Semiconductors & IT Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper III)

October 2026

• 12 Oct 2026

  Global smartphone shipments drop by 20% amid rising component costs

  Global smartphone shipments declined by 20 percent during the third quarter of 2026. Original equipment manufacturers passed higher component costs to consumers, pushing retail prices up globally and driving up the overall average...

• 12 Oct 2026

  AI data center boom strains India's power grid

  The rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence infrastructure is placing significant pressure on India's power transmission dynamics. Electricity officials report that the high energy demands of data centers are driving up the costs of...

• 12 Oct 2026

  US suspends IT giants from green card program

  The U.S. Department of Labour has suspended several major IT firms, including Infosys, Tata, and Wipro, as well as Microsoft and Adobe, from the PERM (Permanent Employment Certification) program. This move impacts the process for...

• 05 Oct 2026

  The Rise of Phone Bombing as a Tool of Digital Harassment

  Digital safety advocates have warned against the rising trend of phone bombing, where victims are flooded with hundreds of automated fake messages and calls within minutes. Operated through easily accessible pranking-as-a-service online...

• 03 Oct 2026Telangana

  Spintronics and CSIR-CEERI ink pact for GaN technology

  Hyderabad-based semiconductor design firm Spintronics has signed a pact with CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) to co-develop Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. GaN is widely regarded as a critical...

September 2026

• 20 Sep 2026

  Union Minister Cautions Semiconductor Sector Against Rising Cyber Risks

  Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warned semiconductor industry leaders about potential cyberattacks and supply chain disruptions targeting India's growing chip ecosystem. As India expands its semiconductor footprint beyond assembly and...

• 18 Sep 2026

  Semicon India 2026: Pitching India as a Trustworthy Semiconductor Hub

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Semicon India 2026 conference, highlighting the growing weaponisation of global supply chains. He pitched India as a reliable, transparent, and trustworthy chipmaking destination for global...

• 07 Sep 2026

  India's Cell Broadcast System for Emergency Alerts

  The Government of India is utilizing the Cell Broadcast System to send real-time disaster alerts directly to mobile screens. This technology allows authorities to transmit critical warning messages about events like earthquakes,...

• 06 Sep 2026

  Large Data Centres Face Cooling and Energy Efficiency Hurdles

  Expanding artificial intelligence and cloud workloads have placed enormous pressure on data centre infrastructure, prompting a technical shift from conventional air-cooling systems to advanced liquid-cooling mechanisms. Industry experts...

• 04 Sep 2026

  FOSS Advocacy Highlights Public Spending on Proprietary Software

  A report by the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) collective revealed that premier Indian public academic and research institutions spent over ₹134 crore on proprietary software licenses. The group advocated for adopting sovereign...

August 2026

• 28 Aug 2026

  Andhra Pradesh Emerges as Third Subsea Cable Infrastructure Hub

  Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as India's third major subsea cable hub after Mumbai and Chennai, driven by fresh data center investments from global technology firms like Google and Microsoft. The state is expanding its landing...

• 28 Aug 2026

  Proposed US H-1B Fee Increase Draws Concern from Indian Tech Industry

  The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed fixing the H-1B visa application fee at over 100,000 dollars, drawing sharp criticism from NASSCOM. The industry body noted that Indian IT companies have significantly reduced reliance...

• 27 Aug 2026

  NASSCOM opposes proposed US H-1B visa fee hike

  India's premier tech association, NASSCOM, has strongly opposed a proposal by the US Department of Homeland Security to set the H-1B visa fee at 103,265 dollars. NASSCOM pointed out that Indian IT companies have already reduced their...

July 2026

• 20 Jul 2026

  India Launches Semicon 2.0 to Strengthen Chip Ecosystem

  Following the initial phase of the India Semiconductor Mission, the government is focusing on Semicon 2.0 to expand local semiconductor fabrication. This phase aims to diversify the ecosystem by emphasizing supply chain resilience,...

• 19 Jul 2026

  India Unveils Semicon 2.0 to Drive Domestic Semiconductor Hub

  The Indian government has launched the second phase of its semiconductor program, Semicon 2.0, focusing on building a robust local ecosystem for chip fabrication, assembly, and testing. Moving beyond the foundational incentives of the...

• 18 Jul 2026

  Preparing for Phase II of the India Semiconductor Mission

  India is actively gearing up for the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to sustain its domestic manufacturing momentum. The initiative represents a long-term policy commitment rather than a temporary trend, aiming to...

• 17 Jul 2026

  Cabinet clears ₹1.27 lakh crore for Semicon Mission 2.0

  The Union Cabinet has approved a massive outlay of ₹1.27 lakh crore for the second phase of the Semiconductor Mission. This funding aims to boost mobile manufacturing, establish new highways, and set up nine gas-based urea plants with a...

• 16 Jul 2026

  New Subsidy Framework to Boost Domestic Smartphone Brands

  The central government has planned a targeted financial subsidy model to help Indian smartphone brands build scale and compete effectively with dominant foreign manufacturers. Rather than merely supporting low-end assembly, the new...

• 12 Jul 2026

  OpenAI Unveils Three-Tiered GPT-5.6 Generative Models

  OpenAI has launched its next-generation artificial intelligence family, introducing the GPT-5.6 class models split into three tiers: Sol, Terra, and Luna. Rather than offering a single flagship model, the split allows individual tiers...

• 11 Jul 2026

  European Union Demands Meta Dismantle Addictive Social Media Features

  The European Commission has ordered Meta to dismantle specific user interface designs on Facebook and Instagram that it deems highly addictive. Regulators state that Meta failed to adequately assess the severe physical and mental health...

• 09 Jul 2026

  India Examines Australia's Proposed Social Media Age Limits

  During bilateral discussions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Australia's legislative efforts to implement a social media ban for minors, stating that it serves as an inspiration for global regulatory policy. This praise signals...

• 09 Jul 2026

  Apple Loses EU Legal Challenge Over Big Tech Regulation

  Apple has lost its legal challenge in the European Union against rules designed to curb the market dominance of Big Tech companies. The court ruled that the classification of specific services as "gatekeepers" is legally valid, forcing...

• 06 Jul 2026

  Vulnerabilities in E-Rickshaw Battery Systems

  Technical experts have highlighted design vulnerabilities in Bluetooth-based Battery Management Systems (BMS) used in e-rickshaws. These systems often lack proper authentication, allowing potential unauthorized access or 'hacks' that...

• 04 Jul 2026

  Global Antitrust and Regulation of Big Tech: ECJ Confirms €4.1 Billion Fine on Google

  The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) confirmed a landmark €4.1 billion antitrust penalty against Google, originally imposed in 2018. The court upheld the European Commission's findings that Google abused its dominant...