Latest inventions in science and technology
Four semiconductor plants
▪ The Union Cabinet has given its approval for four new projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
▪ Locations: These new plants will be located in Odisha (two projects), Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh.
▪ Aims: To support India’s semiconductor ecosystem, reduce import dependency, and build strategic tech capabilities.
▪ The first chip from one of the earlier approved units is expected to be produced by the end of 2025.
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
▪ The ISM was launched in 2021 with a total financial outlay of Rs76,000 crore under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
▪ It is part of the comprehensive program for the development of sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystems in the country.
Space
Three main types of satellite orbits
▪ Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)
✓ Altitude: 35,786 km above equator
✓ Coverage: Nearly one-third of Earth’s surface per satellite
✓ Drawback: High latency due to signal travel distance
▪ Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
✓ Altitude: 2,000-35,786 km
✓ Compromise between GEO and LEO systems
✓ Lower latency than GEO but still requires constellations
▪ Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
✓ Altitude: Below 2,000 km
✓ Advantages: Very low latency, smaller/cheaper satellites
✓ Disadvantage: Small coverage area requiring mega-constellations
