Science and Technology (S&T) Digest (1-15 February 2025), Issue 55

Dr Saroj Bishoyi, Research Fellow, VIF

March 18 , 2025 Views: 26 Comments: 0

In this Issue

I. Defence and Security

DRDO Conducts Flight-Trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three successive flight-trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. These tests were carried out against high-speed targets flying at very low altitude. During all the three flight-tests, the missiles intercepted and completely destroyed the targets having reduced thermal signature mimicking low flying drones at different flying conditions. The flight-tests were carried out in final deployment configuration where in two field operators carried out weapon readiness, target acquisition and missile firing. Click here to read...

Focus on Self-Reliance and Indigenous Production

India’s defence sector has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2014, evolving from a largely import-dependent military force to one increasingly focused on self-reliance and indigenous production. As one of the strongest military powers globally, India holds a pivotal role in ensuring regional security and fulfilling strategic goals. The country’s defence budget, which stood at ₹2,53,346 crore in 2013-14, has seen a significant rise, reaching ₹6,21,940.85 crore in 2024-25, reflecting a clear commitment to strengthening the nation’s defence capabilities. Central to this transformation is the growth of India’s defence manufacturing industry, which has become an integral part of the economy. Click here to read...

MoD Signs Contracts with EEL, MIL & BEL for Rockets of PINAKA

The Ministry of Defence has inked contracts with Economic Explosive Limited (EEL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL) for the procurement of Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1 (DPICM) and High Explosive Pre-Fragmented (HEPF) Mk-1 (Enhanced) rockets respectively for PINAKA Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) at a total cost of Rs 10,147 crore. In addition, a contract for upgrades in SHAKTI Software has also been signed with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on 6 February 2025. ADM Type-1 of PINAKA MLRS has a specialised warhead to deliver a quantum of sub-munitions over a larger area targeting mechanised forces, vehicles and personnel, thereby denying specific areas to the enemy. Click here to read...

Launch of 9th ACTCM Barge, LSAM 23 (Yard 133)

Launching ceremony of 9th ACTCM Barge, LSAM 23 (Yard 133) was held on 31 January 2025 at M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane. The contract for construction of eleven (11) Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge was concluded with MSME Shipyard, M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane on 5 March 2021. These Barges have been indigenously designed and built by the Shipyard in collaboration with an Indian Ship Designing firm and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Model testing was undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam to ensure seaworthiness. These Barges are proud flag bearers of “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of Government of India. Click here to read...

Aero India 2025 Held in Bangaluru

Aero India, Asia’s Largest Air Show, is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition which is held in Bengaluru, organized by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. Aero India is India's premier aerospace and defence exhibition where global aero vendors and the Indian Air Force (IAF) thrill the spectators with back-to-back aerobatic flying displays. It is a flagship event that brings together global industry leaders, government officials, technology experts, and defence strategists under one roof. The event not only showcases the nation’s technological prowess and innovations but also provides a dynamic platform for international cooperation and strategic dialogue. Click here to read...

II. STI in Space Sector

Space Sector Reforms Unlocked Commercial Potential in Space

“Space sector reforms have unlocked India’s Commercial Potential in Space,” says Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, while answering an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha, on 6 February 2025. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under Department of Space and the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) incorporated during March 2019, is responsible for carrying out end-to-end commercial space business on a demand driven approach and has the mandate to enhance the participation of Indian Industries in space related activities. The achievements of the NSIL are: NSIL undertook its 1st Demand Driven Communication satellite mission named GSAT-N1 [GSAT-24] for meeting Direct-To-Home (DTH) needs. The satellite was successfully launched on 23rd June 2022, and it has commenced its operational services. Click here to read...

IAF Officer Selected to Pilot NASA’s Private Axiom Mission 4 to ISS

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who was recently chosen as the 'Prime' astronaut for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, has been selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, scheduled for Spring 2025. Shubhanshu Shukla, a serving IAF officer, will serve as the pilot for Ax-4 mission. The Ax-4 mission will be commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space’s director of Human Spaceflight. The two mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The Ax-4 mission will “realize the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. Click here to read...

India and US Unveil Key Technology and Space Initiatives

India and the US launched major initiatives following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump at the White House, focusing on advancing cooperation in emerging technologies, AI, and civil space. Key announcements include the US-India TRUST initiative, a roadmap for AI infrastructure, and the INDUS Innovation platform to foster partnerships in defence, space, and energy. According to the official statement, the leaders announced the launch of the U.S.-India TRUST (“Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology”) initiative, which will catalyse government-to-government, academia, and private sector collaboration to promote the application of critical and emerging technologies. Click here to read...

Strengthening Collaboration in Innovation, Space Exploration and AI

Tesla CEO Elon Musk called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Blair House in Washington, DC. During the meeting, PM Modi and Musk discussed strengthening collaboration between entities of India and the US in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. PM Modi and Elon Musk also spoke about opportunities to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and good governance. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Their discussion also touched on opportunities to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and good governance.” Click here to read...

Sunita Williams Breaks Spacewalking Record during 92nd US Spacewalk

NASA astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams surpassed a major milestone on January 30, 2025, when she broke the record for total spacewalking time held by former astronaut Peggy Whitson. The International Space Station (ISS) shared the news on X: "NASA astronaut Suni Williams just surpassed former astronaut Peggy Whitson's total spacewalking time of 60 hours and 21 minutes today. Suni is still outside in the vacuum of space removing radio communications hardware." Williams was outside the ISS during the spacewalk to maintain the station's hardware and collect surface material samples from Destiny laboratory and Quest airlock for analysis. Click here to read...

III. Nuclear Technology

Nuclear Power in Union Budget 2025-26

The Union Budget 2025-26 outlines a significant push towards nuclear energy as part of India’s long-term energy transition strategy. The government has set an ambitious target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047, positioning nuclear energy as a major pillar in India’s energy mix. This development aligns with the broader objectives of Viksit Bharat, ensuring energy reliability and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. To achieve this goal, strategic policy interventions and infrastructure investments are being undertaken, with an emphasis on indigenous nuclear technology and public-private collaborations. Click here to read...

Nuclear Energy Mission for Research & Development of SMR

Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Budget 2025-2026 in the Parliament said that a Nuclear Energy Mission for research & development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) with an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore will be set up. At least 5 indigenously developed SMRs will be operationalized by 2033, she informed. Smt. Sitharaman highlighted that development of at least 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047 is essential for our energy transition efforts. For an active partnership with the private sector towards this goal, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be taken up. Click here to read...

Nuclear Power to Emerge as a Major Source of Energy in India

The "Nuclear Mission" announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 will mark a transformative shift in India's energy landscape and will enable Nuclear Power to emerge as a major source of energy in India, Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said in an exclusive media interview. Dr Jitendra Singh, underscored the crucial role of nuclear power in ensuring India's energy security. He emphasized the government's futuristic roadmap for the nuclear energy sector, which will significantly contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in energy production. Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed the revolutionary decision to provide tax relief on income up to ₹12 lakh, noting that this initiative will bring satisfaction to a large section of the population and have a multiplier effect on the economy. Click here to read...

Thailand’s Commitment to Improve Nuclear and Radiation Safety

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Thailand is committed to strengthening its national regulatory framework for safety. The team also identified some areas for further enhancements and encouraged the country to establish a national policy and strategy for safety, following a systematic and incremental approach to continuously improve the regulatory infrastructure. The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, which concluded on 14 February, was conducted at the request of the Government of Thailand and hosted by the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP). Click here to read...

Spain’s Continued Commitment to Improve Nuclear and Radiation Safety

An IAEA team of experts assessed that Spain showed a strong commitment to nuclear and radiation safety, and confirmed that Spain has successfully enhanced its regulatory framework, fully implementing recommendations made during the Agency’s 2018 mission. The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) follow-up mission, which took place from 27 January to 3 February at the request of the Government of Spain was hosted by the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ministry of Interior (MoI). IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national nuclear and radiation safety regulatory infrastructure. Click here to read...

IV. Emerging Technologies and Applications

Growth of Startups in India

India has firmly established itself as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with over 1.57 lakh certificates issued by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for recognition of startups as of 31 December 2024. The nation’s entrepreneurial landscape, fuelled by more than 100 unicorns, is redefining innovation and creating new opportunities across sectors. Major hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR have been at the forefront of this transformation, while smaller cities are increasingly contributing to the momentum with over 51 percent of the startups emerging from Tier II/ III cities. Click here to read...

Setting up of Digital Infrastructure in India

India’s digital economy contributed 11.74 per cent to GDP in 2022-23 (₹31.64 lakh crore) and employed 14.67 million workers. Productivity in this sector is five times higher than others, with its share projected to reach 20 percent of GVA by 2029-30. Growth is driven by AI, cloud services, and digital platforms, with India hosting 55 per cent of the world’s Global Capability Centres. In the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector, over 95 percent of banking payment transactions are now digital and digital platforms are expanding at 30 percent annually. By 2030, the digital economy is expected to be a key driver of national growth. Click here to read...

Improve Water Quality through Nano Bubble Technology

Nano bubble technology is a method of water treatment that uses tiny bubbles to improve water quality. The important ecological benefits are to remove contaminants, increase dissolved oxygen content, help in the removal of phytoplankton (algae), reduce biofilm, and ultimately improve the properties of water suitable for aquatic animals. The nano bubble technology can lead to a more homogeneous distribution due to the minuscule size and persistence of the bubbles in the water bodies. On the other hand, traditional systems may exhibit less uniformity in distribution, which can result in variable oxidation and disinfection performance across the water volume. Click here to read...

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Sector

The Government has employed Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to address various challenges in the agricultural sector to aid farmers. Some of the initiatives are: ‘Kisan e-Mitra’, an AI-powered chatbot, has been developed to assist farmers with responses to the queries about the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This solution supports multiple languages and is evolving to assist with other government programs. National Pest Surveillance System, for tackling the loss of produce due to climate change, utilizes AI and Machine Learning to detect pest infestation in crop issues, enabling timely intervention for healthier crops. AI based analytics using field photographs for crop health assessment and crop health monitoring using Satellite, weather & soil moisture datasets for rice and wheat crop. Click here to read...

Upgradation of Agri Tech to Improve Productivity, Sustainability & Income

The Government has launched several key schemes to upgrade agricultural technology to improve productivity, sustainability, and farmers’ income. The Digital Agriculture Mission, is a major initiative that leverages technologies like AI, Big Data, and geospatial data for better crop monitoring, soil management, and weather forecasting. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), during the last ten years has developed 2900 varieties out of which, 2661 varieties are tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses. About156 technologies/machines/process protocols were developed for production and post-harvest production of agriculture. Click here to read...

Cutting-Edge Biomedical Research and Innovation in India

On 3 February 2025, India’s commitment to cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation took a significant leap forward with the dedication of the nation’s first Ferret Research Facility, the launch of the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, and the execution of a key technology transfer agreement. The newly inaugurated THSTI Ferret Research Facility, a state-of-the-art establishment adhering to the highest biosafety and research standards, marks a pivotal moment in India's fight against infectious and non-communicable diseases. This pioneering facility will serve as a crucial resource for vaccine development, therapeutic testing, and research into emerging infectious diseases. Click here to read...

V. International Cooperation

India-France Declaration on Artificial Intelligence

Acknowledging the progress in developing artificial intelligence, India and France will seek to ensure that norms and standards governing their use reflect democratic values, and harness the potential of artificial intelligence for human development and common good. India and France, recalling their joint commitment to promote safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems to accelerate progress towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as their efforts to call upon the international community to foster an enabling environment for international cooperation on artificial intelligence capacity-building, emphasize that international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations, as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms, must be respected. Click here to read...

India-US Defence and Technology Cooperation

President Donald J. Trump hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an Official Working Visit in Washington, DC on 13 February 2025. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi launched a new initiative – the “U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century” – to drive transformative change across key pillars of cooperation. Under this initiative, they committed to a results-driven agenda with initial outcomes this year to demonstrate the level of trust for a mutually beneficial partnership. The leaders announced the launch of the U.S.-India TRUST ("Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology”) initiative. Click here to read...

India-Spain Defence Technology Cooperation

The 5th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between the Ministry of Defence of India and Spain took place in New Delhi on 6 February 2025. In the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities and discussed the plan for multiple joint activities, including in the maritime domain. They agreed to focus on a closer collaboration in defence, particularly in technology and armament production areas. The C295 Project with Airbus Spain and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, the first Make-in-India project in the defence aircraft sector, has encouraged more Indian and Spanish companies to collaborate with each other and explore options to work together in the aerospace domain. Click here to read...

India-UK Defence Innovation and Technology Cooperation

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a bilateral meeting with Minister for the House of Lords, UK Lord Vernon Coaker on the sidelines of 15th Aero India in Bengaluru on 11 February 2025. They briefly reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation, particularly industrial collaboration, and the ongoing engagements in the maritime domain. They expressed satisfaction over the beginnings being made in key cooperation areas such as Electric Propulsion and aero engines. Earlier, the Defence Secretary co-chaired a UK-India Business Council roundtable meeting with Lord Coaker and British High Commissioner to India Ms Lindy Cameron. This roundtable discussed the opportunities for Indian & UK defence companies to work together on ongoing and future joint projects. Click here to read...

India-Saudi Arabia Cooperation in Critical Minerals Sector

Saudi Arabia and India agreed to strengthen cooperation in the critical minerals sector, as New Delhi seeks to accelerate its green energy transition. Critical minerals, such as lithium, copper and rare earth, are essential raw materials required for clean energy technologies, used in wind turbines, electric vehicles, battery manufacturing and to help develop artificial intelligence systems. India’s Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and his Saudi counterpart, Bandar Al-Khorayef, met in the Indian capital and discussed “fostering resilient supply chains, investments in mineral value addition, and technological collaboration”. “The dialogue aligns with India’s National Critical Minerals Mission, focusing on securing resources essential for clean energy and high-tech industries.” Click here to read...

VI. Regional and Global Trends

Cleaning Up Critical Minerals and Materials Production

The push to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. is running up against an unfortunate truth: The processes for making many critical materials today create toxic byproducts and other environmental hazards. That’s true for commonly used industrial metals like nickel and titanium, as well as specialty minerals, materials, and coatings that go into batteries, advanced electronics, and defence applications. Now 6K, founded by former MIT research scientist Kamal Hadidi, is using a new production process to bring critical materials production back to America without the toxic byproducts. The company is actively scaling its microwave plasma technology, which it calls UniMelt, to transform the way critical minerals are processed, creating new domestic supply chains in the process. Click here to read...

US Lawmakers Introduced Bill to Ban Chinese AI App DeepSeek

A bipartisan pair of lawmakers are introducing a measure this week to ban Chinese AI app DeepSeek from government devices, arguing the app “compromises American users’ sensitive data.” The measure, called “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” will be introduced by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), who serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “The technology race with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not one the United States can afford to lose,” Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) said in a statement. The lawmakers pointed to a security research study published that found DeepSeek’s website contains computer code with the potential to send user login information to China Mobile, a Chinese state-owned telecommunications company that is prohibited from operating in the United States. Click here to read...

China Moves to Take on Nvidia’s CUDA Ecosystem

DeepSeek is generating unprecedented momentum for China’s efforts to reduce its reliance on the ecosystem of Nvidia, as domestic chip developers rush to tailor their products for the AI start-up’s low-cost, high-performance models, according to corporate statements and local media reports. For years, China’s domestic chip developers have viewed Nvidia with admiration, as the US semiconductor giant has established undisputed dominance in the industry through its hardware capabilities and proprietary CUDA toolkit, which engineers use to develop applications on the firm’s graphics processing units (GPUs). Following the launch of DeepSeek’s V3 and R1 models, domestic chip developers are now rallying to break away from Nvidia’s orbit. Click here to read...

OpenAI Founder Rejects Elon Musk’s Bid to Buy Nonprofit

OpenAI founder Sam Altman rejected a reported $100 billion bid by Elon Musk and a group of investors to buy the AI giant, ratcheting up the stakes in the war for the future of the technology. Musk and a consortium of investors offered $97.4 billion to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, their lawyer Marc Toberoff said. The unsolicited bid was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. “It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was,” Musk said in a statement through Toberoff, according to The Wall Street Journal. “We will make sure that happens.” Altman quickly slapped down the reported offer in a post on X, writing, “no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” Click here to read...

Developers Build More Efficient Simulations and AI Models

The neural network artificial intelligence models used in applications like medical image processing and speech recognition perform operations on hugely complex data structures that require an enormous amount of computation to process. This is one reason deep-learning models consume so much energy. To improve the efficiency of AI models, MIT researchers created an automated system that enables developers of deep learning algorithms to simultaneously take advantage of two types of data redundancy. This reduces the amount of computation, bandwidth, and memory storage needed for machine learning operations. Click here to read...