5 September 2024

• Science and Technology: The Centre launched the BioE3 Policy to transform manufacturing through biotechnology across bio-chemicals, smart proteins and climate-resilient agriculture.
• S&T: The Vigyan Dhara Scheme unified science funding under DST with a focus on researcher development and gender parity.
• Economy: Data on Gross Fixed Capital Formation showed a projected decline despite 7 per cent GDP growth, with urban youth unemployment at 17 per cent.
• Defence: India unveiled its first indigenous combat UAV, the FWD 200B, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance vehicle developed in Bengaluru.

GS area: Economy, Science and Technology

The Union Cabinet approved the BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment), a framework to transition India's manufacturing sector toward biotechnology-based processes.

• Core focus areas: Bio-chemicals, smart proteins and functional foods, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture and carbon-neutral circular bioeconomy, and marine and space biotechnology applications.
• Budget 2024-25 allocation: Rs 2,251 crore for biotechnology.
• Current status: India ranks among the top 12 global biotech destinations. It is third in the Asia-Pacific region. The bioeconomy was valued at $130 billion in 2024 with a target of $300 billion by 2030.
• Infrastructure: 9 biotech parks and 60 bio-incubators established across the country.
• Agriculture link: Fifty-five per cent of India's land is dedicated to agriculture. The policy's climate-resilient agriculture strand targets drought-tolerant, high-yield crop varieties developed through biotechnology.
• Bio-RIDE Scheme: The Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development scheme is the financing arm, covering R&D, industrial development and biomanufacturing.

Static linkage: Biotechnology, Make in India, science and technology policy.

GS area: Governance, Science and Technology

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched the Vigyan Dhara Scheme to unify multiple scientific research funding streams under a single umbrella.

• Focus areas: Research and development enhancement, researcher capacity building, gender parity in scientific careers, sustainable energy and water research.
• Policy alignment: The scheme aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, which targets a developed India by the centenary of independence.
• Gender parity push: Vigyan Dhara explicitly includes gender parity as a stated objective, recognising that women remain underrepresented in Indian scientific institutions.
• DST's role: The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal ministry for civilian science and technology. The Ministry of Earth Sciences, ISRO and DRDO operate separately from DST.

Static linkage: Science and technology policy, Viksit Bharat 2047.

GS area: Economy

Data from the World Bank projected a decline in India's Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) for FY25 despite a 7 per cent GDP growth estimate.

• GFCF definition: The total value of additions to fixed assets (infrastructure, machinery, equipment, buildings) in a given period. It measures the economy's productive capacity building. Higher GFCF signals investment-led growth.
• Urban youth unemployment: Stood at 17 per cent in the relevant measurement period, a figure that undercuts the headline GDP number.
• Primary driver: Public infrastructure investment and household real estate spending have been the main GFCF contributors. Private corporate investment has been cautious.
• Policy tension: A declining GFCF alongside high GDP growth suggests the growth may be consumption-driven rather than investment-driven, which is less sustainable over the long term.

Static linkage: National accounts, investment and savings, employment (Economy).

GS area: Science and Technology, Security

Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA), a Bengaluru startup, unveiled the FWD 200B, described as India's first indigenous combat drone.

• Classification: Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle.
• Specifications: Cruise altitude 12,000 feet; maximum altitude 15,000 feet; speed 250 km/h; range 800 km; endurance 7 hours.
• Payload: Optical surveillance payloads and weapons-capable hardpoints.
• Strategic significance: India imports a large share of its military drone fleet. Indigenous MALE combat drones would reduce dependence on Israeli Heron drones and US-origin systems.
• DRDO context: DRDO's own MALE drone programme (Rustom-2, now Tapas) has faced delays. The FWDA drone represents private sector entry into a domain previously dominated by DRDO.

Static linkage: Drone policy, Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence, Make in India.

GS area: Science and Technology, Governance (health)

The National One Health Mission (NOHM) conducted a mock drill called VISHANU YUDDH ABHYAS to evaluate preparedness for zoonotic disease outbreaks.

• Zoonosis: Diseases that transmit from animals to humans. Examples include Ebola, SARS, MERS, Nipah, bird flu, rabies and brucellosis.
• One Health concept: Recognises that human health, animal health and environmental health are interconnected and must be managed together. The WHO, FAO and OIE (WOAH) jointly promote the One Health approach.
• Participating agencies: National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• Exercise components: Simulated virus identification, outbreak containment protocols and independent monitoring.

Static linkage: Epidemiology, zoonotic diseases, health governance.

GS area: Economy (infrastructure), Science and Technology

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) began piloting a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) based electronic toll collection system alongside the existing FASTag system.

• How it works: GNSS detects a vehicle's location and movement using satellite signals. Unlike FASTag (which charges at fixed toll plazas), GNSS enables distance-based charging.
• Advantage: Eliminates stops at toll plazas. Vehicles are charged based on actual distance travelled on a national highway.
• Initial rollout: Dedicated GNSS lanes at 100 toll plazas. The system runs alongside FASTag during the transition.
• Ministry: MoRTH is responsible. Monitoring uses GIS-based software for congestion tracking.
• Infrastructure requirement: A runway of approximately 300 metres for smooth vehicle operations at GNSS-enabled plazas.

Static linkage: Road transport, tolling policy, FASTag, India's infrastructure buildout.

• 'Black Coat Syndrome': A term describing the anxiety and financial burden citizens face in judicial settings. Raised in the context of the National Conference of District Judiciary. Highlights access-to-justice gaps for marginalised communities.
• Central Vigilance Commission 2023 report: Total complaints received were 74,203, with 66,373 resolved. Railway employees (10,447 complaints) topped the categories, followed by Delhi local bodies (7,665) and public sector banks (7,004).