Science and Technology (S&T) Digest (1-15 April 2025), Issue 59

Dr Saroj Bishoyi, Senior Fellow, VIF

May 13 , 2025 Views: 432 Comments: 0

In this Issue

I. Defence and Security

Defence Exports Surge to a Record High of Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25

Defence exports have surged to a record high of Rs 23,622 crore (approx. US$ 2.76 Billion) in the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25. A growth of Rs 2,539 crore or 12.04 per cent has been registered in the just-concluded FY over the defence exports figures of FY 2023-24, which were Rs 21,083 crore. The Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have shown a significant increase of 42.85 per cent in their exports in the FY 2024-25 reflecting the growing acceptability of Indian products in the global market and the ability of the Indian defence industry to be a part of the global supply chain. The private sector and DPSUs have contributed Rs 15,233 crore and Rs 8,389 crore respectively in defence exports of 2024-25, whereas the corresponding figures for FY 2023-24 were Rs 15,209 crore and Rs 5,874 crore respectively. Click here to read…

Flight-tests of Army version of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Conducted

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army conducted four successful flight-tests of the Army version of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on 03 & 04 April 2025. The four operational flight-trials were carried out against high-speed aerial targets. The missiles intercepted the aerial targets and destroyed them, registering direct hits. The trials were carried out to intercept four targets at long-range, short-range, high altitude and low altitude, proving the operational capability. The flight-tests were carried out with the weapon system in operational condition. Click here to read…

Project for Design & Development of 6MW Medium Speed Marine Diesel Engine

Project Sanction Order under Make-I category for the Design and Development of 6MW Medium Speed Marine Diesel Engine has been inked between Indian Navy and Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited. The signing took place in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan at South Block, New Delhi on 2 April 2025. The prototype diesel engine with indigenous content of over 50 per cent will be developed at a cost of Rs 270 crore with 70 per cent funding from the Government of India. The order also includes development of detailed design for 3-10MW diesel engine. The developed engines will be used for Main Propulsion and Power Generation on ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. Click here to read…

Global Trade Tensions Expose Flaws in 'Just-in-Time' Supply Chains

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that many trade restrictions and tariff wars, the dangers of overreliance on foreign components and logistics networks and the drawbacks of the 'Just in Time approach' have become visible. RM Singh, who was addressing an event at Manekshaw Centre, said the government's aim was to prepare the force for the future. In his address to senior Defence officers and representatives of private companies involved in defence manufacturing, he said that until a few years ago, defence companies around the world were dependent on globalised and complex supply chains for their manufacturing, which were scattered across many countries. Click here to read…

DRDO’s Waterjet Propulsion System Completes Preliminary Sea Trials

The DRDO 651 kW Waterjet Propulsion System, designed by Larsen Turbo under the Technology Development Fund scheme, has successfully completed preliminary sea trials aboard the Indian Navy’s Fast Interceptor Craft. Earlier on 13 April in a major success for the country, India joined the select League of Nations, including the US, China and Russia, with the capability of shooting down fixed-wing drones and swarm drones using a high-energy 30kilowatt laser beam. The successful trial of the Mk-II(A) Laser- Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system was showcased at the National Open-Air Range (NOAR), Kurnool, mastering the technology of disabling missiles, drones and smaller projectiles, (DRDO officials toldANI. Click here to read…

II. STI in Space Sector

ISRO’s Space Applications Centre

Space Applications Centre (SAC), is a major and unique multi–disciplinary research and development Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). SAC today stands high in each of its endeavour with its strong space research & development capabilities and continues to deliver world-class technologies and applications for various national, strategic, societal and technology demonstration missions of ISRO. These applications are in diverse areas and primarily meet the communication, navigation and remote sensing needs of the country. Located at Ahmedabad, SAC is spread across three campuses having multi-disciplinary activities apart from Delhi Earth Station (DES), which is located in New Delhi. Click here to read…

Reducing Dependence on Foreign Satellite Broadband Providers

A fleet of 19 communication satellites are operational over India and these satellites support the telecommunications, broadband and broadcasting services as well as societal and strategic communications. The space sector reforms have enabled larger participation of non-governmental entities for building/leasing, owning and operating the satellite systems for providing satellite-based services. More than 10 satellite operators have shown interest and applied for authorization for providing the satellite capacity over India. With more players in the market, the entire country would get enhanced satellite capacity and the competitive price advantage. Government is encouraging and enabling Indian entities to establish the space assets for broadband services. Click here to read…

Using Remote Sensing Data for Social Development and Disaster Management

Remote sensing data and space technology are widely employed for societal development activities/ programmes. The space technology is utilized in many of the government programmes targeting rural and remote areas of the country. The details of major programmes utilizing space-based inputs are: Geospatial technology for supporting MGNREGA Programme (Geo- MGNREGA): The creation of assets and activities under the MGNREGA programme, are being monitored through Satellite data, Geoportal and mobile applications. Integrated Watershed Management Programme: ISRO/ DOS has implemented Geospatial solution for monitoring of about 86,000 micro-watersheds under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (PMKSY-WDC 1.0). Click here to read…

Establishment of Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota

A Third Launch Pad (TLP) will be established at Sriharikota. The project has been approved by the Union Cabinet and financial sanction has been obtained for a total budget outlay of ₹3984.86 Crore. Establishment of the pad is envisaged to be completed within 4 years timeframe. ISRO’s Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which is under development is about 90 m tall with a maximum lift-off mass of approximately 1000 tonne. Existing launch pads at Sriharikota cannot launch this class of vehicles. The propellant servicing facilities and the Umbilical Tower of the existing launch pads are not designed to meet the requirements of the new propulsion system based on Liquid Methane. Click here to read…

Expanding India-EU Space Cooperation and Security

Marjolijn Van Deelen, Special Envoy for Space, European External Action Service, has expressed the EU's willingness to discuss with Indian partners how they can further work together on space cooperation and security. In an interview withANI, Deelan noted that India and the EU can do a lot of things together as they are both top-tier space-faring nations. She called it crucial to keep space secure for all nations in the world. When asked how Indi and EU can work together in space sector, Marjolijn Van Deelen said, “The EU has an EU space programme, so we are ready to come and sit down with our Indian partners to discuss how we can take this further, both in terms of space cooperation but also looking at space security because it is crucial that we keep space secure for all nations in the world and also for future generations, we need to be able to have access.” Click here to read…

III. Nuclear Technology

Operational Nuclear Power Plants in India

Presently, there are 25 operational nuclear power plants in the country with a total capacity of 8880 MW. India is pursuing a three-stage nuclear power programme, for optimum utilization of its limited uranium resources and exploit vast thorium resources for long term energy security, by following nearly closed nuclear fuel cycle wherein the spent fuel from reactors is treated as resource material and not waste. India has developed expertise in backend fuel cycle of pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs). The Programme of Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD&ER) is linked to the front end of nuclear fuel cycle, wherein exploration is carried out to identify, evaluate and augment atomic mineral resources to cater the need of Nuclear Power Programme of India. Click here to read…

Share of Nuclear Power in India’s Energy Basket to Increase

The share of nuclear power in the country’s energy basket is proposed to be increased by augmenting the installed nuclear power capacity. A large nuclear power expansion programme of 13,600 MW is under implementation which is expected to increase the nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-32. Further, the Government has announced an ambitious Nuclear Energy mission with a target of reaching a nuclear power capacity of 100 GW by 2047. This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 3 April 2025. Click here to read…

Indigenous Nuclear Reactor RAPP- 8 on Advanced Stage of Commissioning

Units-3&4 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS-3&4), the first pair of indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) setup at Kakrapar in Gujarat are already operational, having commenced commercial operation on 30 June 2023 and 31 March 2024 respectively. Two units of 700 MW indigenous PHWRs were sanctioned to be setup at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan (RAPP-7&8, 2X700 MW). One of the units, RAPP-7 has been connected to the grid on 17 March 2025, while RAPP- 8 is under advanced stage of commissioning and is expected to be completed in 2025-26. Click here to read…

Sufficient Uranium Resources Exist, However Investments Needed

Sufficient uranium resources exist to support both the continued use of nuclear power and its significant growth through 2050 and beyond. However, timely investments in new exploration, mining operations and processing techniques will be essential to ensure that uranium becomes available to the market when needed. These are among the main findings of the latest edition of Uranium – Resources, Production and Demand 2024, commonly known as the "Red Book", an essential global reference prepared jointly every two years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Click here to read…

Harnessing Science and Partnerships to Transform the Millet Sector

Millets thrive on arid lands, require minimal inputs, and are highly tolerant to climate variability—making them a sustainable solution for enhancing self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imported cereals. Recognizing their critical role in addressing global security and climate resilience, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). While the Food and Agriculture Organization spearheaded global efforts to raise awareness of the importance of these nutrient-rich, climate-resilient crops, the International Atomic Energy Agency, with its dedicated laboratories managed through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture continued to dedicate some its research and development to these crops. Click here to read…

IV. Emerging Technologies and Applications

AI-Powered Aadhaar Face Authentication Sees Over 130.5 Crore Transactions

The AI and machine learning (ML) based Aadhaar Face Authentication solutions developed in house by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been witnessing a massive growth with over 78 per cent of the total transactions coming alone in the FY 25 fiscal year, ended 31 March 2025. Since the face authentication solution was introduced in October 2022, UIDAI has recorded a cumulative transaction number of over 130.5 crore, of which close to 102 crores have been recorded in the 2024-25 financial year. It indicates the growing usage, adoption of this solution and how it is benefiting Aadhaar number holders seamlessly. In the past 3 months (January-March), nearly 39.5 crore face authentication transactions have been recorded. Click here to read…

Digital Identities to Farmers

The Indian Government has approved the Digital Agriculture Mission in September 2024 with a total outlay of Rs. 2817 Crores. The Mission envisages the creation of a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture, such as AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System and a comprehensive Soil Fertility & Profile Map to enable a robust digital agriculture ecosystem in the country. This, in turn, would drive innovative farmer-centric digital solutions and make reliable crop-related information available to all farmers on time. The Government has targeted to generate Farmer IDs of 11 crore Farmers in the country by 2026-27 and to conduct Digital Crop Survey in all the States/UTs from Kharif 2025. Click here to read…

Initiatives to Facilitate the Development of 6GTechnology in India

The government has released Bharat 6G Vision Document in March 2023 with the objectives to design, develop and deploy 6G network technologies that provide ubiquitous intelligent and secure connectivity for high quality living experience for the world to position India as a global leader in 6G technology by 2030. The Government has taken following initiative to facilitate the development of 6G technology in the country: Funding two testbeds namely 6G THz Testbed & Advance Optical Communication Test Bed to promote R&D and innovation in the country. Sanctioned 100 5G labs at academic institutions in FY 2023- 24, across India for capacity building & for building a 6G ready academic and start-up ecosystem in the country. Click here to read…

Measures for Digital Infrastructure Upgradation in Villages

The BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages beyond GPs on demand basis across the country. For providing a reliable network to ensure quality internet for the users, amended BharatNet program approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 August 2023 has inter-alia provisions to upgrade existing BharatNet network in ring architecture, focus on utilization of the network through BharatNet Udyamis, BSNL is appointed as the single Project Management Agency (PMA) under Amended BharatNet program for Operation & Maintenance of the entire network based on Service Level Agreement (SLA), Dedicated Network Operation Centre, etc. Click here to read…

Chip Manufacturing with Fiscal Support, Global MoU & Talent Development

Government has approved Semicon India programme with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India. which provides: Fiscal support of 50 per cent of the project cost on pari-passu basis for setting up of Silicon Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) based Semiconductor Fabs in India. Further, to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing and creating a semiconductor ecosystem in the country, Government has entered in Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with USA, European Union, Japan and Singapore. Semiconductor manufacturing is very complex and Technology intensive sector which requires specialized skilled manpower. Click here to read…

V. International Cooperation

India-Italy Partnership in Innovation, AI, Super Computers, Space & Defence

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani, while addressing the ‘Italy-India Business, Science and Technology Forum’ said that this forum is part of the strategic partnership plan signed by both the governments. “India is an important country for stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Stability is crucial to strengthen the trade,” he emphasized. Addressing the forum, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that innovation, AI, super computers, space technology, defence are a few sectors which have potential for joint partnerships and both countries should work to attract investments in these areas. Click here to read…

Apple Increased its iPhone Production in India to $22 billion in FY 2025

Apple has significantly increased its iPhone production in India to $22 billion in the Fiscal Year ending March 2025, representing a 60 per cent jump from the previous year, according to a recentBloomberg report. The Cupertino giant now manufactures one in five iPhones in India, marking a substantial shift away from its traditional Chinese manufacturing base. Of the total Indian production, approximately $17.4 billion worth of iPhones were exported from the country during this period, as confirmed by India’s technology minister on 8 April. The production boost follows disruptions in China caused by harsh COVID lockdowns that affected Apple’s largest manufacturing plant. Click here to read…

India-Chile Critical Minerals and Emerging Technology Cooperation

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President of the Republic of Chile, Mr. Gabriel Boric Font was on a State visit to India from 1-5 April, 2025, commemorating the completion of 76 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two leaders recognised the strategic importance of critical minerals for emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy transitions. The two sides agreed to accelerate collaboration in exploration, mining and processing along with research and development to promote investment across the entire critical mineral value chain for mutual benefit. They stressed on the need for building trusted and resilient supply chains including for critical minerals and advanced materials. Click here to read…

India-Thailand Defence and Strategic Partnership

During 03-04 April 2025, Prime Minister Modi paid an Official Visit to Thailand and participated in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, on the invitation of Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. In the Joint Statement, the two sides agreed to strengthen the existing mechanisms of defence cooperation, as well as to promote further collaboration between the defence sectors of the two countries, with particular emphasis on defence technology, defence industry, research, training, exchanges, exercises and capacity building including by establishing appropriate mechanisms. Enhance security cooperation through regular dialogues and exchanges between the respective security and law enforcement agencies/ organisations. Click here to read…

India-UK Advancing Defence Capability Collaboration

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh co-chaired the 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group Meet with his UK counterpart, David Williams, in London on 17 April 2025. The discussions focused on strengthening military cooperation between India and the UK and advancing defence capability collaboration. David Williams welcomed Rajesh Kumar Singh to London for the 24th UK-India Defence Consultative Group. Commodore Chris Saunders, the Defence Advisor at the UK High Commission in India, shared the details regarding the meeting on X. Click here to read…

VI. Regional and Global Trends

Training LLMs To Self-Detoxify Their Language

Large Language Models (LLMs) – which are trained on extensive, public datasets and therefore often have biases and toxic language baked in – can gain a capacity to moderate their own language. A new method from MIT, the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, and IBM Research, called self-disciplined autoregressive sampling (SASA), allows LLMs to detoxify their own outputs, without sacrificing fluency. Unlike other detoxifying methods, this decoding algorithm learns a boundary between toxic/nontoxic subspaces within the LLM’s own internal representation, without altering the parameters of the model, the need for retraining, or an external reward model. Click here to read…

Apple’s iPhone Cost Could Rise 90 Per Cent If It’s Made in US

It’s possible for Apple Inc. to move iPhone production to America, but it would almost double the cost of making the device while creating logistical headaches, according to Bank of America. “iPhone cost can increase 25% purely on higher labour cost in the US,” BofA analysts led by Wamsi Mohan wrote in a note. While the tech giant can find domestic labour for assembly, a “significant portion” of parts used in manufacturing the iPhone would still be assembled in China and imported to the US, they added. Assuming Apple has to pay reciprocal tariffs on those imports, its total cost would rise 90% or more, they estimated. The estimate comes as President Donald Trump zeros in on China for his trade fight. Click here to read…

ASML CEO Says Global Geopolitical Tensions Harm Innovation

ASML Holding NV, the sole producer of the most advanced machines used in semiconductor manufacturing, said geopolitical tensions are harming innovation a day after US President Donald Trump levied massive tariffs that promise to disrupt trade flows across the entire world. “Our industry has been built basically on the ability of people to work together, to innovate together,” ASML chief executive officer Christophe Fouquet said in a recorded message at an industry event in the Netherlands. Export controls and increasing geopolitical tensions challenge that collaboration, he said, without specifically addressing the new US tariffs. Click here to read…

New AI Fund in China to Pour US$8 billion Into Early-Stage Projects

China has disclosed details about a 60-billion-yuan (US$8.2 billion) state fund aimed at early-stage investments in artificial intelligence (AI) projects, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to advancing the industry through state-led investments. Zhang Jianhua, an official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology overseeing the fund, said at a conference in Shenzhen that the AI Industry Investment Fund was established in January under the guidance of the industry and finance ministries, the state-run Shanghai Securities News reported. The fund will support China’s state-led strategy through equity investments, with contributions from Phase III of the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, the state-backed fund aimed at supporting chip industry investment, according to Zhang. Click here to read…

US, China Trade War Exposes Tech Vulnerabilities

President Trump announced that he would raise import taxes on China to 125 percent, sending tech firms scrambling to offset the impact on their prices. While some companies may try to shift production to the U.S., industry observers say consumers will feel price hikes as the extra costs get passed to some of their most-used products. “China (is) the source for many of the electronics that are made. China has built up this massive supply chain and a manufacturing ecosystem that makes it efficient for them to produce electronics of all sorts,” Rick Kowalski, the senior director of business intelligence for the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), toldThe Hill. Much of the attention is on Apple, which sits at the “eye of the tariff storm,” said Dan Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities. Click here to read…