TSMC Controls 95% of Advanced Chip Packaging; US AI Supply Chain at Risk

₹1.27 Lakh Crore Semicon 2.0 Launched: India Targets Domestic Chip Design, 1 Lakh More Engineers

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2026, highlighting India's progress in semiconductor manufacturing. The government launched Semicon 2.0 with ₹1.27 lakh crore outlay, shifting focus to domestic chip design, talent development, and supply chain localisation. This is critical for national security and tech self-reliance.

HAL Partners with Adani Defence & BEML for 90 LCH Fuselage Structures

HAL has signed agreements with Adani Defence Systems and BEML to manufacture 90 fuselage structures for the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). This marks the first integration of private industry into helicopter fuselage production, significantly boosting India's indigenous aerospace manufacturing capacity and supply chain.

MoD Signs ₹1,577 Cr Contracts for Loiter Munitions Under 'Buy Indian' Category

The Ministry of Defence has awarded contracts worth ₹1,577 crore to TASL and NIBE for 84 loiter munition systems with 840 munitions, boosting the Indian Army's precision-strike capability up to 100 km. This procurement under the 'Buy Indian' category with 60% indigenous content is a major step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.

India’s Defence Sector Faces 40-45% Skill Gap in Specialised Roles by 2030, Warns Report

India's defence manufacturing is booming (production at ₹1.78 lakh crore, exports up 62.66%), but a structural talent gap threatens growth. A Quess Corp report warns 40-45% of specialised roles (radar, avionics, quantum communications) could remain unfilled by 2030. The core issue: conventional engineering education lacks the systems-level thinking and field exposure needed for defence deployability.

Xi Jinping's First US State Visit in Decade: Trade Truce, Rare Earths, AI in Focus

The Trump-Xi summit marks a critical moment for global trade, rare earth supply chains, and geopolitical stability. Key outcomes could affect India's economic ties and strategic positioning as the US and China navigate tensions over Taiwan, Iran, and AI.

UPSC Key: 14 Internal EC Dissents, Tarang Shakti-26 Multinational Exercise, and AI-Driven Semiconductor Supercycle

This Indian Express 'UPSC Key' compilation covers six critical topics: unprecedented internal dissent within the Election Commission (14 objections in 10 months), the second edition of India's largest multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-26, the Supreme Court's reaffirmation of the Bijoe Emmanuel precedent on Vande Mataram, a new Centre scheme for lithium and nickel processing, the evolution of Yemen's Houthis from a local revivalist movement to a Red Sea power, and the global semiconductor 'supercycle' driven by AI demand. Each story is mapped to UPSC syllabus with previous year questions.

Govt to Mandate Design-in-India Chips for Smart Meters by Mid-2028, 7.24 Cr Installed

The government plans to mandate domestically designed and manufactured chips in smart meters by mid-2028 to counter cybersecurity threats and reduce import dependence. With 7.24 crore smart meters already installed under various schemes, this move also aims at cost reduction and grid modernization under the new National Electricity Policy.

RIL, Rolls-Royce Sign JV for Indigenous AMCA Combat Engine; Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex Planned

Reliance Industries (RIL) and Rolls-Royce have formed a joint venture to design, develop, and manufacture a sovereign combat engine for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). This is a major step towards defence indigenisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat, with plans for an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex. For exam aspirants, this links to defence technology, Make in India, and strategic autonomy.