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Showing results for Science and Technology·23 articles
India-Canada Cooperation: Strategic, Economic, and Security Dimensions
India-Canada cooperation spans strategic, economic, and security domains, anchored by agreements like the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (2010) and ongoing CEPA negotiations. Bilateral trade reached USD 8.5 billion in 2022, with significant collaboration in nuclear energy, counter-terrorism, and renewable energy. Institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Energy Dialogues facilitate this growing partnership.
J Craig Venter and the Human Genome Decoding: Impact on Genomics and Biotechnology
J Craig Venter, who led the private sequencing of the human genome, died at 79. His innovations accelerated genome sequencing timelines and costs, enabling personalized medicine and synthetic biology. India’s genomics sector is growing but faces policy and infrastructure gaps compared to the US.
Hezbollah’s Fibre-Optic Drones: A New Asymmetric Threat to Israel’s Air Defence
Hezbollah’s fibre-optic drones, refined through the Ukraine war, represent a new asymmetric threat to Israel’s air defence by evading radar detection and jamming. This development underscores the evolving nature of proxy warfare and the need for India to enhance indigenous counter-drone capabilities under its Defence Procurement Procedure 2020.
Expansion and Impact of India's Doppler Weather Radar Network Since 2014
India expanded its Doppler Weather Radar network from 22 to over 50 units between 2014 and 2023, improving cyclone forecast accuracy by 20% and doubling warning lead times. This infrastructure upgrade, backed by constitutional and legal provisions, has enhanced disaster preparedness and reduced economic losses across sectors.
Indian Space Situational Awareness Report 2025: Challenges and Strategic Implications
The Indian Space Situational Awareness Report 2025 highlights escalating space congestion and collision risks due to mega-constellation growth. It underscores the need for enhanced SSA capabilities, legal frameworks, and international cooperation to protect India’s space assets and strategic interests.
Integrating Biotechnology with Traditional Farming for Climate-Resilient Agriculture in India
Integrating biotechnology with traditional farming is vital for climate-resilient agriculture in India. Legal frameworks like the Biological Diversity Act and institutional support from DBT and ICAR underpin this integration. Economic data shows rapid growth in agri-biotech adoption, though regulatory delays hinder genome-edited crop deployment.
India Achieves Criticality in Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam
India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attained criticality in August 2024, marking a key advancement in its three-stage nuclear programme. This indigenous fast breeder technology enhances uranium fuel efficiency, supports thorium utilisation, and strengthens India’s energy security by reducing import dependence.
Nuclear Fusion Cost Models Overestimate Experience Rates, Challenging Economic Viability
Recent expert assessments show that nuclear fusion cost models overestimate experience rates, assuming 8%-20% improvements per doubling of capacity. Realistic rates lie between 2%-8%, implying slower cost reductions and challenging fusion’s near-term economic viability. This impacts India’s energy policy and investment strategies.
Rocket Re-entry and Its Impact on Atmospheric Pollution and Space Sustainability
Rocket re-entry releases artificial metals like lithium into the upper atmosphere, causing a tenfold increase in metal concentration and altering atmospheric chemistry. This pollution threatens the ozone layer, climate balance, and space sustainability. India currently lacks specific legislation and active debris removal policies, exposing it to environmental and economic risks amid growing space activities.
Reimagining India’s Military Strategy in the Era of Drone Warfare
India faces an urgent need to reform its military strategy to counter drone and swarm warfare. Recent conflicts highlight the lethality of UAVs and loitering munitions, while India’s current interception success remains below 60%. A unified doctrine, indigenous technology, and inter-agency coordination are critical for effective counter-drone defence.
U.S. Hybrid and GM Wheat: Implications for India’s Biotechnology Policy
U.S. researchers are advancing hybrid and genetically modified wheat varieties to boost yields and profitability, supported by a coordinated regulatory framework involving USDA, EPA, and FDA. India’s cautious GM crop policy, governed by GEAC under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, contrasts with the U.S. approach, causing delays in GM wheat approval. Lessons from the U.S. system can help India streamline approvals and enhance agricultural biotechnology adoption.
Biotech Industry as a Driver of Sustainable Human and Animal Nutrition in India
India's biotechnology industry is a key driver of sustainable advancements in human and animal nutrition, leveraging gene editing, bioprinting, and bioeconomy principles. Governed by the Environment Protection Act, FSSAI regulations, and supported by institutions like DBT and ICAR, the sector is growing rapidly but faces regulatory and commercialization challenges compared to global leaders like the US.
India’s Bioeconomy Growth Trajectory and $300 Billion Target by 2030
India’s bioeconomy has expanded from $10 billion in 2014 to $195 billion in 2025, targeting $300 billion by 2030. Dominated by bio-pharma and bio-industrial sectors, it contributes 5% to GDP but faces regulatory fragmentation. Enactment of a unified biotech regulatory authority and increased R&D investment are critical for India’s global bioeconomy leadership.
India’s Strategic Drive for Self-Reliance in Drone Manufacturing: Policy, Economy, and Defence Implications
India has rapidly expanded its drone ecosystem with over 38,500 registered UAVs and a ₹500 crore R&D budget in 2025-26, driven by the Drone Rules 2021 and Defence Procurement Procedure 2023. Despite progress, critical technology gaps in advanced components persist, limiting full self-reliance. Integration of drones in schemes like SVAMITVA and PMFBY demonstrates economic benefits, while regulatory clarity and policy support underpin India’s strategic push for indigenous drone manufacturing.
India’s Rise as a Global Hub for Semiconductor Design and R&D: Policy, Economy, and Challenges
India has become a global hub for semiconductor design and R&D, accounting for nearly 10% of the global design services market. Supported by government initiatives like the PLI scheme and Semiconductor Mission, India leads in chip design but lags in manufacturing, with less than 1% global share in fabrication. Addressing manufacturing challenges is critical for India to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor value chain.
Thorium as a Strategic Energy Resource for India’s 100 GWe Nuclear Power Target by 2047
India’s ambition to generate 100 GWe of nuclear power by 2047 hinges on leveraging its vast thorium reserves through the three-stage nuclear program. Despite technological and economic challenges, legislative reforms like the SHANTI Act 2025 aim to accelerate thorium reactor deployment, reducing uranium import dependence and enhancing energy security.
Failure of Atomic Clock in IRNSS-1F Undermines NavIC’s Operational Reliability
The failure of the rubidium atomic clock in the IRNSS-1F satellite, after completing its 10-year design life, has compromised India’s NavIC system’s operational reliability. This highlights India’s critical dependence on imported atomic clock technology and the urgent need for indigenous development and enhanced satellite lifecycle management to secure strategic autonomy in regional navigation.
Geodesy and India’s National Geospatial Policy 2022: A Strategic Push for Scientific Self-Reliance
India’s National Geospatial Policy 2022, formulated by the Department of Science and Technology, aims to harness geodesy and geospatial technologies for scientific self-reliance, governance, and national security. The policy promotes data democratization, indigenous navigation systems like NavIC, and rural mapping initiatives such as SVAMITVA, positioning India as a global geospatial innovator.
Uranium Deposits in Jadugoda: Mining and Controversies
Jharkhand JPSC topic: Uranium Deposits in Jadugoda: Mining and Controversies
Social Media's Evolving Architecture: Regulatory Challenges and Digital Governance in India (UPSC GS-II, III)
The architecture of social media is rapidly evolving, driven by Web3 decentralization and AI integration, presenting complex challenges for digital governance. India's regulatory framework, primarily the IT Rules, 2021, aims to ensure platform accountability and public order amidst these shifts, balancing national security concerns with digital rights in a dynamic technological landscape.
Scientists rewire bacteria to build ‘designer’ proteins on demand
Source: The Hindu(Page7) | Syllabus: GS3(Science and Tech)
Asteroid YR4: no longer a threat
Source: The Hindu(Page7) | Syllabus: GS3(Science and Tech)
LIGO-India: India’s Gravitational Wave Observatory
Context The construction of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)-India in Hingoli district, Maharashtra has faced delays, as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction tender is yet to be awarded nearly a year after being floated. About LIGO-India LIGO-India is a major mega-science project aimed at detecting gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime, predicted by Albert Einstein in his Theory of General Relativity (1915). These waves are produced by phenomena such as