Science and Technology (S&T) Digest (01-15 March 2025), Issue 57

Dr Saroj Bishoyi, Senior Fellow, VIF

April 25 , 2025 Views: 181 Comments: 0

In this Issue

I. Defence and Security

DRDO Conducts High-Altitude Trials of Indigenous ILSS

The Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), a Bengaluru-based lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully conducted high-altitude trials of the Indigenous On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS)-based Integrated Life Support System (ILSS) for the LCA Tejas aircraft, on 4 March 2025. The OBOGS-based ILSS is a cutting-edge system designed to generate and regulate breathable oxygen for pilots during flight, eliminating dependence on traditional liquid oxygen cylinder-based systems. The ILSS underwent rigorous testing on the LCA-Prototype Vehicle-3 aircraft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)/ Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Click here to read...

Tejas LCA AF MK1 Test-Fires Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has successfully conducted test-launch of homegrown ASTRA, Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) from LCA AF MK1 prototype fighter aircraft. The test launch was carried out on 12 March 2025 off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. The test-firing successfully demonstrated the direct hit of the missile on flying target. All the subsystems performed accurately meeting all mission parameters and objectives. ASTRA missile is designed and developed by DRDO capable of engaging the targets over 100km and equipped with advanced guidance and navigation capabilities allows missile to destroy targets with greater accuracy. The missile is already inducted into the Indian Air Force. Click here to read...

Induction of the Eighth MCA Barge, LSAM 11(Yard 79)

Induction ceremony of the eighth Missile Cum Ammunition Barge (MCA) Barge, LSAM 11(Yard 79) was held on 07 March 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. With delivery of LSAM 11, the MSME Shipyard completes contractual delivery of all eight Barges to Indian Navy. The contract for construction and delivery of eight MCA Barges was concluded with a MSME Shipyard, M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam on 19 February 2021. These Barges have been indigenously designed by the shipyard in collaboration with an Indian Ship Designing firm and successfully model tested at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam to ensure their seaworthiness. Click here to read...

First Rear Fuselage for LCA Mk1A Handed over to HAL

The first rear fuselage for Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A, produced by Indian Private Industry, Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Private Ltd, was handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the presence of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at Aircraft Division in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 9 March 2025. In his address, Raksha Mantri termed the handing over as a milestone in the historic journey of India’s defence manufacturing. The ceremony is a testimony to India’s progress towards Aatmanirbharta or “self-reliance” in defence and the Government’s commitment towards enhanced public-private partnership, he said. Rajnath Singh commended HAL and the private sector for constantly strengthening the Armed Forces with latest platforms & technologies. Click here to read...

Contract Signed with BEL for Low-level Transportable Radar for IAF

As part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen indigenous defence capabilities of the country, the MoD has inked a capital acquisition contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad for the procurement of Low-level Transportable Radar, LLTR (Ashwini) at a cost of Rs 2,906 crore. The radar is indigenously designed and developed by Electronics & Radar Development Establishment, DRDO. LLTR (Ashwini) is an active electronically scanned phased array radar based on state-of-the-art solid-state technology. The radar is capable of tracking aerial targets from high-speed fighter aircraft to slow moving targets such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and helicopters. Its acquisition will significantly enhance the operational preparedness of the Indian Air Force. Click here to read...

Need for Developing Holistic Counter-UAS System for the Armed Forces

The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) hosted a high-level seminar on “UAS Warfare with Special Focus on Counter-UAS” in New Delhi on 10 March 2025. General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the transformative impact of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in modern warfare. Gen Chauhan highlighted the key trends -celerity, robotics advancements, and AI-driven intelligence - that are exploited by UAS, making them highly disruptive. Referencing present day conflicts, he underscored how drones are reshaping warfare economics with low-cost, high-impact solutions. CDS postulated the imperative to establish a common vocabulary and grammar on UAS / Drones / Uncrewed Systems by the Indian Armed Forces. Click here to read...

II. STI in Space Sector

Foreign and Indigenous Satellites Launched by India

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said that during the last ten years starting from January 2015 to December 2024, a total of 393 foreign satellites and 3 Indian customer satellites have been launched on commercial basis on-board ISRO’s PSLV, LVM3 and SSLV Launch Vehicles. Foreign Exchange revenue generated by Government through launching of foreign satellites during the period January 2015 to December 2024 is nearly 143 Million USD and 272 Million Euros. India has launched satellites of 34 countries so far, including United States of America (232), United Kingdom (83), Singapore (19), Canada (8), Korea (5), Luxemburg (4), Italy (4), Germany (3), Belgium (3), Finland (3), France(3), Switzerland (2), Netherland (2), Japan (2), and Israel (2), etc. Click here to read...

Reasons for Delay in the Gaganyaan Programme

Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha highlighted major reasons for the delay of the Gaganyaan Programme, which include: Avionics components production was severely affected due to COVID-19 pandemic. Supply chain disruption resulted in irregular supply of raw materials and consequent delay in realization of hardware. The deliveries were shifted/re-scheduled delaying the programme. Global shortage in the supply of space grade and EEE components. Major design revision in orbital module to contain overall mass within HLVM3 capability. Longer cycle time for the indigenous development of life support system being new technology, since procurement through external route couldn’t materialise. Click here to read...

RM Calls for Increased R&D to Deal with Aerospace Challenges

Raksha Mantri (RM) Rajnath Singh visited the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 9 March 2025. Rajnath Singh, the first Raksha Mantri to visit the institute, was briefed about the unique role of IAM in pilot training, their medical evaluation and aeromedical research. Raksha Mantri also inspected the Dynamic Flight Simulator & High-Performance Human Centrifuge used for high-G training of fighter pilots and the Spatial Disorientation Simulator for training the pilots of the Armed Forces to avert the risk of spatial disorientation in flight. In his address, Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the growing need for expertise in aerospace medicine in view of the continuous increase in air and space traffic. “There is a need for increased R&D as research in any high-end complex technology provides benefits to many fields,” he said. Click here to read...

Role of India’s Space Sector Increasing

Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that India’s Space technology is no longer confined only to the launch of rockets, but is also playing a major role in revolutionising governance by supplementing transparency, grievance redressal and citizen participation. In the process, there is reduced scope of corrupt practices, more discipline in observing timelines and less of so called red tapism, he added. Addressing the ‘Space-Tech for Good Governance’ Conclave organized by ‘Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership’, the Minister underscored the growing significance of India’s space sector as an attractive avenue, not only for startups and livelihood generation but also for transforming the governance practices. Click here to read...

III. Nuclear Technology

Nuclear Energy Critical for India’s Net Zero Goal

Addressing a post-budget webinar organized by NITI Aayog, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that Nuclear Energy is critical for India’s Net Zero goal. He highlighted the Union Budget 2024-25’s vision for India’s nuclear power expansion, which sets a target of achieving 100 GW by 2047. Pointing out the crucial role of nuclear energy in India’s transition to clean energy and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070, he called for private sector participation, regulatory reforms, and sustained public engagement. Highlighting the growing energy demand, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India’s electricity needs are expected to increase four to five times by 2047. Click here to read...

DAE Advances Towards a Hydrogen-Powered Future

In a significant step towards a cleaner, greener future, the Heavy Water Board (HWB), in collaboration with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has started construction of a demonstration plant for producing hydrogen through thermo-chemical splitting of water based on Iodine-Sulfur (I-S) process. This pioneering project, located at the Heavy Water Board Facilities (HWBF) in RCF, Chembur, Mumbai, marks a crucial milestone in India’s efforts to transition towards a hydrogen-powered energy landscape. Hydrogen, with its high energy content and zero-emission combustion, has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels. Click here to read...

Capacity-building Programme on UNSCR 1540 & Export Controls

With a view to strengthening implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) – which aims to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to and by non-State actors, including terrorists – the Government of India collaborated with the United Nations Office for Disarmament (UNODA) to carry out the first ‘India-UNODA Capacity-building Programme on Implementation of UNSCR 1540 and Strategic Trade Controls for Asia-Pacific States’. This event took place in Palasamudram, India, and was co-funded by the Government of India and UNODA (through a financial contribution from the Government of Japan). The programme aimed to bolster implementation of UNSCR 1540 throughout the region, as well as to strengthen the export control regimes in each of the target States. Click here to read...

Pragmatic US-Iran Dialogue Essential to Prevent Second Nuclear-Armed State

The Arms Control Association welcomed President Trump’s direct outreach to Iran expressing his interest in a negotiated solution to concerns about Iran’s sensitive nuclear activities. In an interview on 7 March 2025, President Donald Trump said that he had sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, that he is seeking to negotiate a deal to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In recent weeks, Iranian officials have expressed their interest in such a dialogue, but to date, talks have not yet begun. “There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal,” Trump told Maria Bartiromo in an interview aired Friday on Fox Business. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran. They’re great people.” Trump’s letter is an important step toward demonstrating that the U.S. is serious about a diplomatic resolution to concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, but the content and the context of the message matter. Click here to read...

Building the Global Norm Against Biological Weapons

From 24 to 28 February 2025, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Geneva Branch and the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) hosted a commemorative exhibition at the Palais des Nations. Marking the centenary of the 1925 Geneva Protocol and the fiftieth anniversary of the entry into force of the BWC, the exhibition highlighted the efforts of multiple stakeholders to build the global norm against the use of biological weapons and emphasized the continued relevance of these two milestone agreements in maintaining global biosecurity. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of France and Switzerland to the Conference on Disarmament, with funding from the European Union. Click here to read...

Major Nuclear Repository Adopts New Fully Searchable Digital Platform

The IAEA’s International Nuclear Information System (INIS), a multi-million strong digital library, has been further strengthened with the addition of a modern repository platform. Founded in 1970, the INIS Repository hosts a massive library of nearly five million reports, books, scientific articles, conference papers and other knowledge products covering topics in nuclear science, reactor technology, materials science, medical applications, decommissioning, and all other areas the IAEA is involved in. Using Invenio, an open-source platform developed by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and tailoring it to its own needs the Agency was to make advancements in automation and accessibility as well as a major increase in capacity for handling new knowledge product entries in INIS. Click here to read...

IV. Emerging Technologies and Applications

R&D Spending Increased from Rs 60,196 cr in 2013-14 to ₹1.27 Lakh Crore

“India R&D spending (GERD) is double in last one decade during the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from Rs 60,196 cr in 2013-14 to ₹1,27,381 cr and is shaping the future economy of India which will be defined by homegrown innovations in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing,” Dr. Jitendra Singh said, underscoring the role of government-backed initiatives in catalyzing scientific advancements. Speaking at the DISHA event at India Habitat Centre, Delhi, the Minister highlighted the government’s multi-pronged strategy to position India as a global leader in deep-tech innovation and commercialization. He reiterated that India is making significant strides in fostering an intellectual property (IP)-driven innovation ecosystem, with academia, industry, and startups playing a pivotal role. Click here to read...

Scaling Up PLI Budget to Accelerate Manufacturing

India’s manufacturing sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by visionary policies aimed at redefining its global standing. At the heart of this transformation is the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. In a strong push to accelerate industrial growth, the Government has significantly increased budget allocations for key sectors under the PLI Scheme in 2025-26, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening domestic manufacturing. Several sectors have witnessed substantial hikes, with allocations for Electronics and IT Hardware soaring from ₹5,777 crore (revised estimate for 2024-25) to ₹9,000 crore, and Automobiles and Auto Components seeing a remarkable jump from ₹346.87 crore to ₹2,818.85 crore. Click here to read...

Hydrogen Based Fuel Cells for Uninterrupted Power Supply to Telecom Towers

An innovative hydrogen fuel cell-based backup power solution for telecom towers, developed using a plug-and-play model can support national renewable energy goals while ensuring seamless connectivity for millions and promoting clean energy in the telecom sector. India has more than a million telecom towers, with tens of thousands in remote areas, where maintaining 24/7 operations is challenging due to limited grid access. Traditionally, diesel generators have been used as backup power sources, but they are expensive and contribute significantly to carbon emissions. A PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell is an efficient and clean energy solution for powering telecom towers, particularly as a backup during grid outages. These fuel cells provide reliable electricity with quick start-up times and operate at relatively low temperatures, making them a viable alternative to diesel generators. Click here to read...

Signing of Fiscal Support Agreement for Semiconductor Fab

In a significant milestone for India's semiconductor industry, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL), and Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited (TSMPL) have signed a Fiscal Support Agreement (FSA) in the presence of Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Patel for India’s first commercial semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat. This breakthrough agreement represents a decisive step forward in strengthening India’s technological self-reliance under the modified programme for semiconductor & display manufacturing ecosystem in India. Tata Electronics’ semiconductor fab in the Dholera (SIR) commands a total investment of over ₹91,000 crore with a capacity of 50,000 wafers starts per month (WSPM). Click here to read...

Aadhaar Continues to Drive India’s Digital Transformation

Aadhaar continues to drive India’s digital transformation, with nearly 225 crore authentication transactions and 43 crore e-KYC transactions carried out in February 2025 alone. The increasing adoption of Aadhaar-based verification highlights its growing role in banking, finance, and other sectors, making processes more seamless, secure, and efficient. The total number of eKYC transactions (42.89 cr) carried out during February 2025 is almost 14% more than the numbers during the same period last year. Aadhaar e-KYC service continues to play an important role for banking and non-banking financial services by providing transparent and improved customer experience, and helping in ease of doing business. Click here to read...

V. International Cooperation

India-Mauritius Enhanced S&T and Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. the Honourable Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had comprehensive and productive discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations between Mauritius and India during the latter’s State Visit to Mauritius from 11 to 12 March 2025. Underscoring India’s achievements in rolling out of several people-centric digitization initiatives and their positive impact on governance and service delivery, the Prime Minister of Mauritius requested India’s support to the Government of Mauritius on its digitisation drive across sectors, to which the Prime Minister of India expressed full support. In line with this objective, the leaders agreed to: Support implementation of e-judiciary system, and digitisation of archives and records at Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The two leaders noted that defence and maritime security cooperation remains an important pillar of bilateral relations and close cooperation in this domain has achieved a strategic dimension and benefited both countries immensely. Click here to read...

Second Meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council

The second meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) took place in New Delhi on 28 February 2025. India and the European Union reaffirmed the importance of deepening their digital cooperation in line with their shared values through the Working Group 1 on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance, and Digital Connectivity. Both sides committed to leverage their respective strengths to accelerate a human-centric digital transformation and the development of advanced and trustworthy digital technologies such as AI, semiconductors, High-Performance Computing and 6G, which will benefit both economies and societies. They committed to work jointly to strengthen EU-India research and innovation for this purpose to further enhance competitiveness, while increasing their economic security. They committed to promoting global connectivity in a cyber-secure digital ecosystem. Click here to read...

India-Russia Sign Deal for Procurement of Engines for T-72 Tanks

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with. Rosoboronexport (RoE), Russian Federation worth $ 248 million for procurement of 1000 HP Engines for T-72 Tanks in fully formed, completely knocked down and semi knocked down conditions. The deal also includes Transfer of Technology (ToT) from M/s RoE to M/s Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (Heavy Vehicle Factory), Avadi, Chennai, for integration and subsequent licensed production of engines under ToT to boost the “Make in India” initiative in Defence Sector. T-72 is the mainstay of tank fleet of the Indian Army which is at present fitted with 780 HP Engine. Equipping the existing fleet of T-72 Tanks with 1000 HP Engine will enhance the battle field mobility and offensive capability of Indian Army. Click here to read...

ISRO’S Collaboration with Other Space Agencies

Currently, space cooperative documents have been signed with 61 countries and five multilateral bodies. The major areas of cooperation are satellite remote sensing, satellite navigation, satellite communication, space science and planetary exploration and capacity building. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is already working with the space agency of USA (NASA) for realizing a joint satellite mission, named ‘NISAR (NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)’ which is in the advanced stages of realization. ISRO is working with CNES (French National Space Agency) for realizing a joint satellite mission named ‘TRISHNA (Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for High Resolution Natural Resource Assessment)’, which is in the initial stages. Click here to read...

VI. Regional and Global Trends

High-Performance Computing, with Much Less Code

The Exo 2 programming language enables reusable scheduling libraries external to compilers. Many companies invest heavily in hiring talent to create the high-performance library code that underpins modern artificial intelligence systems. NVIDIA, for instance, developed some of the most advanced high-performance computing (HPC) libraries, creating a competitive moat that has proven difficult for others to breach. But what if a couple of students, within a few months, could compete with state-of-the-art HPC libraries with a few hundred lines of code, instead of tens or hundreds of thousands? That’s what researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have shown with a new programming language called Exo 2. Click here to read...

Researchers Establish New Basis for Quantum Sensing and Communication

New theoretical approach for generating quantum states could lead to improved accuracy and reliability of information and decision systems. Sensing and communication systems based on quantum-mechanical phenomena can greatly outperform today’s systems, in terms of accuracy and reliability, and are considered a pivotal part of developing next-generation networks. Developing quantum information and decision systems that come close to meeting the theoretical quantum advantages has been a longstanding challenge. Now, a team of researchers at MIT and the University of Ferrara (UniFe) in Italy has developed a framework that could open up new ways of pushing such quantum systems all the way to their fundamental limits. Click here to read...

Making Airfield Assessments Automatic, Remote, and Safe

U.S. Air Force engineer and PhD student Randall Pietersen is using AI and next-generation imaging technology to detect pavement damage and unexploded munitions. In 2022, Randall Pietersen, a civil engineer in the U.S. Air Force, set out on a training mission to assess damage at an airfield runway, practicing “base recovery” protocol after a simulated attack. For hours, his team walked over the area in chemical protection gear, radioing in geocoordinates as they documented damage and looked for threats like unexploded munitions. The work is standard for all Air Force engineers before they deploy, but it held special significance for Pietersen, who has spent the last five years developing faster, safer approaches for assessing airfields as a master’s student and now a PhD candidate and MathWorks Fellow at MIT. Click here to read...

Visualizing Research in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Felice Frankel discusses the implications of generative AI when communicating science visually. For over 30 years, science photographer Felice Frankel has helped MIT professors, researchers, and students communicate their work visually. Throughout that time, she has seen the development of various tools to support the creation of compelling images: some helpful, and some antithetical to the effort of producing a trustworthy and complete representation of the research. In a recent opinion piece published in Nature magazine, Frankel discusses the burgeoning use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in images and the challenges and implications it has for communicating research. On a more personal note, she questions whether there will still be a place for a science photographer in the research community. Click here to read...

Building Trust in Science Through Conversation and Empathy

Conference at MIT brings together scientific experts and communicators to discuss the path toward a more informed, science-supportive public. How do we foster trust in science in an increasingly polarized world? A group including scientists, journalists, policymakers and more gathered at MIT on March 10 to discuss how to bridge the gap between scientific expertise and understanding. The conference, titled “Building Trust in Science for a More Informed Future,” was organized by the MIT Press and the nonprofit Aspen Institute’s Science and Society Program. It featured talks about the power of storytelling, the role of social media and generative artificial intelligence in our information landscape, and why discussions about certain science topics can become so emotionally heated. A common theme was the importance of empathy between science communicators and the public. Click here to read...