Science and Technology (S&T) Digest (16-31 January 2025), Issue 54

Dr Saroj Bishoyi, Research Fellow, VIF

February 7 , 2025 Views: 11 Comments: 0

In this Issue

I. Defence and Security

MoD Signs Contract with BDL for Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles

On 16 January. the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the supply of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) for the Indian Navy at a cost of approximately Rs 2,960 crore. The MRSAM system is a standard fit, onboard multiple Indian Naval Ships and is planned to be fitted on the majority of the future platforms planned for acquisition. The contract marks a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts to bolster India’s defence capabilities and indigenise advanced military technology. With the emphasis on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the missiles would be supplied by BDL under ‘Buy (Indian)’ category with largely indigenous content. The contract would generate employment of approx. 3.5 lakh mandays in the defence industry, including various MSMEs. Click here to read…

DRDO Conducts Scramjet Engine Ground Test

Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken the initiative in developing a long-duration Supersonic Combustion Ramjet or Scramjet powered Hypersonic technology. DRDL recently developed these technologies and demonstrated a cutting-edge Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor ground test for 120 seconds for the first time in India. The successful ground test marks a crucial milestone in developing next-generation hypersonic missiles. Hypersonic missiles are a class of advanced weaponry that travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 i.e., five times the speed of sound or more than 5,400 km/hr. Click here to read…

Contract with Heavy Vehicles Factory, AVNL for 47 T-72 Bridge Laying Tanks

The MoD has signed a contract with Heavy Vehicles Factory, a unit of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited, for the procurement of 47 Tank-72 Bridge Laying Tanks (BLT) for the Indian Army at a total cost of Rs 1,560.52 crore. The BLT is a critical equipment which is employed to launch bridges during offensive/defensive operations by Mechanised Forces. It provides integral bridging capability to the Tank and Armoured Vehicle fleet enhancing the battlefield mobility and offensive capability. The present case being a Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) will give impetus to the Make-in-India initiative in defence. This project will also play a pivotal role in boosting the overall economy and increasing employment avenues in the country. Click here to read…

DGS and C-DAC Sign Umbrella MoU to Drive Maritime Innovation

In a landmark move to advance technological innovation and excellence in India's maritime sector, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a Scientific Society under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 25 January 2025. The event marked the beginning of a strategic partnership to modernize maritime administration through cutting-edge technology and symbolizing the commitment of both organizations to collaborate on initiatives aimed at transforming the maritime industry. This partnership aligns with DGS’s vision of being a globally recognized and progressive maritime administration. Click here to read…

DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence Demonstrate LAAM System

A groundbreaking breakthrough has been achieved in DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Hyderabad in the area of Large Area Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) System. The collaborative efforts between IIT Hyderabad, DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad and industry partners have significantly contributed to the achievement for overall growth of additive manufacturing in the country. The application demonstration of the LAAM System is based on Powder based Directed Energy Deposition technology for Fabrication of Rocket Components. The indigenously designed machine has a build volume of 1m x 1m x 3m, which makes it one of the largest metal additive manufacturing machines in India. Click here to read…

II. STI in Space Sector

ISRO’s 100th Launch with GSLV-F15 Rocket, Carrying NVS-02 Satellite

ISRO marks its 100th launch with the GSLV-F15 rocket, carrying the NVS-02 satellite, highlights India’s growing space capabilities and future ambitions. The launch marks the eighth operational flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle with an indigenous cryogenic stage. NVS-02 is part of the NavIC constellation and will aid in terrestrial, aerial and maritime navigation and precision agriculture. “This mission is the 100th launch from our launchpads, which is a very significant milestone for India,” said ISRO chief V Narayanan. The launch is the first since he took office on January 16. Union Minister of State for Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “This 100th launch marks a quantum leap in the space sector. Click here to read…

Government Approved the Establishment of the Third Launch Pad

The Indian government has approved the establishment of the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The Third Launch Pad project envisages the establishment of the launch infrastructure at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh for the Next Generation Launch Vehicles of ISRO and also to support as standby launch pad for the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota. This will also enhance the launch capacity for future Indian human spaceflight missions. The total fund requirement is Rs. 3984.86 Crore and includes the establishment of the Launch Pad and the associated facilities. The Project is of national importance. Click here to read…

SpaDeX Mission Revolutionising Space Exploration

In a historic achievement, the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission’s docking operation was successfully completed on 16th January, 2025 marking India’s entry into the elite group of nations capable of executing space docking operations. With this success, India becomes the fourth country in the world to achieve this technological feat. ISRO started the mission on 30th December 2024, with the successful launch of the SpaDeX spacecrfts using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C60, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This groundbreaking mission aims to showcase India’s technological prowess in spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking – a critical capability for future advancements such as satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary exploration. Click here to read…

India’s Space Economy Projected to Touch $44 billion in the Next Decade

The Indian space economy has grown to $8 billion and is projected to touch $44 billion in the next decade. Milestones like the indigenous Gaganyaan Mission, the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 (2027), Shukrayaan (2028), and the Indian Space Station (2030) showcase India’s robust trajectory, Dr. Jitendra Singh shared during a conversation with Shri Vijay Tankha, Member of Rajya Sabha, on Sansad TV. The Minister lauded startups and FDI for fuelling innovation, with missions like SPADEX enabling docking capabilities, marking a leap in technological advancement. The Vyom Mitra robo mission was highlighted as a precursor to human space exploration. Click here to read…

III. Nuclear Technology

India Welcomes Removal of Three Indian Entities from US Entity List

The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the removal of three Indian entities from the US Entity List, and said this will lead to greater collaboration between New Delhi and Washington in the fields of nuclear energy, clean energy, and critical minerals. This comes after the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) removed three entities –Indian Rare Earths, Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR), and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) – from the US Entity List. The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) outlined the significance of the removals, citing their role in advancing clean energy and critical minerals cooperation. Click here to read…

Large Reactors Poised to Lead Nuclear Power Expansion as SMRs Advance

Scaling up nuclear power to the level needed to achieve net zero is a significant and multifaceted undertaking, and while many reactor types may play a role, large reactors are set to lead the way. Large water-cooled reactors were central to the rise of the nuclear industry in the 20th century, and the advanced reactors planned or under construction today, many of which are in the 1–1.7 gigawatts (electrical) (GW(e)) range, are poised to provide the bulk of new nuclear capacity. In a high case scenario, the IAEA’s projection is that nuclear energy capacity will more than double by 2050, from 371 GW(e) in 2022 to 890 GW(e) by 2050, with only around 10% of this increase expected to come from SMR deployments. Click here to read…

New Collaborating Centre for Nuclear Security in Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Safety and Security Agency has been designated as a new IAEA Collaborating Centre for nuclear security. “The designation of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Safety and Security Agency (CBRN SSA) as an IAEA Collaborating Centre will strengthen the cooperation between Tajikistan and the IAEA to efficiently support regional activities in key areas of nuclear security,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, at the signing ceremony in Vienna. “That will contribute to enhance nuclear security in Central Asia and internationally,” she added. The four-year agreement from 2025 to 2029 aims to help countries in the region build capacity in the development and maintenance of their nuclear security regimes. Click here to read…

Trump’s Acknowledgement of “Tremendous” Cost & Dangers of Nuclear Weapons

The Arms Control Association (ACA) welcomes President Donald J. Trump’s comments at the Davos World Economic Forum on the potential for nuclear arms control talks with Russia and China. In response to a question about U.S.-China relations, President Trump said: “Tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear, and the destructive capability is something that we don’t even want to talk about today, because you don’t want to hear it.” “So, we want to see if we can denuclearize, and I think that’s very possible,” he said, regarding the potential for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In 2020, Trump tried and failed to launch three-way talks involving the United States, Russia, and China. Click here to read…

IV. Emerging Technologies and Applications

ISM, CG Power and CG SEMI Sign Fiscal Support Agreement

Marking a significant progress in India’s journey to develop a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, a Fiscal Support Agreement (FSA) was signed by India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd. and CG Semi Pvt. Ltd., on 17 January 2025. This marks an important step in India’s efforts to strengthen its semiconductor manufacturing through CG’s OSAT facility which was approved under the Modified Programme for Development of Semiconductor and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem. CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd. is setting up its semiconductor OSAT unit in Sanand, Gujarat, which is in partnership with Renesas Electronics America Inc. and Stars Microelectronics (Thailand) Public Co. Ltd., with a total investment of approximately ₹7,600 crore (Project). Click here to read…

Optical Transceiver Chipset for High-Bandwidth 6G Wireless Links

In the on-going process of developing indigenous hardware for next-generation telecommunications technology, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier Telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) for the development of “Optical Transceiver Chipset for High-Bandwidth 6G Wireless Links”. The agreement is signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) 6G Call for proposal from the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. This call for proposal is for accelerated research on 6G Eco-system, to lead in the design, development, and deployment of 6G technology by 2030 on the pillars of Affordability, Sustainability, and Ubiquity. Click here to read…

Quantum Advantage Unveiled, from Theory to Real-World Demonstration

A new study on how a quantum system can outperform its classical counterpart reshapes our understanding of what is possible with quantum systems and hints at a future where quantum technologies might solve problems classical computers cannot, even when resources are scarce. In the race to build the ultimate computer, quantum systems are often hailed as the future, capable of outclassing their classical counterparts in ways that could revolutionize technology. But proving this quantum advantage has been no small feat. Experiments are notoriously tricky, and fundamental limitations often seem to dash our hopes. Recently, researchers from the S. N. Bose National Center for Basic Sciences have made a breakthrough. Click here to read…

UIDAI Conducts Stakeholders Meet with BFSI, Fintech and Telcos

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) concluded a day-long stakeholders meet with industry leaders from sectors like BFSI, Fintech and Telecom to deliberate and further enhance service delivery by using Aadhaar. Nearly 500 senior policy makers, industry leaders, experts, technocrats, from banks, insurance companies, NPCI, market intermediaries, telecom service providers, Fintech players etc came together for the ‘Aadhaar Samvaad’ co-hosted by Government of Maharashtra. The event also marked a milestone – Aadhaar’s Face Authentication transaction numbers have crossed the 100-crore mark since it was first introduced in October 2021. Click here to read…

India Set to Launch Its Own Safe and Secure Indigenous AI Model

India is all set to launch its own safe and secure indigenous AI model at an affordable cost. Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced in New Delhi at Electronics Niketan on 30 January 2025. Interacting with the media, the Union Minister said that the Indian AI model is a timely step as India is a trusted nation among the comity of nations & therefore it will help India emerge as a more reliable technological powerhouse of ethical AI solutions in the days to come. Backed by a high-end common computing facility, the India AI mission is now closer to customising indigenous AI solutions for the Indian context using Indian languages. Click here to read…

V. International Cooperation

India-Indonesia Science and Technology Cooperation

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of Indonesia, Mr. Prabowo Subianto paid a State Visit to India from 23-26 January 2025 and attended the celebrations of the 76th Republic Day of India as the Chief Guest. In the joint statement, the two leaders welcomed the convening of the inaugural Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology (S&T) and renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. They also discussed undertaking joint research and training projects. Both leaders encouraged the two sides to collaborate in further research and development, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mechanics (STEMs). Click here to read…

India-Indonesia Space Cooperation

In the joint statement, Prime Minister Modi and President Mr. Prabowo Subianto welcomed the signing of Implementation Agreement on Transfer of Title of Integrated Biak Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC) Facilities and Implementing Arrangement on Operation, Maintenance and Utilisation of Integrated Biak Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC) Facilities for Satellites and Launch Vehicles between ISRO and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in March 2024. They encouraged BRIN to work towards early takeover of the operations and maintenance of this station. The leaders expressed satisfaction at the expanding cooperation in the space technology sector. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Prabowo for Indonesia’s support to India’s Gaganyaan Mission. Click here to read…

India-France Reviewed Progress Made in Bilateral Cooperation

India-France Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in Paris on 20 January 2025. During the meeting, the two sides undertook a comprehensive review of the progress made in various facets of bilateral cooperation, as outlined in the India-France Horizon 2047 Roadmap. The discussions encompassed key areas of bilateral cooperation including defence, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber and digital, AI, institutional dialogue mechanisms, and initiatives fostering people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties. Both sides agreed to expand bilateral partnership in the areas of high-end technology sectors. Click here to read…

India Approves $1.9 Billion Programme for Critical Minerals

India’s Cabinet has approved a 163 billion-rupee (US$1.9 billion) programme to secure supplies of a range of minerals used mainly in battery, electronics, defence and agriculture sectors. The National Critical Mineral Mission will focus on local mining and processing of 24 vital minerals, as well as acquisitions of mining blocks overseas, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters. The initiative, which will also give a thrust to the recycling of materials such as lithium, cobalt, potash and graphite, will help reduce the country’s reliance on imports, he said in New Delhi. The nation relies almost entirely on overseas shipments for energy transition materials, including cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper ore and concentrates, with China being a key supplier. Click here to read…

UNESCO and MeitY Host Stakeholder Consultation on AI RAM in India

The UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and Ikigai Law as the implementing partner, organized a two-day stakeholder consultation on AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) in India. The event was held at IIIT Bangalore on the 16th and the Nasscom AI office on the 17th. This consultation marked the second in a series of five consultations under the AI RAM initiative by UNESCO and MeitY. The initiative aims to craft an India-specific AI policy report, identifying strengths and growth opportunities within India’s AI ecosystem. The report will provide actionable insights to promote the responsible and ethical adoption of AI across sectors. Click here to read…

VI. Regional and Global Trends

DeepSeek Breakthrough, Nvidia Stock Rout Raise Concerns

DeepSeek, a little-known Chinese start-up whose affordable technology matches the likes of the most formidable American tech titans such as OpenAI and Meta Platforms, has raised investor concerns over the necessity of pouring billions of dollars into research and development (R&D). The Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company released its open-source reasoning model, R1, earlier this month. The model’s capabilities roughly match those of advanced models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google while having significantly lower training costs. Large US tech companies may follow suit and replicate some of the AI training techniques that DeepSeek leveraged to drive the cost of R1 down. Click here to read…

DeepSeek’s Tech Breakthrough Hailed in China

DeepSeek, extolled by some as the “biggest dark horse” in the open-source large language model (LLM) arena, now has a bull’s eye on its back, as the start-up is being touted as China’s secret weapon in the AI war with the US. The Hangzhou-based company sent shock waves across Wall Street and Silicon Valley for developing AI models at a fraction of the cost compared with OpenAI and Meta Platforms, which prompted US President Donald Trump to call the breakthrough a “wake-up call” and “positive” for America’s tech sector. At home, Chinese tech executives and various commentators rushed to hail DeepSeek’s disruptive power. ‘We should have confidence that China will eventually win the AI war with the US,’ Qihoo 360’s Zhou Hongyi said in a Weibo post. Click here to read…

SoftBank in Talks to Invest Up to $25 billion into OpenAI

Softbank Group Corp is in talks to invest up to US$25 billion in ChatGPT owner OpenAI, according to a person familiar with the matter, as the Japanese conglomerate continues to expand into the sector. Softbank could invest US$15 billion to US$25 billion directly into Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI, some of which may be used to pay for OpenAI’s commitment to Project Stargate, the person said. Stargate is a Texas-based joint venture by Oracle Corp, OpenAI and Softbank that plans to invest up to US$500 billion to build data centers and other AI infrastructure to support the ChatGPT maker as well as help the US stay ahead of China and other rivals in the global AI race. Click here to read…

With Generative AI, MIT Chemists Quickly Calculate 3D Genomic Structures

A new approach, which takes minutes rather than days, predicts how a specific DNA sequence will arrange itself in the cell nucleus. MIT chemists have now come up with a new way to determine those 3D genome structures, using generative artificial intelligence. Their technique can predict thousands of structures in just minutes, making it much speedier than existing experimental methods for analyzing the structures. Using this technique, researchers could more easily study how the 3D organization of the genome affects individual cells’ gene expression patterns and functions. Click here to read…

New Training Approach Could Help AI Agents Perform Better

Sometimes, it might be better to train a robot in an environment that’s different from the one where it will be deployed. A home robot trained to perform household tasks in a factory may fail to effectively scrub the sink or take out the trash when deployed in a user’s kitchen, since this new environment differs from its training space. To avoid this, engineers often try to match the simulated training environment as closely as possible with the real world where the agent will be deployed. However, researchers from MIT and elsewhere have now found that, despite this conventional wisdom, sometimes training in a completely different environment yields a better-performing artificial intelligence agent. Click here to read…