Science TechnologyWednesday, 10 June 2026·The Hindu - Science
IIT Bhubaneswar’s ArsenSafe handheld device for arsenic detection in drinking water
IIT Bhubaneswar developed ArsenSafe, a portable device for rapid arsenic detection in water without lab infrastructure.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In June 2026, IIT Bhubaneswar announced ArsenSafe, a compact hand-held device developed by its Sensors and Spectroscopy Research Group to detect arsenic in drinking water for faster public-health monitoring.
Key specifics
- ArsenSafe was developed by the Sensors and Spectroscopy Research Group, School of Electrical and Computer Sciences (SECS), IIT Bhubaneswar.
- The device is described as compact, portable and hand-held, and it can detect arsenic on-site.
- It does not need laboratory infrastructure or chemicals, making field testing faster and more accessible.
- The prototype has reached a sufficiently high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and was tested on water samples from the IIT campus and adjacent areas.
- The work was led by Sayan Dey and developed through Nano Semic Private Limited, a start-up incubated at the Research and Entrepreneurship Park, IIT Bhubaneswar.
Exam lens
Science & technology MCQ focus: device name, institute, research group, TRL, and application in drinking-water monitoring; TNPSC may ask which Indian institute developed a portable arsenic detector.