GS Paper: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.
Leading AI developers and a national safety institute reported that AI agents took unauthorised actions during controlled cyber tests, highlighting a new category of AI safety and cybersecurity risk.
What is an AI Agent?
AI Agent: An AI system that can perceive, plan, decide and act toward a goal with limited human supervision.
Unlike a conventional AI model that mainly generates an output, an agent can use tools, access systems and execute actions.
Core feature:Autonomy + goal-directed action
What did the Tests Reveal?
Agents sometimes acted beyond their given instructions.
Such behaviour indicates that increasing autonomy can create risks beyond conventional software bugs or model errors.
Findings involved OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and the UK AI Security Institute.
Alignment Failure vs Capability Failure
Alignment Failure
AI’s behaviour or strategy conflicts with human intent.
The system may technically pursue its objective but do so in an unauthorised or undesirable manner.
Capability Failure
AI fails because of inadequate capability, reasoning or execution.
The problem is inability rather than deliberate deviation from the intended objective.
“[2020] With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 3. Disease diagnosis 4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
An investigation found that 15 of the 22 companies receiving the first round of assistance from the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund had investment links with members of the fund’s selection committee. The panel approved Rs 2,192 crore in soft loans, raising concerns over conflict of interest and transparency.
What is the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund?
Definition: A Rs 1 lakh crore fund to support private sector research in strategic and deep tech sectors.
Focus Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technology, Space, Defence, Robotics, Clean Energy, Semiconductors and Digital Healthcare.
Financial Support: Collateral free loans up to 50% of project cost, at 2 to 4% interest for up to 15 years.
Custodian: Managed through a Special Purpose Fund under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
Fund Managers: Loans are disbursed through Second Level Fund Managers (SLFMs), currently the Technology Development Board (TDB) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
How are companies selected?
Investment Committees: Each SLFM forms an independent investment committee to evaluate proposals.
Composition: The TDB committee had 12 members, largely from private equity and technology, with one non voting government representative.
Eligibility: Projects must have achieved at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, meaning laboratory validation is complete.
Selection Criteria: Scientific, technological, financial and commercial viability, with decisions taken by majority vote.
What did the investigation reveal?
Conflict Links:15 of 22 beneficiaries had investment ties with 7 committee members.
Funding Concentration: These firms received over Rs 1,377 crore of the total approved amount.
Chairman’s Role: Nine selected firms were linked to the committee chairman, who reportedly also held a personal stake in one beneficiary.
Committee’s Defence: Members stated that interests were disclosed and they recused themselves from related decisions.
Governance Concern: The episode has renewed demands for stronger safeguards in the use of public funds.
Existing safeguards
Mandatory disclosure of financial interests by committee members.
Recusal from decisions involving associated companies.
Background verification of applicants by fund managers.
Expert driven selection to improve technical assessment.
However, only two SLFMs currently operate the scheme, concentrating decision making and highlighting the need for greater transparency.
Back2Basics: Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund
Launched: 2025
Corpus: Rs 1 lakh crore
Nodal Framework: Operates under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
Objective: Provide long term, low cost financing for private sector research in deep tech and strategic sectors.
Implementing Agencies: Technology Development Board (TDB) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) as Second Level Fund Managers.
Key Feature: Collateral free loans covering up to 50% of project cost through independent investment committees.
Scientists have achieved the first high precision measurement of the neutrino signature from spent nuclear fuel, enabling remote monitoring of nuclear material and strengthening global nuclear non proliferation efforts.
What is a neutrino?
Ghost particle: A neutrino is a nearly massless, electrically neutral subatomic particle that interacts only through the weak nuclear force and gravity.
Produced in nuclear reactions: They are emitted in large numbers during nuclear fission, radioactive decay, and reactions inside stars.
Highly penetrating: Since neutrinos rarely interact with matter, they can pass through the Earth almost unaffected, making them extremely difficult to detect.
What did the study achieve?
First precise measurement: Researchers in France made the first high precision measurement of the neutrino emissions from spent nuclear fuel.
Remote monitoring: The neutrino signal can be measured without physically opening or handling the spent fuel.
Scientific validation: The findings were published in a leading peer reviewed physics journal.
Why is this important for nuclear non proliferation?
Supports IAEA safeguards: Enables the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify spent nuclear fuel remotely.
Detects diversion: Changes in the neutrino signal can indicate diversion of plutonium or other fissile material for weapons.
Strengthens nuclear safeguards: Provides a non intrusive and tamper resistant method to improve verification of nuclear material.
Enhances transparency: Builds confidence in peaceful civilian nuclear programmes.
Prelims Pointers
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the UN agency responsible for promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy and implementing nuclear safeguards.
Neutrinos are electrically neutral, nearly massless particles that interact via the weak nuclear force.
Nuclear reactors and spent nuclear fuel continuously emit neutrinos.
Spent nuclear fuel contains plutonium that can potentially be separated for nuclear weapons, making its monitoring important.
“[2020] In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept ‘IAEA Safeguards’ while others are not? (a) Some use uranium and others use thorium (b) Some use imported uranium and others use domestic supplies (c) Some are operated by foreign enterprises and others are operated by domestic (d) Some are State-owned and others are privately-owned
A parliamentary panel warned a large social media company that its legal immunity could be withdrawn after a content takedown and content safety failures. The tension is between platform safe harbour and the state’s demand for accountability.
What is intermediary immunity under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000?
Definition of intermediary: An intermediary is any person or entity that receives, stores, or transmits an electronic record on behalf of another person, or provides any service with respect to that record. It includes, Internet and telecom providers, Web-hosting and cloud service providers, Search engines, Online marketplaces and e-commerce websites, Social media and messaging platforms, Online payment and auction sites and Cyber cafes.
Safe harbour:Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 shields an intermediary from liability for third party content it hosts.
Conditions: This protection applies only if their function is limited to providing access to communication, and they do not initiate, select, or modify the content, and they comply with due diligence requirements (such as removing unlawful content upon receiving actual knowledge or a court order).
Intermediary test: The immunity depends on the platform qualifying as an intermediary rather than a content publisher.
What triggered the summons?
Video takedown: The platform briefly removed a video of the Prime Minister and later apologised.
Harmful content: The government flagged child sexual abuse material and deepfake content on its platforms.
Panel ultimatum: The Standing Committee on Information Technology sought testimony from the platform’s global head.
Why is the immunity in question?
Compliance failures: Officials argue the platform did not act on directives and grievances.
Definition dispute: Officials contended it may not fall within the intermediary definition.
Withdrawal threat: Loss of Section 79 cover would expose it to liability for user content.
Conclusion
The episode tests how far platform immunity survives repeated compliance failures. The next milestone is the platform’s response to the committee’s summons.
Back2Basics
Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology
It is a department-related parliamentary committee in India tasked with overseeing specific ministries, examining legislation, reviewing budget demands, and ensuring executive accountability. It was renamed from the Standing Committee on Information Technology in November 2021.
Structure and Composition
Total Members: 31 members (21 from Lok Sabha nominated by the Speaker and 10 from Rajya Sabha nominated by the Chairperson).
Leadership: The Chairperson is appointed by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Tenure: The term of office for members does not exceed one year.
Ministers: Sitting ministers are barred from holding membership on this committee
Ministries under its Jurisdiction
Ministry of Communications (including the Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts)
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)
Core Functions
Scrutinizing the annual Demands for Grants of the designated ministries.
Examining Bills referred to it by the Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairperson.
Considering national policy documents, performance reports, and long-term trends related to digital infrastructure, telecommunications, media regulations, and cyber security.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2024] Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest any other remedies to address the problem.
Linkage: The PYQ examines the regulatory and legal measures to address the security and accountability challenges posed by social media platforms. The article highlights the limits of intermediary immunity under Section 79 and the need for greater platform accountability for harmful content.
A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is expected to impact the Einstein Crater on the Moon on 5 August 2026. The event provides a rare scientific opportunity while highlighting gaps in international laws governing lunar activities and space debris.
What is the Outer Space Treaty?
The Outer Space Treaty (1967) is the foundation of international space law.
Governs activities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.
Prohibits national sovereignty claims over outer space (Article II).
Requires exploration for the benefit of all countries and peaceful purposes.
What is a Controlled Source Impact?
An impact where the mass, speed, and trajectory of the object are known beforehand.
Helps scientists accurately study:
Crater formation.
Lunar dust (ejecta) behaviour.
Surface composition.
What is ATLAC?
Action Team on Lunar Activity Consultation (ATLAC) is a United Nations (UN) working group.
Works on developing norms for: Lunar landing coordination, Lunar dust mitigation, and Space debris management.
Why is the Impact Significant?
Rare opportunity to study the Moon through a known artificial impact.
Improves understanding of lunar dust, crucial for future lunar missions and habitats.
Similar to NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Mission (2009), which confirmed the presence of water ice.
Challenges
No treaty specifically regulates lunar debris or spent rocket stages.
No legal protection for lunar heritage sites (e.g., Shiv Shakti Point).
Increasing commercial and national missions raise collision risks.
Slow consensus-based UN rule-making.
Chandrayaan-3
Launched by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2023.
Achievement: First soft landing near the Moon’s south pole; India became the 4th country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
Shiv Shakti Point: Name of the Vikram lander’s landing site.
Components: Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover.
[2009] India has recently landed its Moon Impact Probe (MIP) on the Moon. Among the following countries, which one landed such probe on the Moon earlier?
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing its largest Ebola outbreak, with 3,605 cases and 1,587 deaths, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine exists.
What is a PHEIC?
A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) highest level of global health alert.
Declared when an outbreak poses a cross-border public health risk and requires international coordination.
Why is the Outbreak Difficult to Control?
Caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) strain, with no approved vaccine or treatment.
Ongoing conflict hampers movement of health workers and supplies.
Weak healthcare infrastructure and community distrust delay detection and isolation.
Response Measures
Oxford ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine is undergoing clinical trials.
India has supplied emergency medicines to support relief efforts.
Surveillance, contact tracing and isolation remain the primary control measures.
Prelims Facts
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Ebolaviruses.
It spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids of humans or animals.
The Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) is one of the six known Ebola virus species.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
[2025] With reference to monoclonal antibodies, consider the following:
I. They are man-made proteins.
II. They stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight the specific disease.
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 successfully reached orbit on 18 July 2026, becoming the first privately developed Indian rocket to achieve orbital launch. India is now among the few countries where a private company has independently built and launched an orbital rocket.
What is Vikram-1?
Vikram-1 is Skyroot Aerospace’s orbital launch vehicle.
Built using carbon composite structures with solid and liquid propulsion stages.
Developed by Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based startup founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists.
Follows the successful launch of Vikram-S under Mission Prarambh (2022).
Key Highlights
First privately built Indian rocket to reach orbit.
Demonstrates India’s growing commercial space capabilities.
Marks a major milestone after the 2020 space sector reforms.
India’s Private Space Ecosystem
285 space startups, with 274 active.
72 startups have received equity funding.
Total funding reached $871 million across 241 funding rounds (July 2026).
Annual funding increased from $43 million (2021) to $200 million (2025).
What is IN-SPACe?
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
Established in 2020 under the Department of Space.
Acts as the single-window agency for authorising and promoting private participation in the space sector.
Facilitates private access to ISRO’s testing and launch facilities.
Significance
Strengthens India’s commercial space industry.
Reduces dependence on government-led launch services.
Encourages innovation, investment, and private participation.
Enhances India’s competitiveness in the global launch market.
Challenges
High capital requirement for launch vehicle development.
Need for a regular commercial launch cadence.
Dependence on imported critical components.
Evolving insurance and liability framework.
Competition from low-cost global launch providers like SpaceX.
Skyroot Aerospace
Headquarters: Hyderabad, Founded: 2018, Founders: Former ISRO scientists
First Rocket:Vikram-S (Mission Prarambh, 2022)
Naming: Vikram rockets are named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
Developed the Dhawan-II, India’s first privately developed 3D-printed cryogenic engine.
2020 Space Sector Reforms
Opened the space sector to private players.
Created IN-SPACe.
Enabled private firms to build satellites, launch vehicles, and offer launch services.
Encouraged technology transfer and infrastructure sharing with ISRO.
Key Space Institutions
ISRO: National space agency.
IN-SPACe: Promotes and authorises private participation.
NSIL (NewSpace India Limited): Commercial arm of ISRO for technology transfer and commercialisation.
[2026] Consider the following statements about involvement of private entities in India’s space programme:
1. IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.
2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.
3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 successfully reached orbit, becoming the first India based private company to independently develop and launch an orbital rocket. With this achievement, India joins the United States and China as the only countries where a private company has achieved an orbital launch, six years after opening the space sector to private participation.
What does the Vikram-1 launch signify about India’s position in the global private space sector?
Exclusive club: India becomes only the third country after the United States and China where a private company has independently developed and launched an orbital rocket.
Policy milestone: The achievement follows the 2020 space sector reforms, later institutionalised through the Indian Space Policy, 2023, which enabled greater participation by private players.
Expanding ecosystem: India now has around 400 space start ups working across the space value chain, including launch vehicles, satellites, space electronics, and downstream applications.
Growth potential: India’s space sector is valued at around Rs 70,000 crore, with the government projecting four to five times growth over the next decade.
Why does the launch matter specifically for Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and what does that free ISRO to do?
Emerging commercial market: The rapid increase in small satellites weighing from a few kilograms to a few hundred kilograms has created a fast growing commercial launch market, beyond the capacity of any single national space agency.
Term: Low Earth Orbit (LEO): The region of space located approximately 160 km to 2,000 km above Earth’s surface, where most modern communication, Earth observation, and small satellite missions operate.
Division of responsibilities: As private companies undertake commercial satellite launches, ISRO can increasingly focus on high value scientific and strategic missions such as Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, and future deep space exploration programmes.
Does private launch capability mean independence from ISRO, or a different kind of dependency?
Continued role of ISRO: The development of Vikram-1 relied significantly on ISRO’s infrastructure, testing facilities, and ecosystem, demonstrating a public private partnership model rather than complete private independence.
India’s distinct model: Unlike the United States, where companies such as SpaceX independently develop technologies before partnering with NASA, India’s private space sector is expected to remain closely linked with ISRO for the foreseeable future.
Competitive advantage: Indian companies like Skyroot Aerospace are expected to compete globally by leveraging India’s strengths in cost effective engineering, frugal innovation, and efficient manufacturing.
Commercial challenges: The failures of companies such as Vector Launch and Virgin Orbit highlight the high financial risks and competitive nature of the commercial launch industry.
Conclusion:
The successful launch of Vikram-1 marks a major milestone in India’s transition towards a vibrant private space ecosystem, demonstrating the impact of the 2020 space reforms and the Indian Space Policy, 2023. While the achievement reflects the growing capability of Indian private industry, it also underscores the continuing importance of ISRO’s institutional support. Going forward, the long term success of India’s private space sector will depend on its ability to build commercially sustainable business models, expand global launch services, and strengthen public private collaboration in an increasingly competitive global space economy.
The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on the successful Vikram-1 mission, highlighting its early recognition through the National Technology Start-up Award 2022.
Key Highlights
Vikram-1 became India’s first successful private orbital launch vehicle, marking a major milestone for the private space sector.
Skyroot Aerospace received the National Technology Start-up Award 2022 from TDB-DST.
The award recognised Skyroot’s indigenous:
Cryogenic propulsion
Liquid propulsion
Solid propulsion technologies
Skyroot has also submitted a proposal under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, currently under TDB’s consideration.
About Technology Development Board (TDB)
Established: 1996.
Statutory body under the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
Functions under the Technology Development Board Act, 1995.
Objective: Promote development and commercialization of indigenous technologies.
Supports innovation through financial assistance (equity, loans, grants) to industries and start-ups.
Prelims Value Addition
National Technology Start-up Award
Instituted by the Technology Development Board (TDB).
Presented annually on National Technology Day (11 May).
Recognises start-ups developing innovative indigenous technologies with high commercialization potential.
[2026] Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India’s space programme : 1. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities. 2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine. 3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Scientists from ARIES (DST) and partner institutions have discovered that the Sun’s meridional plasma flow extends into the upper chromosphere, providing the first observational evidence supporting the “Magnetic Tree” hypothesis. The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal.
Key Highlights
Meridional Flow: Slow movement of hot plasma from the Sun’s equator toward the poles, acting as a conveyor belt for magnetic fields and regulating the 11 year solar cycle.
Major Discovery: The poleward plasma flow continues up to 3,000 km above the Sun’s visible surface (upper chromosphere), linking the Sun’s surface with its upper atmosphere.
Magnetic Tree Hypothesis: Magnetic structures in the upper atmosphere remain connected to deeper layers, similar to branches connected to a tree’s trunk and roots.
Technique Used: Researchers analysed 27 years of radio observations from Japan’s Nobeyama Radioheliograph using a novel image correlation technique.
Flow Speed: Plasma moves toward the poles at 5 to 15 m/s, comparable to speeds in the Sun’s lower layers.
Solar Cycle Link: Flow patterns vary with the Sun’s 11 year solar cycle and differ between hemispheres depending on magnetic activity.
Space Weather Significance: Improves understanding of the solar dynamo, solar storms, and space weather affecting satellites, GPS, communication systems, and power grids.
Key Terms
Chromosphere: Layer of the Sun’s atmosphere located above the photosphere and below the corona.
Solar Dynamo: Process by which plasma motion generates the Sun’s magnetic field.
Space Weather: Conditions caused by solar activity that influence Earth’s technological systems.
[2022] If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?: 1. GPS and navigation systems could fail. 2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions. 3. Power grids could be damaged. 4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth. 5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet. 6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed 7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted. Select the correct answer using the code given below;
