💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

GS Paper: GS3-16.Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology

  • What is futuristic marine and space biotechnology

    Why in the News?

    India is exploring marine and space biotechnology to reduce dependence on imported bio-resources and better use extreme ecosystems. Despite having over 11,000 km of coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone of more than 2 million sq km, domestic output remains limited, with seaweed production at around 70,000 tonnes annually. India still imports agar, carrageenan, and alginates, even though these can be produced locally. Initiatives such as the Deep Ocean Mission signal a shift from conventional coastal extraction to technology-driven biomanufacturing by linking marine biology with space research.

    What is Marine Biotechnology and Why is it Strategic?

    1. Definition: Studies marine microorganisms, algae, and animals to extract enzymes, bioactive compounds, biomaterials, and biostimulants.
    2. Industrial relevance: Supports production of food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, and biofuels.
    3. Adaptive advantage: Marine organisms evolve under high pressure, low light, salinity, and low oxygen, producing novel biochemical pathways.
    4. Strategic gap: India imports seaweed-based inputs despite possessing rich marine biodiversity.

    What is Space Biotechnology and How is it Distinct?

    1. Definition: Examines biological processes under microgravity and radiation conditions.
    2. Research focus: Studies microbial behaviour, plant growth, human metabolism, and cellular regeneration in space.
    3. Industrial application: Enables advances in drug discovery, human health management, life-support systems, and bio-manufacturing in extreme environments.
    4. Institutional role: ISRO conducts microgravity experiments on microbes, algae, and biological systems.

    Why Does India Need Futuristic Marine and Space Biotechnology?

    1. Resource underutilisation: Vast EEZ remains biologically rich but economically underexploited.
    2. Import dependence: Relies on foreign suppliers for marine bio-compounds used in food and pharma.
    3. Biomanufacturing ambition: Supports transition from raw biomass extraction to value-added bio-industries.
    4. Sustainability imperative: Reduces pressure on terrestrial resources and supports circular bioeconomy.

    Where Does India Stand Today?

    1. Marine biomass production: Seaweed cultivation remains limited at ~70,000 tonnes annually.
    2. Policy push: Deep Ocean Mission supports exploration and sustainable use of deep-sea bioresources.
    3. Institutional ecosystem: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and state initiatives (e.g., Gujarat) promote seaweed cultivation and marine bio-products.
    4. Space research: ISRO integrates biotechnology experiments into space missions.

    How Does Convergence of Marine and Space Biotechnology Create Value?

    1. Extreme biology: Enables understanding of life under pressure, radiation, and nutrient stress.
    2. Innovation pathway: Facilitates discovery of new enzymes, stress-resistant microbes, and regenerative mechanisms.
    3. Industrial scalability: Supports next-generation bioreactors, biofuels, and medical applications.
    4. Strategic positioning: Aligns India with global bioeconomy and frontier science trends.

    Conclusion

    Futuristic marine and space biotechnology offers India a technology-led pathway to convert ecological abundance into economic and strategic advantage. By integrating deep-sea exploration with space-based biological research, India can reduce import dependence, strengthen biomanufacturing capacity, and emerge as a global hub for bio-based industries, while ensuring sustainability and scientific leadership.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2018] Why is there so much activity in the field of biotechnology in our country? How has this activity benefitted the field of biopharma?

    Linkage: India is expanding biotechnology into marine and space environments to access new biological resources. This supports biopharma growth, import substitution, and high-value biomanufacturing under GS-III.

  • PSLV-C62 Mission Failure

    Why in the News

    The Indian Space Research Organisation’s first launch of 2026, the PSLV-C62 mission, failed to place 16 satellites into the intended orbit on 12 January 2026. This marks the second consecutive failure of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), ISRO’s most reliable launch vehicle for over three decades.

    About PSLV-C62 Mission

    • Launch Vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
    • Payload: 16 satellites
      • Includes 7 foreign satellites
    • Mission outcome: Failed to reach intended orbit
    • Failure stage: Third stage (after successful completion of first two stages)

    Why the Failure Matters

    • PSLV is known as ISRO’s workhorse, with a long record of success since the 1990s.
    • This is the second straight PSLV failure, the first occurring in May 2025.
    • Consecutive failures raise concerns about reliability in the third stage, a critical phase of orbital insertion.

    Possible Cause of Failure

    • Exact cause not yet identified.
    • Based on the May 2025 failure, issues may relate to:
      • Drop in combustion chamber pressure in the third stage motor
      • Reduced thrust leads to insufficient acceleration needed to stabilise orbit
    • The Failure Analysis Committee report of the previous mission has not been made public.

    Why the Third Stage is Critical

    • The third stage provides high acceleration required to:
      • Maintain orbital velocity
      • Prevent premature orbital decay
    • Any pressure or thrust instability at this stage directly impacts mission success.

    PSLV: Four-Stage Configuration (Prelims Focus)

    1. First Stage
      • Solid propellant
      • Provides lift-off and overcomes gravity and atmospheric drag
      • Carries rocket to ~50–60 km altitude
    2. Second Stage
      • Liquid propellant
      • Improves velocity and stabilisation
    3. Third Stage
      • Solid motor
      • Provides rapid acceleration for orbital insertion
      • Most failure-prone stage in recent missions
    4. Fourth Stage
      • Liquid engines
      • Fine-tunes orbit and deploys satellites

    Prelims Pointers

    • PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle.
    • Recent PSLV failures occurred during the third stage.
    • Combustion chamber pressure is critical for orbital velocity.
    • PSLV has been operational for over 30 years.
    • ISRO has not yet released the Failure Analysis Committee report for the 2025 failure.
    [2018] With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 

    1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites

    2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth

    3. GSLV Mk III is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. 

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 only

  • Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Technology 

    Why in the News?

    The Government of India is preparing to roll out Vehicle To Vehicle (V2V) communication technology by the end of 2026 to significantly reduce road accidents, especially during fog, rear end collisions, and pile ups.

    What is Vehicle To Vehicle (V2V) Technology

    • A direct communication system that allows vehicles to exchange information with each other
    • Works without mobile network or internet
    • Vehicles send and receive real time safety alerts when another vehicle comes dangerously close
    • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

    How the V2V System Works

    • A SIM like communication device installed inside vehicles
    • Vehicles broadcast signals about: Speed, Position, Direction and Sudden braking
    • Nearby vehicles receive instant alerts and warn drivers

    Key Features

    • 360 degree communication: Alerts received from all sides of the vehicle
    • Distance warning system: Warns drivers if another vehicle comes too close
    • Stationary vehicle detection: Alerts about parked or broken down vehicles on roads
    • Fog safety: Highly effective during low visibility conditions
    • Pile up prevention: Reduces chances of multi vehicle collisions on highways
    [2023] Consider the following actions: 

    1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost instantaneously 

    2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the immediate turning off of the hard drive

    3. Detection of the tilt of the smart phone which results in the rotation of display between portrait and landscape mode 

    In how many of the above actions is the function of accelerometer required? 

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

  • Dust Experiment (DEX) 

    Why in the News?

    Indian Space Research Organisation has confirmed that an interplanetary dust particle enters Earth’s atmosphere roughly every 16 minutes, based on observations from India’s first cosmic dust detector Dust Experiment (DEX).

    About Dust Experiment (DEX)

    • India’s first indigenously developed cosmic dust detector
    • Designed to detect and measure high speed interplanetary and orbital dust particles
    • Studies dust impacts in Earth’s upper atmosphere

    Developed by

    • Indian Space Research Organisation
    • Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad

    Mission Platform

    • Flown aboard PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)
    • Part of PSLV C58 XPoSat mission

    Aim

    • Direct measurement of cosmic dust flux
    • Improve understanding of space environment
    • Enhance satellite safety and planning of future crewed deep space missions

    Prelims Pointers

    • DEX is India’s first cosmic dust detector
    • Operates from PSLV POEM
    • Measures interplanetary dust particles
    • IDPs originate from comets and asteroids
    • Critical for satellite protection and deep space missions
    [2011] What is the difference between asteroids and comets? 

    1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material

    2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury

    3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. 

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Spina Bifida in India  

    Why in the News?

    India continues to report one of the highest global burdens of Spina Bifida, despite strong scientific evidence that pre conception folic acid intake can prevent more than 70 percent of cases.

    What is Spina Bifida

    • A congenital neural tube defect
    • Occurs when the spinal cord and its protective coverings fail to develop properly
    • Develops during early pregnancy, usually within the first 28 days after conception
    • Leads to lifelong disability of varying severity
    • Non communicable and Non infectious

    Causes

    • Caused by abnormal closure of the neural tube
    • Inadequate folic acid intake before and during early pregnancy
    • Poor maternal nutrition and anaemia
    • Unplanned pregnancies without micronutrient supplementation
    • Possible genetic susceptibility combined with environmental factors

    Treatment and Management

    • Early surgical repair: Closure of the spinal defect soon after birth to prevent infection
    • Hydrocephalus management: Use of ventriculo peritoneal shunt to drain excess fluid
    • Rehabilitation care: Long term physiotherapy and occupational therapy
    • Orthopaedic interventions: Corrective surgeries, braces or casts for skeletal deformities

    Prevention

    • Daily folic acid supplementation before conception and during early pregnancy
    • Food fortification and maternal nutrition programmes
    • Awareness about planned pregnancies
    • Integration with maternal health schemes

    Prelims Pointers

    • Spina bifida is a neural tube defect
    • Neural tube closes within 28 days of conception
    • Folic acid deficiency is the most important risk factor
    • Prevention is more effective than post birth treatment
    [2023] Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy: 

    1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women. 

    2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of child-birth

    3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents

    4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis. 

    How many of the statements given above are correct? 

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four

  • ISRO and the next big challenge

    Why in the News

    ISRO’s recent string of successes, routine PSLV launches, Chandrayaan-3’s lunar landing, Aditya-L1’s solar orbit insertion, and the India-US NISAR mission has raised expectations sharply. Now for the first time, India’s challenge is no longer technological proof-of-concept but institutional maturity. Furthermore, India’s space programme is preparing for multiple high-complexity missions in parallel, including Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4, and the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

    Why is ISRO’s recent success described as “raising the bar”?

    1. Mission Reliability: Sustained success of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has made reliable access to orbit almost routine.
    2. Planetary Achievement: Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing on the Moon in August 2023 placed India among a small group of lunar-landing nations.
    3. Solar Science Capability: Aditya-L1’s successful halo orbit insertion in January 2024 added a dedicated solar observatory to ISRO’s portfolio.
    4. International Collaboration: Launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission demonstrated high-value global scientific cooperation.

    What fundamental shift can be identified in ISRO’s challenge?

    1. Institutional Transition: Moves focus from individual scientific feats to sustained organisational performance.
    2. Parallel Complexity: Requires simultaneous execution of human spaceflight, deep-space missions, and commercial launches.
    3. Expectation Management: Makes failure costlier as public, political, and international scrutiny increases.

    How does mission parallelisation strain ISRO’s existing systems

    1. Human Spaceflight Load: Gaganyaan preparation consumes engineering, testing, and safety-certification bandwidth.
    2. Science Programme Pressure: Planetary, solar, and Earth-observation missions compete for limited skilled manpower.
    3. Launch Vehicle Bottlenecks: GSLV and future NGLV development face cadence and scale constraints.

    Why are industrial capacity and regulatory clarity critical for ISRO’s next phase?

    1. Industrial Capacity: Current supplier base lacks depth to absorb shocks or scale production without delays.
    2. Supply Chain Fragility: Over-reliance on ISRO facilities makes anomalies system-wide bottlenecks.
    3. Regulatory Ambiguity: Absence of a clear space law creates uncertainty around liability, insurance, and commercial risk allocation.

    What role does the private space ecosystem play in this transition?

    1. Commercial Dependence: Private launch providers remain reliant on ISRO infrastructure and expertise.
    2. Institutional Separation: IN-SPACe and NSIL must evolve from facilitation bodies to autonomous regulatory and commercial entities.
    3. Routine Operations: Private participation is necessary to make launches, manufacturing, and satellite services routine rather than exceptional.

    Why is governance reform central to ISRO’s next phase?

    1. Legal Authority: ISRO lacks statutory backing for authorisation, dispute resolution, and commercial oversight.
    2. Regulatory Burden: Ad-hoc decisions persist due to absence of a comprehensive space law.
    3. Systemic Resilience: Institutionalised processes are required to reduce dependence on individual leadership or mission-specific improvisation.

    Conclusion

    ISRO’s future success depends on its ability to transform from a mission-centric organisation into a mature space institution, supported by industrial depth, legal clarity, and governance reform. The decisive test is whether India’s space programme can make complexity routine without diluting reliability.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2016] Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How has the application of this technology helped India in its socio-economic development?

    Linkage: This PYQ tests understanding of India’s space capabilities and their role in national socio-economic development. The article advances this by highlighting the need to move from mission successes to institutional sustainability, regulatory clarity, and routine execution to sustain long-term benefits.

  • India Becomes First Nation to Commercially Produce Bio Bitumen

    Why in the News?

    India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio bitumen, according to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The announcement highlights India’s push towards sustainable infrastructure and green alternatives in road construction.

    Bio Bitumen

    Bio bitumen is an eco friendly binding material used in road construction. It is produced from renewable biological sources instead of petroleum based crude derivatives.

    Raw materials used

    • Vegetable oils
      • Crop stubble and agricultural residue
      • Other forms of organic and agro waste

    Economic significance

    • With 15 percent blending, India can save nearly ₹4,500 crore in foreign exchange
      • Lowers import bill for petroleum based bitumen
      • Opens new income streams for farmers through agro waste supply
      • Generates rural employment and livelihood opportunities

    Prelims Pointers

    • India is the first nation to commercially produce bio bitumen
      • Bio bitumen is made from renewable biological sources
      • Used in road construction as a binding material
      • Helps reduce stubble burning and crude oil imports
      • Contributes to circular economy and sustainable development
    [2011] In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material? 

    1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels

    2. Bioasphalt can be made from non-renewable resources

    3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials

    4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads

    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

    (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • White dwarf system

    Why in the News?

    NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarization Explorer (IXPE) has, for the first time, probed the internal structure of a white dwarf binary system by studying X ray polarisation. Observations of EX Hydrae revealed unexpected details about gas flows, magnetic accretion, and reflected X ray emission.

    Significance of IXPE observations

    • Enabled estimation of the height of hot accretion columns.
    • Detected X rays reflected off the white dwarf surface, a first for such systems.
    • Provided direct evidence to test theories of accretion physics, magnetic fields, and extreme states of matter.

    White Dwarf System

    A white dwarf system usually consists of a white dwarf and a companion star bound in a binary system. Matter from the companion is pulled towards the white dwarf due to its strong gravity.

    How it forms

    • A Sun like star exhausts nuclear fuel and sheds outer layers as a planetary nebula.
    • The leftover dense core becomes a white dwarf.
    • In binary systems, gas from the companion star accretes onto the white dwarf.
    • EX Hydrae belongs to a class called intermediate polars, where a moderate magnetic field partially disrupts the accretion disc and channels gas along magnetic field lines.

    Key characteristics

    • Extreme density: Mass comparable to the Sun, radius similar to Earth.
    • Degenerate matter: Supported by electron degeneracy pressure based on the Pauli Exclusion Principle, not fusion.
    • High energy emissions: Infalling gas heats to tens of millions of degrees, producing X rays.
    • Magnetic accretion: Gas flows in columns rising thousands of kilometres above the surface.
    • Chandrasekhar limit: Maximum stable mass about 1.4 times the Sun.

    Prelims Pointers

    • IXPE studies X ray polarisation, not imaging alone.
    • EX Hydrae is an intermediate polar type white dwarf system.
    • Accretion driven X ray emission occurs due to magnetic channeling.
    • White dwarfs are supported by electron degeneracy pressure.
    [2009] Who of the following scientists proved that the stars with mass less than 1.44 times the mass of the Sun end up as White Dwarfs when they die? 

    (a) Edwin Hubble 

    (b) S. Chandrashekhar 

    (c) Stephen Hawking 

    (d) Steven Weinberg

  • Pralay Missile 

    Why in the News?

    Defence Research and Development Organisation conducted a salvo launch of two Pralay missiles in quick succession from the same launcher off the Odisha coast, marking a key milestone in user evaluation trials.

    About Pralay Missile

    Pralay is an indigenously developed, solid propellant, quasi ballistic, surface to surface missile designed for high precision conventional strikes against tactical and operational targets.

    Aim

    • Rapid response conventional strike capability for Indian Army and Indian Air Force
     • Battlefield dominance through precision strikes and saturation capability

    Key Features

    • Type: Quasi ballistic surface to surface missile
       • Range: 150 km to 500 km
       • Propulsion: Solid propellant for quick launch readiness
       • Trajectory: Quasi ballistic trajectory, difficult to intercept by enemy air defence systems
       • Guidance: Advanced guidance and navigation system for high accuracy
       • Warhead: Multiple conventional warhead options
       • Salvo launch capability: Multiple missiles fired in quick succession from the same launcher

    Significance

    • Strengthens indigenous missile capability under Atmanirbhar Bharat
      • Enhances conventional deterrence without nuclear escalation
      • Improves operational readiness, survivability, and strike effectiveness
      • Supports precision warfare doctrine of Indian armed forces
    Consider the following statements: [2023]

    1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight. 

    2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. 

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • PathGennie Software

    Why in the News?

    The Ministry of Science and Technology has announced the development of PathGennie, a new open-source computational software that can significantly speed up drug discovery by accurately simulating drug–protein unbinding, a crucial step in understanding drug efficacy and safety.

    What is PathGennie?

    • PathGennie is an open-source computational framework designed to simulate rare molecular events, especially the unbinding of drugs from protein targets.
    • It helps in predicting drug residence time, a key parameter that determines how long a drug remains effective inside the body.
    • It avoids artificial distortions commonly introduced in conventional simulation methods.

    Developed by

    • Scientists at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata.

    Aim of PathGennie

    • To overcome the limitations of traditional molecular dynamics simulations, which struggle to capture slow and rare molecular transitions.
    • To generate physically accurate pathways for drug–protein interactions.
    • To reduce computational time and cost without compromising accuracy.

    Applications

    • Predicts accurate drug unbinding pathways and residence times
      • Example: Imatinib with Abl kinase
    • Improves understanding of protein–ligand kinetics for better drug design
    • Applicable beyond drug discovery in: Chemical reactions, Catalysis, Phase transitions and Molecular self-assembly

    Prelims Pointers

    • PathGennie is open-source and computational in nature
    • Focuses on drug unbinding, not just binding
    • Helps estimate drug residence time, a key pharmacological parameter
    • Avoids artificial bias unlike conventional simulation techniques
    • Developed in India under the Ministry of Science and Technology
    [2022] Consider the following: 

    1. Aarogya Setu 

    2. CoWIN 

    3. DigiLocker 

    4. DIKSHA. 

    Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4