Four-and-a-half years after a cryogenic upper stage anomaly led to the failure of the GSLV-F10 mission and the loss of Gisat-1 (EOS-03), ISRO is preparing to launch its replacement, Gisat-1A or EOS-05. The 2.2-tonne class satellite is designed to provide near-real-time images of large regions at frequent intervals, similar to its predecessor. While primarily a civilian satellite, it is expected to significantly aid India’s armed forces by enabling more effective operational planning through continuous, cloud-free observation of the subcontinent. EOS-05 will generate valuable data for agr
Thailand has been appointed chair of the United Nations’ Scientific and Technical Subcommittee for 2026, marking a significant milestone in the country’s growing role in global space governance. The appointment was confirmed on February 2 at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna under the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), the world’s principal forum for guiding international cooperation on space activities. Dr Pakorn Apaphant, executive director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), will serve as chair of the STSC, pr
Qatar participated in the World Customs Organization’s Technology Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, held under the theme “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation.” The Qatari delegation was headed by Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Jamal, President of the General Authority of Customs. The conference featured in-depth discussions on key issues, including strategies to secure borders, enhance the safety of international trade, and facilitate trade flows through advanced digital systems. Participants also reviewed challenges facing customs risk
NASA is preparing for its historic Artemis II mission, which will mark the first crewed flight of the Artemis programme and the first time humans orbit the Moon since the Apollo missions more than five decades ago. The mission represents a major step in NASA’s long-term goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and eventually enabling crewed missions to Mars. Artemis II will carry four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Unlike Artemis I, which was an uncrewed test flight, Artemis II will test all major
India has become the first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties, marking a major milestone in agricultural science and innovation. The breakthrough was announced on April 4, 2025, in New Delhi by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who described it as a historic step toward higher farm productivity, climate resilience, and water conservation. Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the two varieties, DRR Rice 100 (Kamla)andPusa DST Rice 1, have been created using CRISPR-Cas genome-editing technology, wh
India has launched an unprecedented incentive to boost science, technology, and innovation by offering unsecured, interest-free loans to the private sector, an approach rarely seen even in advanced economies. The initiative was formally kick-started this month in New Delhi during a large outreach programme, where Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh directly engaged with over 500 private-sector professionals in an open Q&A session. At the core of the effort is a Rs 1 lakh crore ($12 billion) interest-free loan extended to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan extended his best wishes to the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) on the occasion of its 33rd Foundation Day at Gadanki on Tuesday. Mr. Narayanan took part in a brainstorming session held during the two-day celebrations at the NARL campus. He credited the steady growth of the laboratory to the strong foundation laid by its former directors and the vision of its earlier governing council members. He also urged NARL to prepare a detailed vision document covering its various research areas, taking into account suggestions shared by experts during the s
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated India–France ties are expanding into new areas such as innovation, technology, and education after meeting Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, in New Delhi. Mr. Bonne called on the Prime Minister during continued high-level engagement between the two countries, including the 38th India–France Strategic Dialogue held earlier in the day. After the meeting, Mr. Modi said he was pleased with the interaction and reaffirmed the strength of the India–France Strategic Partnership. In a post on X, the Prime Minister sa
Shri Kulkarni, an Indian-origin astronomer and one of the world’s leading figures in modern astrophysics, has been awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). This is the highest honour given by the UK-based scientific body and has been awarded annually since 1824. The RAS said the award recognises Kulkarni’s long-standing and innovative contributions towards transient astrophysics, a field that studies short-lived and rapidly changing events in the universe. Past recipients of the medal include some of the most influential scientists in history, making it one of th
Dubai has taken a major step toward the future of transport with the launch of Phase 1 of its driverless robotaxi service. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the rollout in partnership with US-based autonomous vehicle company Cruise, bringing self-driving cars from demonstrations into real-world use on city roads. In a significant move, the RTA has also granted Baidu’s Apollo Go a first-of-its-kind permit in Dubai. The approval allows fully autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads without a safety driver on board. This marks a major milestone for commercial auton