1. First-of-its-Kind Facilities for Polar and Ocean Research
Sagar Bhavan:
- 1,772 sq. m. | ₹13 crore
- 2 ice core labs at -30°C
- +4°C storage for sediment & biological samples
- 29 rooms including Class 1000 Clean Room for trace metal & isotope studies
Polar Bhavan:
- 11,378 sq. m. | ₹55 crore
- India’s largest polar research facility
- Labs for polar & ocean studies
- 55 rooms for scientists
- Conference rooms, library, seminar hall, canteen
- Home to India’s first Polar & Ocean Museum (future)
- SOS facility for extreme polar research
Significance:
- Strengthens India’s role in polar research, ocean geopolitics, and climate science
Global Standing: Among the few such facilities worldwide
2. IIFT’s First Overseas Campus in Dubai
- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is establishing its first overseas campus in Dubai, UAE.
- Aims to enhance India’s global trade and commerce education footprint.
3. India’s First Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) Cluster for Cement Sector
- The Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched five CCU testbeds to combat industrial CO₂ emissions in cement production:
- Testbed 1: Ballabhgarh (JK Cement) – CO₂ to lightweight blocks & olefins.
- Testbed 2: IIT Kanpur + JSW – Carbon-negative mineralization.
- Testbed 3: IIT Bombay + Dalmia – Catalyst-driven CO₂ capture at a cement plant.
- Testbed 4: CSIR-IIP, IIT Tirupati, IISc + JSW – Vacuum Swing Adsorption for closed-loop integration.
- Testbed 5: IIT Madras, BITS Pilani + Ultratech – Carbon-lowering innovations.
4. India’s First 3nm Chip Design Centres
- India’s first-ever 3nm chip design centres in Noida and Bengaluru by Renesas Electronics India.
- Marks a new frontier in India’s semiconductor innovation, following prior achievements in 7nm and 5nm designs.
- Centres are part of India’s holistic semiconductor strategy, covering design, fabrication, ATMP, and supply chains.
- Renesas aims to expand India’s role in global semiconductor innovation, supporting over 250 academic institutions and startups under C2S and DLI schemes.
- A new semiconductor learning kit will strengthen hardware skills among engineering students, integrating with EDA software tools at 270+ institutions.
5. Arnala: India’s First Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC)
- Arnala is the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC), delivered to the Indian Navy on 08 May 2025.
- Designed and built indigenously by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in collaboration with L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
- Built as per Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification rules.
- Named after the historic Arnala Fort near Vasai, Maharashtra, highlighting India’s maritime heritage.
- 77 metres long – largest Indian Navy warship powered by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination.
- Designed for:
- Underwater surveillance
- Search & Rescue (SAR) operations
- Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO)
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in coastal waters
- Mine-laying capabilities
- Induction of ASW SWC ships will boost India’s shallow water ASW capability.
- Over 80% indigenous content, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
6. India’s First Mortgage-Backed PTCs Listed on NSE
- India’s first Mortgage-backed Pass Through Certificates (PTCs) listed on the National Stock Exchange on 05 May 2025.
- Issued by RMBS Development Company Limited and backed by a pool of housing loans from LIC Housing Finance Ltd.
- Issue size: ₹1,000 crore (1,00,000 PTCs of ₹1,00,000 face value each); fully subscribed.
- Coupon rate: 7.26% per annum; Final maturity: 20 years.
- PTCs rated AAA(SO) by CRISIL and CARE Ratings.
- First PTC issue where the coupon was discovered via Electronic Book Provider (EBP) platform of NSE.
- PTCs in demat form and transferable; can be traded on the secondary market.
- Significance: Enhances liquidity and market depth for the housing finance sector and acts as an integrating factor between the housing finance market and debt market.
7. Babuji Maharaj 125th Birth Anniversary Closing Ceremony: Babuji Vanam: World’s First Energy Transmission Garden
- Developed in partnership with Ministry of Culture.
- 40 species of trees radiating Pranahuti (yogic transmission).
- Central water body symbolizing origin of creation.
- Acupressure pathways, water harvesting, percolation pits, eco-friendly design.
- Trees like Neem, Red Sandalwood, Tulsi with medicinal value.
- Cow pen, biodiversity patch for fauna, birds, and child engagement.
- Visitors encouraged to sit, meditate, and experience inner stillness.
8. Ghaziabad’s Landmark Green Municipal Bond & TSTP Project Highlights
India’s First Certified Green Municipal Bond
- Amount Raised: ₹150 crore
- Purpose: Fund cutting-edge Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP)
- Under: Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban
- Backed by: Govt. of India & Govt. of Uttar Pradesh
Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP)
- Technology:
- Membrane Filtration – Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, RO
- Produces high-quality treated water for industrial reuse
- Pipeline Network: 95 km
Recognition & Impact
- Award: Best Municipal Treated Water Reuse Award (Water Digest World Water Awards 2024-25)
- Impact: Reduces dependency on freshwater sources, sets benchmark for urban water management
Global Acknowledgment
- Visit by West Suffolk College, England team (22 students + 4 faculty)
- Exposure to TSTP and Ghaziabad’s smart city initiatives
9. First Commercial Sea Shipment of Indian Pomegranates to USA – Key Highlights
Facilitated By:
- APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)
- In Collaboration With:
- USDA APHIS (United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)
- NPPO (National Plant Protection Organization, India)
- NRCP (National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur)
Shipment Details:
- Product: Indian Bhagwa Variety Pomegranates
- Quantity: 14 tons
- Origin: Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra
- Destination: New York, USA
- Mode: First commercial Sea Freight shipment (earlier shipments via air)
10. SECL Adopts Paste Fill Technology for Underground Coal Mining
- SECL becomes the first Coal PSU in India to implement Paste Fill Technology for coal mining.
- Signed a ₹7040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Pvt. Ltd.
- Project site: Singhali underground mine, Korba area, Chhattisgarh.
Key outcomes:
- Enables mining without disturbing surface infrastructure (villages, roads, power lines).
- Utilizes fly ash and industrial waste for paste, promoting waste recycling & sustainability.
- Prevents land subsidence and improves mine safety.
✅ Project capacity: ~8.4 million tonnes of coal over 25 years.
✅ Major step towards eco-friendly & green mining practices in India.
11. World’s First Integrated Renewable Energy Storage Project at Pinnapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Project Developer: Greenko
Project Components:
- 4000 MW Solar
- 1000 MW Wind
- 1680 MW Pumped Hydropower
✅ Total Storage Capacity: 10,080 MWh per day (single cycle)
✅ Investment: USD 4.2 billion
✅ Purpose: - Provides dispatchable, carbon-free energy
- Supports Green Steel, Green Aluminum, and Green Hydrogen production
- First & largest GW-scale integrated renewable energy project globally
- Key step for India’s energy transition and decarbonization efforts
12. India’s First Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over Multi-Core Fibre (MCF)
- India’s first successful Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over 4-core Multi-Core Fibre (MCF)
- Achieved by C-DOT & Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL)
Key Innovation:
- QKD signals transmitted over one core
- High-speed data traffic on the remaining three cores
- No compromise on quantum signal integrity
- Distance covered: 100+ km
Benefits of MCF for QKD:
- Cost-efficient: Reduces need for separate dark fibre
- Simultaneous transmission of quantum and classical signals
- Enhanced security for communication networks
Significance:
- C-DOT’s QKD systems have Technology Approval from TEC (Telecommunication Engineering Centre)
- Major step in India’s Quantum Communication ecosystem
13. India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Sea Vessel: A Breakthrough by CSIR and Partners
- India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen fuel inland waterway vessel
- Developed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd
- Hydrogen fuel cell-based drivetrain built by KPIT
- Foundation laid by CSIR research
- Backed by CSIR’s New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)
14. Bharat Forecast System: India’s Own High-Resolution Weather Forecast Model
Developed by: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
Key Features:
- First indigenously developed high-resolution forecast system
- Enhances weather forecast resolution from 12 km → 6 km
- Covers every village in India
- Uses advanced Triangular Cubic Octahedral Grid model
- 30% improvement in extreme rainfall predictions
- 64% improvement in core zones
- Reduces crop losses and supports agriculture
- Aids in ease of living and business, with over 20 ministries using forecasts daily
15. First-Ever Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Baseline Report (FY 2022-23)
What is PAI?
- A composite index to assess progress of Gram Panchayats (GPs) across 9 themes of Localized SDGs (LSDGs) (e.g., poverty, health, water, clean environment, women empowerment).
- Based on 435 local indicators & 566 data points, aligned with India’s SDG 2030 agenda.
Key Findings (2022-23 Baseline):
- Total Gram Panchayats: 2,55,699
- Validated Data: 2,16,285 GPs
- Categories:
- Front Runners (Score: 75-90): 699 GPs (0.3%)
- Performers (Score: 60-75): 35.8% (77,298 GPs)
- Aspirants (Score: 40-60): 61.2% (1,32,392 GPs)
- Beginners (Score <40): 2.7% (5,896 GPs)
- Achievers (Score 90+): None yet.
Top States (Front Runners):
- Gujarat (346 GPs), Telangana (270 GPs)
- Highest number of Performers: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, MP, UP.
Purpose & Impact:
- Identifies development gaps, enables evidence-based planning for Gram Panchayats.
- Helps in preparing Panchayat Development Plans (PDPs) and localized SDG strategies.
- Promotes healthy competition among Panchayats.
- Assists policymakers at all levels — from Gram Panchayat to MPs — in decision-making.
16. QNu Labs: Building the World’s First End-to-End Quantum-Safe Heterogeneous Network
Founded: 2016, at IIT Madras Research Park
Key Milestones:
- 2018: Launched QKD (Quantum Key Distribution)
- 2022: Won iDEX Open Challenge 2.0, 150-km QKD with trusted nodes, trials with Army
- 2023-24: Delivered Quantum-secure VPN (QVPN) for Wi-Fi; 25 QKD systems to Indian Navy
- 2024-25: Building quantum-secure wireline networks for Indian Armed Forces
Quantum-Safe Products:
- Tropos: Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) – “Root of Trust” for all solutions
- Armos: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
- QShield: Quantum-Secure SaaS platform with 4 services
- Delivered to DRDO, WESEE, BEL, Indian Navy, Indian Army, and Middle Eastern clients
Mission under National Quantum Mission (NQM):
- Build & deploy world’s first end-to-end quantum-safe heterogeneous network
- Integration of free-space QKD, SPD, encryptors, QHSM, software-defined QKD controller
- Goal: “Made in India, Made for the World” Quantum Communication Network
17. DRDO & Indian Navy Successfully Flight-Test Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR)
Developed by multiple DRDO labs: RCI, DRDL, HEMRL, TBRL
✅ Man-in-Loop Control:
- Real-time live images from seeker transmitted to pilot
- Allows in-flight retargeting → Final phase: Target switch to smaller hidden ship → Direct hit!
✅ Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker: Indigenous tech for terminal guidance
✅ High Bandwidth Two-Way Datalink
✅ Sea-Skimming Mode: Maximum range engagement
✅ Bearing-only Lock-On After Launch Mode: Smart target selection from multiple options
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Reference: PIB