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Explore Science & Technology Current Affairs from 13 to 25 August 2026 covering ISRO and space missions, National Space Day, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, telecom, cybersecurity, digital health, quantum technology, scientific research, agricultural technology and major innovations in India and around the world. Useful for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence, State PSC and other competitive exams.
India Optel Limited (IOL) unveiled an indigenously developed high-magnification binocular named ‘Garud’ for the civilian market on 13 August 2026.
The development is significant because India Optel is a defence public-sector enterprise specialising in optoelectronic systems. The indigenous binocular demonstrates the potential for technologies developed within India's defence ecosystem to find applications in civilian areas as well.
The development also supports India's broader Atmanirbhar Bharat objective of increasing domestic capabilities in advanced optical and electronic technologies.
Organisation: India Optel Limited
Product: Garud
Technology: High-magnification indigenous binocular
The Government advanced implementation of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) during the period, with approvals under the scheme formally handed over at an event on 17 August 2026.
ECMS is designed to deepen India's domestic electronics supply chain by encouraging manufacturing of electronic components rather than relying primarily on assembly of finished products.
The programme is strategically important for India's ambitions in electronics, mobile devices, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
Scheme: Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme
Abbreviation: ECMS
Focus: Domestic electronic-component manufacturing
The Government announced that India's flagship semiconductor event, SEMICON India 2026, will be held from 17 to 19 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
The event will bring together semiconductor companies, technology firms, investors, equipment manufacturers, researchers and policymakers.
It is intended to showcase India's expanding semiconductor ecosystem and encourage investments across chip design, fabrication, packaging, testing, equipment and associated supply chains.
Event: SEMICON India 2026
Dates: 17–19 September 2026
Venue: Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
Sector: Semiconductors and electronics
The IndiaAI Mission organised a workshop on AIKosh on 20 August 2026 to strengthen India's AI-ready data ecosystem.
AIKosh is intended to provide datasets and related resources that can support artificial-intelligence research, development and deployment.
Availability of high-quality datasets is particularly important for developing and training AI models suited to Indian languages, sectors and use cases.
Initiative: AIKosh
Mission: IndiaAI Mission
Focus: AI-ready datasets and resources
The Government announced on 20 August 2026 that the Aadhaar App had crossed 5 crore downloads.
The milestone reflects increasing adoption of digital identity services and forms part of India's broader Digital Public Infrastructure ecosystem.
The app is intended to provide residents with convenient access to Aadhaar-related digital identity services.
Milestone: 5 crore downloads
Technology area: Digital identity
India hosted the BRICS Science Ministerial Meeting in Chennai on 21 August 2026.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh delivered the inaugural address.
The meeting brought BRICS countries together to discuss cooperation in science, technology and innovation, with emphasis on building resilient and future-ready scientific partnerships.
Meeting: BRICS Science Ministerial Meeting
Venue: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Host: India
Focus: Science, technology and innovation
One of the most important outcomes of the BRICS Science Ministerial Meeting was the unanimous adoption of the Chennai Declaration.
The declaration reaffirmed the commitment of BRICS countries to develop an effective, resilient and future-ready framework for cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
The declaration is important for competitive examinations because it connects BRICS + Chennai + science and technology cooperation.
Declaration: Chennai Declaration
Organisation: BRICS
Area: Science, Technology and Innovation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the CEOs and founders of 20 Indian space start-ups on 21 August 2026.
The interaction focused on India's rapidly expanding private-space ecosystem and the opportunities created by reforms that opened the country's space sector to greater private participation.
The Prime Minister highlighted policy consistency, innovation, entrepreneurship and growing global opportunities available to Indian space companies.
Number of start-ups represented: 20
Sector: Private space industry
Location: New Delhi
The interaction with space start-ups highlighted India's transition from a space programme dominated almost entirely by government agencies towards a broader ecosystem involving ISRO, IN-SPACe, NSIL, private companies and start-ups.
Private companies are increasingly participating in areas including:
Satellite manufacturing
Launch vehicles
Space-based applications
Earth observation
Geospatial services
Propulsion systems
Space electronics
Ground infrastructure
The development is an important component of India's long-term ambition to become a major global space economy.
India celebrated the 3rd National Space Day on 23 August 2026.
National Space Day commemorates the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander on 23 August 2023.
The Chandrayaan-3 achievement made India the fourth country to achieve a successful soft landing on the Moon and the first country to land in the region near the lunar south pole.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion and highlighted India's progress in the space sector.
National Space Day: 23 August
2026 edition: 3rd
Commemorates: Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing
The main celebration of the 3rd National Space Day 2026 was held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
ISRO listed the Ahmedabad celebration among its major current activities during the period.
National Space Day programmes are intended to increase awareness about India's space achievements and encourage students and young people to participate in science, technology, engineering and space research.
Main celebration: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Organiser: Department of Space/ISRO
The annual observance commemorates India's historic 23 August 2023 Chandrayaan-3 landing.
The mission's Vikram lander successfully landed on the lunar surface, after which the Pragyan rover conducted surface operations and scientific observations.
The landing established India as a major lunar exploration nation and provided the basis for the declaration of 23 August as National Space Day.
Lander: Vikram
Rover: Pragyan
Mission: Chandrayaan-3
During the National Space Day period, ISRO and NASA highlighted one successful year of the NISAR mission in orbit.
NISAR is a major Earth-observation collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The mission uses advanced radar technology to monitor changes in Earth's surface and can contribute to research involving ecosystems, glaciers, earthquakes, land deformation and natural hazards. ISRO listed the anniversary among its latest developments.
Mission: NISAR
Partners: ISRO and NASA
Type: Earth-observation satellite
NISAR represents one of the most significant civil-space collaborations between India and the United States.
The satellite's radar observations are designed to provide detailed information about changes occurring on Earth's land and ice surfaces.
Its applications include:
Earthquake research
Glacier monitoring
Land deformation
Forest and ecosystem studies
Agricultural monitoring
Disaster management
The mission demonstrates the growing scientific dimension of India-US space cooperation.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) on 21 August 2026, with a total outlay of ₹62,500 crore.
The scheme aims to expand India's mobile-phone manufacturing ecosystem, deepen domestic value addition and strengthen the country's position in global electronics supply chains.
Scheme: Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme
Abbreviation: MPMS
Outlay: ₹62,500 crore
Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
A major objective of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme is to move India beyond large-scale assembly towards higher domestic value addition.
The programme is intended to strengthen manufacturing and supply chains associated with mobile devices and related electronics while increasing India's global competitiveness.
The scheme is therefore significant for both Science & Technology and Business & Corporate Current Affairs.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) highlighted the growing importance of AI-native networks during the period.
AI-native telecommunications networks integrate artificial intelligence into network planning, optimisation, operation and management rather than using AI only as an additional application.
Such technologies are expected to become increasingly important as India develops future-generation telecommunications infrastructure.
Department: Department of Telecommunications
Technology: AI-native networks
The Department of Telecommunications also highlighted the strategic importance of telecom semiconductors and indigenous technology development.
Semiconductors are critical to telecom equipment, smartphones, networking infrastructure, data centres, AI systems and emerging 5G/6G technologies.
Strengthening domestic capabilities in this area is part of India's broader strategy to reduce dependence on imported high-technology components.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Cohort-3 at the GENESIS NextGen Startup Summit – Coimbatore Edition during the period.
The initiative is intended to support technology entrepreneurship and strengthen India's start-up ecosystem, particularly beyond the country's largest metropolitan technology centres.
Programme: GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence Cohort-3
Event: GENESIS NextGen Startup Summit
Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
At a healthcare-related event during the period, Union Minister Anupriya Patel emphasised that India should move from being the “Pharmacy of the World” towards becoming a “Laboratory of the World.”
She also stressed that artificial intelligence should complement rather than replace human clinical judgement.
The statement reflects India's growing emphasis on combining AI, biotechnology, pharmaceutical research and clinical expertise to strengthen healthcare innovation.
Key area: AI in healthcare
Policy emphasis: AI should complement human clinical judgement
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 during the period.
The proposed changes are aimed at promoting ease of doing business in India's medical-device sector while maintaining the regulatory framework governing medical technologies.
The medical-device industry is increasingly important to India's healthcare-technology and domestic manufacturing ambitions.
Rules: Medical Devices Rules, 2017
Sector: Medical technology
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched India's first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed in Andhra Pradesh on 24 August 2026.
The development represents an important agricultural-science and crop-innovation achievement.
Non-GMO means the crop was developed without genetic modification, while high-expansion popcorn varieties are bred to provide better popping performance and commercial value.
Innovation: India's first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid
Launch location: Andhra Pradesh
Launched by: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan
The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) organised a Platinum Jubilee ceremony marking 75 years of its Hindi science magazine ‘Vigyan Pragati’.
The milestone highlights the importance of communicating scientific knowledge to the public in Indian languages.
Magazine: Vigyan Pragati
Language: Hindi
Milestone: 75 years
Organisation: CSIR-NIScPR
The 75-year milestone of Vigyan Pragati underscores the role of science communication in expanding public understanding of scientific developments.
Science communication in Indian languages is particularly important for taking scientific knowledge beyond specialised research institutions and English-language academic communities.
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) marked its 43rd Foundation Day on 25 August 2026.
C-DOT is the Government of India's premier telecommunications research and development organisation and has played an important role in indigenous telecom technology development.
Organisation: C-DOT
Full form: Centre for Development of Telematics
Foundation Day 2026: 43rd
Date: 25 August 2026
C-DOT's work is closely associated with India's drive towards technological self-reliance in telecommunications.
Its research areas include technologies relevant to broadband, optical communications, mobile networks, rural connectivity, cybersecurity and next-generation telecommunications.
Its 43rd Foundation Day therefore represents an important milestone in India's indigenous telecommunications R&D ecosystem
Indian defence propulsion start-up D-Propulse Aerospace Private Limited successfully demonstrated India's first indigenously developed 5 kilonewton (kN) air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) integrated with an aerospike nozzle.
The demonstration was conducted at a DRDO test facility in Hyderabad, Telangana and achieved Technology Readiness Level-5 (TRL-5).
Unlike conventional jet engines, RDEs use pressure-gain combustion based on continuously propagating detonation waves. The technology can offer higher efficiency while reducing mechanical complexity.
Developer: D-Propulse Aerospace
Technology: Rotating Detonation Engine
Thrust: 5 kN
Test location: Hyderabad
Technology readiness: TRL-5
The indigenous RDE demonstrated by D-Propulse is expected to offer approximately 15–25% higher thermodynamic efficiency compared with conventional air-breathing propulsion systems.
RDE technology could eventually find applications in high-speed aircraft, UAVs, missiles and other advanced aerospace platforms.
D-Propulse is an IIT Madras-incubated start-up, highlighting the growing contribution of India's start-up and academic ecosystem to advanced propulsion technology.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered INS Mangrol, the third indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) in its series, to the Indian Navy at Kochi, Kerala.
The vessel was designed and built indigenously by CSL and has approximately 80% indigenous content.
INS Mangrol is equipped with advanced technologies including:
Lightweight torpedoes
Indigenous anti-submarine warfare rockets
Advanced shallow-water SONAR
Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion system
These systems enable the vessel to detect and counter underwater threats in shallow coastal waters.
Ship: INS Mangrol
Builder: Cochin Shipyard Limited
Type: ASW Shallow Water Craft
Indigenous content: Nearly 80%
The Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation signed a Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) for the Submarine Fired Decoy ‘Mohini’.
The technology was transferred to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
Mohini is associated with protecting submarines against underwater threats by functioning as a decoy system.
Technology: Submarine Fired Decoy Mohini
Developer: DRDO-NSTL
Technology recipient: Bharat Dynamics Limited
NSTL signed another LAToT covering the fabrication, installation and commissioning technology of the LM2500 Gas Turbine.
The technology was transferred to Vertex Engineering Systems Private Limited, Hyderabad.
The two technology-transfer agreements aim to bridge the gap between laboratory development and industrial production while supporting India's Atmanirbhar Bharat programme in defence manufacturing.
Under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) hosted the BRICS ICT Track in Pune, Maharashtra.
The engagement focused on strengthening cooperation among BRICS members in telecommunications, digital infrastructure, emerging technologies and information and communication technology.
The development is significant because telecommunications infrastructure increasingly intersects with AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, cloud computing and next-generation networks.
Host: Department of Telecommunications
Venue: Pune, Maharashtra
Framework: BRICS 2026
Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel addressed the 3rd IIM Ahmedabad Healthcare Summit 2026, themed “Advancing AI in Healthcare.”
The summit highlighted applications of artificial intelligence in:
Drug discovery
Personalised treatment
Disease surveillance
Clinical decision support
Healthcare research.
The government emphasised that AI should strengthen rather than replace human clinical judgement.
During the IIMA Healthcare Summit, the government highlighted Centres of Excellence for AI in healthcare established at:
AIIMS New Delhi
PGIMER Chandigarh
AIIMS Rishikesh.
These centres are intended to accelerate responsible adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare research, diagnosis and clinical applications.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, in collaboration with the IIMA Archives, launched India Pharma Archives during the healthcare summit.
The digital initiative seeks to preserve and document the development and achievements of India's pharmaceutical sector.
A book documenting India's COVID-19 vaccine-development journey was also released at the event.
The government highlighted the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme, which has an outlay of ₹5,000 crore.
The programme aims to strengthen pharmaceutical and medical-technology research and encourage innovation within India.
Scheme: PRIP
Outlay: ₹5,000 crore
Sector: Pharmaceuticals and medical technology
The Biopharma SHAKTI Mission, with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore, was highlighted as another major initiative supporting India's biotechnology and biopharmaceutical ecosystem.
Together with the National Biopharma Mission and IndiaAI Mission, it supports development in biologics, biosimilars, clinical capabilities and AI-assisted innovation.
The government reported that the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) had created more than 96 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs.
The digital-health ecosystem had also accumulated approximately 1,000 crore health records.
ABDM aims to create an interoperable digital-health infrastructure connecting patients, healthcare professionals and health facilities.
ABHA IDs: 96+ crore
Digital health records: Around 1,000 crore
The government's AI-enabled eSanjeevani telemedicine ecosystem has benefited more than 20 crore patients, according to information highlighted during the period.
The platform demonstrates the expanding role of digital and AI-enabled technologies in improving access to healthcare, particularly for populations located far from major hospitals.
The Territorial Army, in collaboration with CyberPeace, launched Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0), a national-level cybersecurity hackathon.
The initiative seeks innovative solutions for defence, cybersecurity and information-domain challenges.
Its major focus areas include:
Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Threat mitigation
Digital awareness
Indigenous defence technologies
Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 includes three major competition tracks:
Bug Hunting – vulnerability identification
AI Kavach – AI-based security and defence solutions
Creators Challenge – digital awareness and technology-based communication solutions.
Registrations close on 31 August 2026, with the Grand Finale scheduled in New Delhi from 6–8 October 2026 and the award ceremony on 9 October 2026.
The Indian Army also raised its first Baaz Battalion, equipped with advanced drones, under the Vajra Corps (11 Corps) in Punjab.
The formation is intended to strengthen aerial surveillance and battlefield capabilities through greater integration of unmanned aerial technologies.
This development belongs primarily under Defence & Security, but its drone-technology component makes it relevant for Science & Technology revision.
The ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) announced India's first Soil Texture Map during its 50th Foundation Day programme in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The map provides soil information at approximately hectare-level resolution, supporting precision agriculture and scientific land-use planning.
Developer: ICAR-NBSS&LUP
Headquarters: Nagpur, Maharashtra
Application: Precision agriculture
India's Soil Texture Map was prepared by combining:
Field surveys
Remote sensing
Satellite imagery
Artificial intelligence
Soil and geospatial datasets.
Soil texture refers primarily to the relative proportions of sand, silt and clay, which influence water-holding capacity, drainage, aeration and crop suitability.
The map can therefore assist with crop selection, irrigation planning, soil classification and location-specific agricultural decisions.
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Cultus Education, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), launched a nationwide Cloud and Artificial Intelligence Skilling Initiative on 23 August 2026.
The programme aims to provide foundational AI and cloud literacy to 1.5 lakh learners.
Partners: NSDC, Cultus Education and AWS
Target: 1.5 lakh learners
Under the Cloud and AI Skilling Initiative, 10,000 participants will receive job-ready cloud training through the AWS re/Start programme.
Training areas include:
Cloud infrastructure
Networking
Cybersecurity
Programming
Relational databases
AI fundamentals.
The programme will be delivered online, allowing learners across India's states and Union Territories to participate.
The programme gives particular emphasis to learners from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and underserved communities.
Participants will receive access to certification support, industry connections and interview opportunities, while the initiative is expected to conclude with a National Hackathon.
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk.
She carried out a NASA Extravehicular Activity outside the International Space Station (ISS) alongside American astronaut Anil Menon.
The spacewalk lasted approximately 6 hours and 23 minutes.
Adenot also became the second European woman to walk in space, after Italy's Samantha Cristoforetti.
During the spacewalk, Sophie Adenot and Anil Menon worked on replacing a Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT).
The system supports communications between the International Space Station and mission control in Houston, United States.
The development is important for international space current affairs and astronaut milestones.
During the period, the government highlighted the increasing convergence between semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Semiconductors power smartphones, vehicles, satellites, data centres and AI systems, while the rapid expansion of AI is increasing demand for specialised processors and high-performance computing infrastructure.
India is therefore building capabilities across chip design, semiconductor fabrication, computing infrastructure and indigenous AI models.
India's Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund has an outlay of ₹1 lakh crore and supports strategic deep-technology areas including:
Artificial Intelligence
Quantum computing
Robotics
Space technology
Biotechnology
Digital economy
Energy security and transition.
The programme is part of India's broader effort to expand private and public investment in high-risk, high-impact research and innovation.
The National Quantum Mission (NQM) has an approved outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore.
Its major focus areas are:
Quantum Computing
Quantum Communication
Quantum Sensing and Metrology
Quantum Materials and Devices.
The mission aims to build India's capabilities in a technology area expected to have major applications in computing, communications, cybersecurity, sensing and advanced materials.
The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) has an outlay of approximately ₹3,660 crore.
It supports areas including AI, robotics, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and other cyber-physical systems.
These programmes collectively demonstrate India's increasing investment in strategic and emerging technologies.
India's first indigenous 5 kN air-breathing RDE: D-Propulse Aerospace
RDE test location: DRDO facility, Hyderabad
Technology readiness: TRL-5
RDE efficiency advantage: Approximately 15–25%
INS Mangrol: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
INS Mangrol builder: Cochin Shipyard Limited
INS Mangrol indigenous content: Nearly 80%
Submarine Fired Decoy: Mohini
Mohini technology transferred to: Bharat Dynamics Limited
BRICS ICT Track: Pune, Maharashtra
BRICS Science Ministerial Meeting: Chennai
BRICS STI outcome: Chennai Declaration
AIKosh: IndiaAI Mission
AIKosh focus: AI-ready datasets and resources
Aadhaar App milestone: 5 crore downloads
National Space Day: 23 August
2026 National Space Day: 3rd edition
National Space Day commemorates: Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing
Chandrayaan-3 lander: Vikram
Chandrayaan-3 rover: Pragyan
NISAR: Joint ISRO-NASA Earth-observation mission
Space start-ups interacting with PM: 20
Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme: ₹62,500 crore
MPMS ministry: MeitY
SEMICON India 2026: 17–19 September 2026
SEMICON India venue: Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
AI Healthcare Centres of Excellence: AIIMS New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh and AIIMS Rishikesh
PRIP Scheme: ₹5,000 crore
Biopharma SHAKTI Mission: ₹10,000 crore
ABHA IDs: More than 96 crore
Digital health records: Around 1,000 crore
eSanjeevani beneficiaries: More than 20 crore
Terrier Cyber Quest 2026: Territorial Army + CyberPeace
TCQ 3.0 tracks: Bug Hunting, AI Kavach and Creators Challenge
India's first Soil Texture Map: ICAR-NBSS&LUP
NBSS&LUP headquarters: Nagpur
Soil texture components: Sand, silt and clay
Soil-map technologies: Field surveys, remote sensing, satellite imagery and AI
Cloud & AI Skilling Initiative: NSDC + Cultus Education + AWS
AI/cloud literacy target: 1.5 lakh learners
AWS re/Start target: 10,000 learners
First French woman to walk in space: Sophie Adenot
Spacewalk partner: Anil Menon
Spacewalk duration: 6 hours 23 minutes
C-DOT Foundation Day 2026: 43rd
India's first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid: Launched in Andhra Pradesh
Vigyan Pragati: Hindi science magazine of CSIR-NIScPR
Vigyan Pragati milestone: 75 years
RDI Fund: ₹1 lakh crore
National Quantum Mission: ₹6,003.65 crore
NM-ICPS: ₹3,660 crore
