. SpaDeX Mission — India Achieves In-Space Docking

• ISRO launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) on 30 December 2024 from Sriharikota.

• On 16 January 2025, India successfully demonstrated in-space docking for the first time.

• India became only the 4th country in the world to achieve this technology (after USA, Russia, China).

• Docking is a critical prerequisite for future Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), and lunar missions.

• Uses two small spacecraft — SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) — developed indigenously.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Space Technology; India's indigenous capabilities

2. Axiom-4 Mission — Shubhanshu Shukla on ISS

• IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flew to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Axiom Space's Axiom-4 mission in 2025.

• He became the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian in space (after Rakesh Sharma in 1984).

• Conducted 7 Indian science experiments onboard — covering muscle repair, seed behaviour, algae growth, tardigrades, and neurological responses.

• The mission provided critical microgravity research data and crew experience for Gaganyaan.

• Shukla is one of the four Gaganyaan astronaut-designates selected for India's crewed spaceflight programme.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Space Technology; Science & Technology; India's human spaceflight ambitions

3. NISAR Satellite — India-USA Joint Earth Observation Mission

• NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) was launched on 30 July 2025 from Sriharikota aboard GSLV Mark II.

• It is a joint mission between NASA and ISRO — the first of its kind between the two space agencies.

• Equipped with dual-frequency SAR (L-band + S-band), it can detect land/ice surface movement up to centimetre-level accuracy.

• Can see through clouds and darkness, monitoring disasters, glacial movement, earthquakes, crop health, and sea-level changes.

• Declared fully operational in January 2026; first images captured the Godavari River Delta.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Space Technology; Disaster Management; Environment & Ecology; India-USA cooperation

4. Gaganyaan Mission — India's Human Spaceflight Programme

• India's first crewed spaceflight, Gaganyaan, has a total budget of ₹20,193 crore (enhanced from original ₹9,023 crore).

• First uncrewed test flight (Gaganyaan-1) is scheduled for H2 2026; first crewed flight planned for 2027.

• Four astronaut-designates: Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap, Shubhanshu Shukla (all IAF pilots).

• Vyommitra — a half-humanoid robot — will fly in uncrewed missions to test life-support systems.

• Two Integrated Air Drop Tests (IADT) were successfully conducted in August 2025 and April 2026 to test the crew escape and parachute systems.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Space Technology; Science & Technology; India's strategic capabilities

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & EMERGING TECH

5. IndiaAI Mission — India's National AI Strategy

• The IndiaAI Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024 with an outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore.

• Vision: "Making AI in India" and "Making AI Work for India" — focused on AI-led solutions for healthcare, agriculture, climate, and governance.

• AIKosh (India's national AI dataset platform) hosts 7,541 datasets and 273 AI models across 20 sectors as of February 2026.

• MeitY released India AI Governance Guidelines in November 2025 — adopting a risk-based, proportional approach to high-risk AI systems.

• India ranks 3rd globally in Stanford University's AI Vibrancy Tool; AI talent pool expected to grow from 6.5 lakh to 12.5 lakh professionals by 2027.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; IT & Governance; GS2 — Government Policies & Interventions

6. India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 — Chip Manufacturing Milestone

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was approved in 2021 with an incentive framework of ₹76,000 crore (50% fiscal support for fabs).

• As of December 2025, 10 projects worth ₹1.60 lakh crore have been approved across 6 states.

• Tata Electronics-PSMC Fab at Dholera (Gujarat): India's first 28nm commercial semiconductor fab — 300mm wafers, targeting first silicon by December 2026.

• Kaynes Semicon (Sanand): Reached commercial production in March 2026 — shipping India's first domestically produced multi-chip modules.

• ISM 2.0 announced in Union Budget 2026-27 to strengthen equipment manufacturing, indigenous IP, and full-stack design capabilities (outlay: ₹8,000 crore).

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Economy; Atmanirbhar Bharat; Critical Technology

7. National Quantum Mission (NQM) — India's Quantum Leap

• NQM was approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2023 with a budget of ₹6,003.65 crore (2023–2031).

• Covers four thrust areas: Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials.

• Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) established at premier institutions (IITs, IISc) to anchor research ecosystems.

• India's first indigenous quantum computing testing facility inaugurated at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh on 14 April 2026.

• 8 startups selected under NQM for innovation in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and advanced materials.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Emerging Technologies; Government Initiatives

8. Global AI Frontier — Agentic AI & Foundation Models (2025–26)

• 2025–26 marks the rise of Agentic AI — AI systems that can autonomously plan, reason, and complete multi-step tasks without human intervention.

• Major models: GPT-5.2 (OpenAI) achieved 100% score on AIME 2025 (advanced mathematics); Claude Opus 4.5 (Anthropic) resolves 4 out of 5 software bugs autonomously.

• India's AI Impact Summit 2026 (New Delhi) promoted a Global South-led AI governance model centred on equity and sustainability.

• AI is projected to add $1.7 trillion to India's GDP by 2035 (NITI Aayog roadmap).

• A key concern: AI-driven displacement of high-paying IT sector jobs in India (flagged by Bernstein, CNBC, 2026).

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Economy; GS2 — International Relations; Ethics Paper (AI ethics)

9. 5G Completion & Bharat 6G Mission

• India completed the world's fastest 5G rollout — from 0 to 99% district coverage in just 22 months.

• As of 2025: 5.08 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations installed; 5G services in 99.9% of all districts.

• India is only the 5th country to develop its own indigenous 4G/5G telecom stack (upgradeable stack in 2 years).

• Bharat 6G Mission launched; India targeting 10% of global 6G patents through Bharat 6G Alliance (84+ members).

• BharatNet Phase 3: ₹1.39 lakh crore project to connect 3.8 lakh villages with optical fibre; 6.94 lakh km OFC laid by October 2025.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Infrastructure; Digital India; GS2 — Government Policies

10. National Supercomputing Mission 2.0

• NSM 2.0 integrates High Performance Computing (HPC), AI, and Quantum Computing into a unified national infrastructure.

• Announced at Supercomputing India 2025 (MIT-MAHE, Bengaluru) — marks a step toward exascale computing capabilities.

• India will establish two quantum chip and sensor fabs at IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru under NQM.

• India's indigenous VIKRAM3201 (32-bit processor, qualified for extreme launch environments) and KALPANA3201 microprocessors unveiled by ISRO and Semiconductor Laboratory in March 2025.

• These chips reduce India's dependence on foreign processors for space and defence applications.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Atmanirbhar Bharat; Space Technology

🧬 BIOTECHNOLOGY & HEALTH

11. Genome India Project — Completion of 10,000 Genome Sequencing

• India's Genome India Project (GIP) completed the sequencing of 10,000 whole human genomes from 99 ethnic groups in January 2025.

• This is India's largest genetic reference dataset — now made globally accessible via the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) portal.

• Enables precision medicine tailored to Indian genetic diversity; useful for rare disease diagnosis, drug development, and agricultural genomics.

• The project is funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and executed by IISc Bangalore.

• Phase 2 targets sequencing 1 million genomes — one of the world's most ambitious genomic programmes.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Biotechnology; Health; GS2 — Health Policy

12. India's Bio-economy & National Biofoundry Network

• India's bio-economy has grown from $10 billion (2014) to $140 billion (2024) and is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030.

• India's first National Biofoundry Network launched with 6 biofoundries — enables rapid prototyping of biological systems for pharma, agriculture, and materials.

• The National Biopharma Mission delivered indigenous vaccines (ZyCoV-D, Corbevax) and India's first cell therapies for acute lymphoma at a fraction of imported costs.

• India also developed indigenous MRI scanners, heart valves, endoscopes, and bone implants under DBT-supported programmes.

• India's cell & gene therapy ecosystem is a priority under Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research & Innovation through Data Exchange) guidelines.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Biotechnology; Economy; GS2 — Health

🛡️ DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY

13. Operation Sindoor — India's First Non-Contact Precision War

• Operation Sindoor was conducted on 7–8 May 2025 in direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack (April 2025) — killed 26 tourists.

• India executed precision strikes on 9 terror camps in Pakistan and PoK using drones, loitering munitions, and cruise missiles — without ground troops crossing the border.

• Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defence systems within 23 minutes.

• Marked India's first large-scale use of drone swarms in combat; drones handled surveillance, strike support, and threat neutralisation simultaneously.

• Post-operation, India fast-tracked: D4 anti-drone system, SAKSHAM counter-UAS grid, Bhargavastra multi-layer micro-missile system, and DRDO laser-based directed energy weapons.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Internal Security; Defence Technology; Science & Technology; Atmanirbhar Bharat

14. K-4 SLBM Test from INS Arighaat — Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrence

• On 25 December 2025, India successfully test-fired the K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) from INS Arighaat — India's second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).

• K-4 has a range of 3,500 km — capable of targeting deep into adversary territory from stealth underwater positions.

• This was the first K-4 test from INS Arighaat, strengthening India's nuclear triad (land + air + sea legs of nuclear deterrence).

• Sea-based deterrence is considered the most survivable leg of the triad — ensures credible second-strike capability.

• India is building more SSBNs (INS Aridhaman under construction) to expand its undersea deterrent fleet.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Defence Technology; Internal Security; Nuclear Policy; India's Strategic Deterrence

15. DRDO's MIRV, Hypersonic & TARA — Three Strategic Milestones in Three Days

• In May 2026, DRDO conducted three strategic weapons tests within 3 days — a rare demonstration of technological acceleration.

• Test 1: Agni missile variant with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles) capability — one missile can strike multiple targets simultaneously.

• Test 2: Trial of a scramjet combustor — critical component for future hypersonic missile systems (speed > Mach 5).

• Test 3: Maiden trial of TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation) — a glide weapon system with precision standoff strike capability.

• India's Agni-Prime rail-based missile was also tested in September 2025 — enhances mobility and survivability of nuclear forces.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Defence Technology; India's Strategic Capabilities

🌿 CLIMATE & ENERGY

16. National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) — India's Clean Fuel Push

• NGHM has a total outlay of ₹19,744 crore and aims to produce at least 5 MMT of green hydrogen per annum by 2030 (extendable to 10 MMTA).

• As of August 2025, 158 green hydrogen projects are at various stages of development across India.

• Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India officially launched in April 2025 — sets quality and sustainability standards for production.

• Three major ports — Kandla, Paradip, and Tuticorin — designated as Green Hydrogen Export Hubs.

• Green hydrogen cost in India expected to drop from $4–6/kg to $2–3/kg by 2030 (50% reduction), driven by cheaper solar and wind power.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Energy; Environment; Climate Change; Atmanirbhar Bharat; India's Net-Zero commitments

17. India Ranks 3rd Globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity

• As of 31 March 2026, India has installed 283.46 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity — surpassing Brazil to claim 3rd position globally.

• India's installed nuclear power capacity stands at 8.78 GW (31 March 2026); new plants under construction will add significant capacity.

• India aims for 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 — a commitment made at COP26 under its Panchamrit targets.

• Green Ammonia and Green Methanol standards were officially notified by BIS in February 2026 to enable clean chemical export markets.

• India's renewable energy growth is driven by ambitious Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for solar modules and wind turbines.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Energy; Environment; Climate Change; Government Policies; International Relations (COP)

🔬 GOVERNMENT SCIENCE INITIATIVES

18. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) — Boosting S&T Research

• ANRF was established under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 — replacing the old Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

• Total corpus: ₹50,000 crore over 5 years (2023–28), with ₹36,000 crore expected from private and industry sources.

• ANRF is India's apex body for funding, coordinating, and promoting scientific research across universities, colleges, and R&D labs.

• Aims to strengthen research culture in Indian universities — especially state universities and institutions outside the IIT/IISc ecosystem.

• Modelled on the US National Science Foundation (NSF) — promotes competitive, peer-reviewed research grants.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Government Initiatives; GS2 — Education Policy & Governance

19. One Health Mission & Health Technology in India

• India's One Health approach integrates human health, animal health, and environmental health for holistic epidemic preparedness.

• India launched the National One Health Mission under the National Health Authority (NHA) to prevent zoonotic disease spillovers (like COVID-19, Nipah, Bird Flu).

• AI and genomics integration in healthcare: hospitals using AI for radiology, drug discovery, and personalised treatment — accelerated by IndiaAI Mission's healthcare pillar.

• India's CoWIN platform (COVID vaccination digital backbone) exported to 8 countries; forms part of India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) diplomacy.

• Department of Biotechnology's Biotech-PRIDE guidelines create a framework for sharing biological data while protecting sovereignty and IP.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Health; GS3 — Science & Technology; Biotechnology; International Relations (health diplomacy)

20. India's Drone Policy & Dedicated Drone Airbase

• India's Drone Rules 2021 and PLI Scheme for Drones (₹120 crore) created a booming ecosystem of 600+ drone startups, raising over $500 million in funding.

• India's drone market projected to grow from $0.47 billion (2025) to $1.39 billion by 2030.

• Post-Operation Sindoor, India approved the SAKSHAM Counter-UAS Grid (2025) — a multi-layered anti-drone defence system for critical infrastructure.

• India is building its first dedicated drone airbase at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (₹406 crore project by Border Roads Organisation) spanning ~900 acres.

• The defence target: 8,000–10,000 combat drones per army corps — signalling a full doctrinal shift toward unmanned warfare.

• 📌 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science & Technology; Defence Technology; Internal Security; Economy (startup ecosystem)