science and tech

AI and Copyright: Key Concerns, Fair Use and Challenges

Context: The Delhi High Court has asked the Copyright Office to decide whether an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system can be recognised as the sole author of an artwork. The case involves an AI-generated painting and raises important legal and ethical...

Quantum Reference Facilities in India: Concept, Applications and Significance

Context: India’s first Quantum Reference Facilities (QRFs) are being launched under the Amaravati Quantum Valley programme in Andhra Pradesh, capable of testing up to 100-qubit quantum processes. About the Quantum Reference Facilities Concept: Quantum Reference Facility is a testing bed...

Permanent Nuclear Waste Disposal: Long-Term Storage and Safety

Context: Finland is set to become the first country in the world to operationalise a Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for the permanent disposal of high-level spent nuclear fuel. About Onkalo Named Onkalo (Finnish for "cave"), the facility is located 430...

Regulatory Issues in India’s Nuclear Programme

Context: The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam achieved first criticality, but the milestone has also revived debate over India’s nuclear regulatory framework. Regulatory Issues in India’s Nuclear Programme Institutional Conflict: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Department of...

Deep-Space Distance Measurement: New Technique and Its Significance

Context: Indian astronomers have proposed a new technique to estimate distances in deep space using pulsars, combining dispersion and scattering effects in radio signals, improving accuracy in regions with complex interstellar plasma Earlier Method: Dispersion Measure (DM) Concept: Distance estimated...

India’s Nuclear Breakthrough Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam

Context: India’s 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, achieved first criticality, marking entry into the second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear programme aimed at utilising India’s vast thorium reserves for long-term energy security What is Criticality...

Fast Breeder Reactor: India’s 3 Stage Nuclear Power Programme

Context: India's nuclear programme has reached a significant milestone with the commencement of core loading at the country's first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. Fast Breeder Reactor: Historical Context and Development Fast Breeder Reactor Program: Initiated...

Maritime Domain in India’s Strategic Thinking: Importance and Challenges

Context: India’s growing alignment with the Arab Gulf reflects a strategic shift toward maritime priorities, reviving the Bombay School’s vision while integrating it with enduring continental security concerns. Continental vs Maritime Thinking of India’s Strategic Lens Historically, the defence of...

Role of Midwives in Maternity Care: Functions, Importance and Benefits

Context: India has made notable strides in maternal health, with the Maternal Mortality Ratio declining from 130 per lakh live births (2014–16) to 93 (2019–21). However, a contrasting trend has emerged in the rising number of caesarean deliveries from 6.4%...

Space Based Solar Power: Concept, Technology and Benefits

Context: Companies like Japan’s Shimizu Corporation are now proposing mega-scale engineering projects to make space-based solar power a reality. Space Based Solar Power Core Concepts: Orbit vs. Lunar Surface The fundamental goal is to collect sunlight where it is most...