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GS Paper: GS3-15.Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.

  • Conflict of interest surfaces in the Rs 1 lakh crore RDI Fund

    Why in the News

    An investigation found that a large share of soft loans under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund went to firms linked to the fund’s own selection panel. The tension is between fast tracking private deep tech financing and preserving impartial public fund governance.

    What is the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund?

    1. Corpus: A Rs 1 lakh crore fund to provide low cost, long tenure financing for private research and deep technology.
    2. Anchor body: It operates under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) framework, with the Technology Development Board (TDB) disbursing loans.

    What is the conflict of interest concern?

    1. Panel linkage: Members of the selection panel had financial ties to firms that received public funding.
    2. Concentration: A majority of the sanctioned loans went to entities connected to those approving them.

    What safeguards does the government cite?

    1. Super majority: Approvals require a super majority of the selection committee.
    2. Stake disqualification: Members holding a stake above a threshold are barred from that decision.
    3. Cost cap: Public funding is capped at a share of total project cost.
    4. Disclosure: Members must declare any negative interest before voting.

    Why does the safeguard design still draw scrutiny?

    1. Small expert pool: India’s narrow deep tech expert base makes overlaps between funders and funded hard to avoid.
    2. Verification gap: Declared interests need independent audit to prevent capture.

  • Indian Scientists Develop a Protocol to Densify Quantum Networks

    Why in the News

    Indian scientists have developed a new routing protocol called General Concurrence Percolation (GCP) to improve the efficiency and connectivity of quantum networks, marking a significant advance in quantum communication.

    What is the General Concurrence Percolation (GCP) Protocol?

    • Innovation: A routing protocol designed to strengthen quantum entanglement across a quantum network.
    • Approach: Uses localized geometric routing to identify the shortest communication paths.
    • Key feature: Preserves intermediate network nodes instead of disconnecting them, improving network stability.
    • Outcome: Simulations show the protocol reduces the minimum entanglement required to connect an entire quantum network.

    What is Quantum Entanglement?

    • Definition: A quantum phenomenon in which two or more particles remain correlated so that the state of one is intrinsically linked to the state of the other, regardless of distance.
    • Challenge: Entanglement weakens over long distances, making reliable quantum communication difficult.
    • Importance: It is the foundation of quantum communication, quantum cryptography, and quantum computing.

    Why is the Development Significant?

    • Improves the efficiency of long distance quantum communication.
    • Reduces the amount of entanglement needed for network connectivity.
    • Makes future quantum internet infrastructure more robust and scalable.
    • Supports secure communication through quantum encryption technologies.
    • Strengthens India’s capabilities in advanced quantum technologies.

    [2026] Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?
    1. It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50 – 1000 physical qubits.
    2. Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes across India.
    Select the answer using the code given below :

    [A] 1 only

    [B] 2 only

    [C] Both 1 and 2

    [D] Neither 1 nor 2

  • Government Strengthens Rules Against AI Generated Deepfakes

    Why in the News

    The Government has strengthened the regulatory framework against AI generated deepfakes by amending the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

    What are the New Amendments?

    • Legal framework: Amendments have been made to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
    • New definition: Introduces the concept of Synthetically Generated Information (SGI), covering deepfakes and other AI generated content.
    • Mandatory labelling: Platforms must clearly label synthetic content and embed traceable metadata to identify AI generated material.
    • User declaration: Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) must obtain a declaration from users on whether uploaded content is synthetic.
    • Verification tools: SSMIs are required to deploy tools to verify user declarations.
    • Harmful content: The framework specifically targets:
      • Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)
      • Non consensual intimate imagery
      • AI enabled impersonation and fraud

    What is a Deepfake?

    • Definition: Deepfakes are AI generated synthetic media in which a person’s face, voice, or likeness is created or manipulated using deep learning techniques.
    • Uses: Can be used for entertainment, education and content creation, but also for misinformation, identity theft, financial fraud and cybercrime.

    [2020] With the print 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

  • All four dengue virus serotypes found co-circulating nationally, ICMR-VRDL study finds

    Why in News?

    A two year Indian Council of Medical Research-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ICMR-VRDL) surveillance study finds all four dengue virus serotypes co-circulating nationally, raising hyperendemicity concerns and complicating future vaccine rollout.

      Key Highlights

      1. Study duration: Conducted over two years through nationwide surveillance.
      2. Conducting body: ICMR-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Network.
      3. Key concern: Simultaneous circulation of all serotypes indicates hyperendemicity, increasing the risk of severe dengue and complicating vaccine strategies.
        • Note: A serotype is a distinct subgroup or variation of a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) classified by the specific antigens found on its surface

      What is Dengue?

      1. Dengue is a viral disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV).
      2. It is transmitted by the female Aedes aegypti mosquito (also Aedes albopictus).
      3. The virus has four distinct serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4.
      4. Infection with one serotype provides lifelong immunity only against that serotype and temporary protection against the others.

      What is Hyperendemicity?

      1. Hyperendemicity refers to the simultaneous circulation of multiple serotypes of the same pathogen in a region.
      2. It increases the likelihood of secondary infections, which can lead to severe dengue due to Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE).

      About the ICMR-VRDL Network

      • Established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
      • Functions as a nationwide network for diagnosis, surveillance and research on viral diseases.
      • Supports early detection and monitoring of emerging and re-emerging viral infections.

      [2017] Consider the following statements:
      1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
      2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
      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

    1. ‘Unprecedented’: OpenAI system acts on its own & hacks startup

      Why in the News?

      An OpenAI model reportedly acted autonomously and accessed Hugging Face’s systems using stolen credentials during an internal model evaluation, marking a significant development in AI safety and autonomous AI governance.

      Key Highlights

      1. The incident occurred during an internal OpenAI model evaluation to assess advanced AI capabilities and safety.
      2. The AI model reportedly used stolen credentials to gain unauthorized access to Hugging Face’s systems without direct human instruction.
      3. The episode has intensified global debates on AI safety, autonomous AI agents, and cybersecurity governance.

      Back2Basics

      AI Agent

      • An AI agent is an AI system that can perceive its environment, make decisions, and perform tasks autonomously to achieve defined goals.

      Model Evaluation & Red Teaming

      • Model Evaluation: Testing AI models for accuracy, safety, robustness, and alignment.
      • Red Teaming: Simulated adversarial testing to identify vulnerabilities before deployment.

      Key AI Terms

      • Large Language Model (LLM): A deep learning model trained on massive text datasets to understand and generate human-like language.
      • Hallucination: AI generating false or fabricated information.
      • Data Poisoning: Malicious manipulation of training data to influence model behaviour.
      • Prompt Injection: Attempts to bypass an AI system’s safeguards through crafted inputs.

      Hugging Face

      • An AI company and open-source platform hosting machine learning models, datasets, and AI tools.
      • Headquartered in New York, USA.

      Global AI Governance

      • Bletchley Declaration (2023): International cooperation on frontier AI safety.
      • Global Partnership on AI (GPAI): Promotes responsible AI; India is a founding member.

      [2026] Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct?
      1. LLMs assign probabilities to the next possible words and then pick the one with the highest probability.
      2. LLMs process data through mathematical optimization to minimise prediction errors.
      3. LLMs produce unbiased outputs.
      Select the answer using the code given below :

      [A] 1 only

      [B] 1 and 2 only

      [C] 2 and 3 only

      [D] 1, 2 and 3

    2. GLP-1 Drugs and Their Effects on Skin, Hair & Nails

      Why in News?

      Growing use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has highlighted their effects on skin, hair, and nails.

      What is GLP-1?

      • GLP-1: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1
      • An incretin hormone that stimulates insulin secretion, reduces glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, and Suppresses appetite, aiding weight loss.
      • Common Drugs: Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Dulaglutide, and Tirzepatide (dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist).
      • Emerging Role: Early studies suggest benefits in: Psoriasis and Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). However, GLP-1 drugs are not yet approved as standard dermatological treatments.

      Dermatological Effects

      • Skin: Facial fat loss (“Ozempic Face”), loose skin, pigmentation, fungal infections.
      • Hair: Temporary hair shedding (Telogen Effluvium) due to rapid weight loss or nutritional deficiencies.
      • Nails: Brittle, slow-growing or peeling nails linked to nutritional deficiencies.

      Prelims Facts

      • GLP-1: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1
      • T2DM: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
      • GIP: Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide
      • HS: Hidradenitis Suppurativa
      • PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
      • Telogen Effluvium: Temporary hair shedding triggered by physiological stress or rapid weight loss.

      [2024] Which one of the following is synthesised in human body that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow

      [A] Nitric oxide

      [B] Nitrous oxide

      [C] Nitrogen dioxide

      [D] Nitrogen pentoxide

    3. What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Give various salient built in features of a digital signature.

    4. What do you understand by Umpire decision review in cricket? Discuss its various components. Explain how silicon tape on the edge of a bat may fool the system?

    5. What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their applications in aviation and automobile industry

    6. How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and disadvantages of the technology.