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Achievements of India in Science and Technology-
Indigenisation of Technology
By Dr. Roman Saini
What is Indigenization?
● Indigenization of technology implies the process of making tools, techniques, machines, devices, etc. that are developed and nurtured in India by Indians with the help of Indian knowledge, intellect and ideas.
● In other words, indigenization of technology is the capability to design, develop, produce, manufacture or supply a technology or a service to make India self-reliant and self-sufficient as well.
Benefits of Indigenization
● The most visible benefit to make any technology indigenous is to make it suitable for the Indian people and their specific requirements.
● Specially the particular local environment where any borrowed or adopted technological intervention cannot be so beneficial as it should be.
● Indigenization can benefit through creating a competitive advantage over other countries in developing and vending our technologies and products to them.
Importance of Indigenous Technology
● It is required to make India self-reliant in technologies that are necessary for social and economic prosperity.
● And in this way, it paves the way to reduce the reliance on the foreign manufactures and suppliers.
● The indigenization of any technology is also considered to save huge money towards intellectual property rights.
● Specially in defence, indigenization of technology can be proved as a great tool to make our defence system strong and more confidential to protect from dangerous elements.
Areas where Indigenization is most relevant
To make India, a developed country, indigenization of different technologies are the need of the hour. It is most relevant for the following main areas of development:
● Agriculture and farming
● Animal husbandry and ethnic veterinary medicine
● Use and management of natural resources
● Energy security
● Primary health care (PHC), preventive medicine and psychosocial care
● Saving and lending of money
● Community development
● Poverty alleviation
● Primary and Secondary education
● Internal security
● Defence equipments etc.
Promotion of Indigenous Technology by GoI
● The Government has taken a number of initiatives to promote indigenous technologies.
● Some important initiatives by different departments are given below:
Department of Science & Technology
● The DoST has been focusing on development of convergent technology solutions including technology demonstrations.
● Focused areas for development and deployment of technology solutions under the department are the following:
1. Water
2. Solar energy
3. Nanotechnology
4. Affordable healthcare
5. Potash based fertilizer
6. Homeland security
7. Bamboo based construction materials
● This department also facilitates the validation, demonstration, popularization of the proven technologies that are necessary for larger benefit of the people.
● This is done through its State Science & Technology Programme. ● Industry-institutional-collaborative projects are supported before
commercialization by the department.● These projects aim for the development of prototype/ pilot scale units to
study cost benefit ratio through programmes like ○ Technology Systems Development ○ Instrumentation Development ○ Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research (DPRP) ○ Small Business Innovative Research Initiatives (SBIRI) of DST/DBT
● National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad has assigned the following task to promote the innovation and researches as
○ To conduct biennial national competitions for grass-root level,
○ To promote green technologies developed by farmers, mechanics, artisans and
○ To validate these innovations and help to protect their Intellectual Property.
● Besides, soft loans for promoting inventions of commercially viable technologies are offered by Technology Development Board (TDB).
● Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) facilitates promotion of indigenous technologies in collaboration with Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC).
● In addition, TIFAC also provides support for promotion of innovative technology/products through its Technology Refinement and Marketing Programme (TREMAP).
Department of Biotechnology
● The programmes related to medical technologies and biodesign innovation has been formulated and implemented in large numbers to make healthcare affordable and accessible.
● These programmes include
○ Stanford-India Biodesign programme;
○ Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre;
○ Centre for Bioscience and Bioengineering; and
○ Centre for Biodesign and in-vitro diagnostics.
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
● DSIR has launched “Patent Acquisition and Collaborative Research and Technology Development (PACE)” scheme in the 12th Five Year Plan.
● This scheme envisaged to support Indian industries to acquire patented technology at an early stage and add value to the acquired technology, either independently or in collaboration with public funded research institutions in India or abroad.
● In this way, it is useful for exploitation in Indian/foreign markets, and develop “Made in India” innovative and socially relevant products for public consumption.
● Innovation Complexes of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) also enhance innovation ecosystem in the respective region and promote the platform technologies in the identified areas.
● In addition, it facilitate Micro Small and Medium Sector Enterprises (MSMEs) in the designated fields through innovative inputs from inception to the fully developed stage.
● National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) is another agency that encourages invention promotion, leverages innovations and inventions for competitiveness through its activities.
Measures to Promote Indigenization through R&D
Supply Side Measures
1. Reorientation of the administrative and legal infrastructure
2. Setup Research and Development units within Indian territory
3. Financial incentives to the leading agencies and others
4. Promotion of higher education to increase scientists and engineers
Demand Side
1. Tightening of patent laws and regulations to protect IPR
2. Restructuring of existing public research institutes and setting up of new institutes for latest technological developments
3. Introduction of the Fair Trade Act
4. Promotion of SMEs in technological intervention
5. Upgradation of public procurement policy
Obstacles to Indigenization
● India has yet to overcome a number of hurdles to achieve the indigenization of desired and relevant technologies for the nation’s development.
● The major problems to indigenisation can be counted as follows:
○ Level of development - Education, research and development etc.
○ Geopolitical constraints - Treaties, Agreements, Patents, etc.
○ Administrative incoherence - Procurement policies, governance structure, execution delay, funding etc.
Achievements in Technology for Healthcare
● Since independence, India has innovated and developed most important devices, machines, vaccines etc. to facilitate the Indian healthcare system.
● Some major achievements for healthcare are:○ Vaccines○ Generic Drugs○ High quality artificial limbs like foot etc.○ ECG machine○ Test strips for diabetics, ○ Diagnosis kit for TB/H1N1 etc.
● Life expectancy, Child mortality rate, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and total fertilization rate have also been reduced since independence to a great extent.
● At present, India is being considered a leading Vaccine Manufacturing Hub by most of the countries. Some indigenously developed vaccines are discussed below:
Rotavirus vaccine:
● The first indigenous Rotavirus Vaccine has been indigenously developed from an Indian strain 116E.
● The rotavirus vaccine, named ROTAVAC has been developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech under the Public Private Partnership mode by the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
● ROTAVAC significantly reduced severe rotavirus diarrhoea of any cause in low resource areas of India.
● It has been developed at $1 per dose (about Rs.54/-) and has been cleared for market license.
Malaria Vaccine:
● Malaria Vaccine Development Programme (MVDP) has been designed to promote the development of vaccines against P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria.
Dengue Vaccine:
● Department of Biotechnology is supporting the group at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) for developing a safe, efficacious and inexpensive tetravalent dengue vaccine.
● The recombinant EDIII-based sub-unit dengue vaccine candidate is being developed in the form of VLPs using the yeast P. pastoris as an expression host.
Other Achievements:
● Smallpox was eradicated in India in 1977.
● India has been certified polio free in March 2014.
● The introduction of IPV in addition to the oral polio vaccine (OPV) will provide long lasting protection to the population against the virus after its eradication.
● Infrastructure for diagnosis & treatment of human genetic disorders has been significantly augmented in India since independence.
● A major flagship programme on International Cancer Genome (ICG) specific to Oral Cancer is under implementation.
IT Initiatives for Healthcare:
● NIKSHAY: A case based web based reporting system has been established to capture all TB cases in the public health system.
● 99DOTS: It has been implemented wherein patient just has to give a missed call to a toll free number and the system captures the adherence information.
● MERA ASPATAAL: MoHFW has designed an ICT-based Patient Satisfaction System (PSS) for implementation in public and empanelled private hospitals.
● A multi-channel approach i.e. web portal, mobile application, Short Message Service (SMS) and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) is being used to collect patients’ feedback.
● The application automatically contacts the patient to collect information on patient’s experience in government hospitals.
● ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM (ORS): It is a framework to link various hospitals for online registration, payment of fees and appointment, online diagnostic reports, ensuring availability of blood online, etc.
● M-DIABETES: a mobile health initiative for the prevention and care of diabetes by MoHFW.
Mobile Apps:
● Indradhanush Immunization Mobile App: For immunisation tracker.
● India Fights Dengue Mobile App: Enables a user to check Dengue Symptoms, get nearest Hospital / Blood bank information and also share feedback.
● NHP Swasth Bharat Mobile App: Information dissemination on Disease, Lifestyle, First Aid.
● NHP Directory Services Mobile App: Provides information related to Hospital and Blood banks across India.
● No More Tension Mobile App: Information on stress management related aspects.
● Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) Mobile App: For reporting pregnancy care related information from across states.
APSARA –U
● APSARA-U became operational in Trombay in 2018.
● It is an upgraded version of APSARA.
● APSARA was the first research reactor in Asia which became operational in Trombay campus of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in August 1956.
● The reactor was shut down in 2009.
● APSARA-U is a swimming pool type research reactor which has been made indigenously.
● APSARA-U uses plate type dispersion fuel elements made of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU).
● By virtue of higher neutron flux, this reactor will increase indigenous production or radio-isotopes for medical application by about fifty percent.
● It has a maximum power output of one megawatt thermal (MWT).
● It can be utilized for various experiments, including neutron activation analysis, radiation damage studies, forensic research, neutron radiography, and shielding experiments.
● It would also be extensively used for research in nuclear physics, material science and radiation shielding.
Achievement in Technology for Defence
● In an effort to attain a greater measure of self- sufficiency through the indigenization, a large number of Ordnance Factories and Defence Public sector units have been set up across India since independence.
● Besides, the Department of Research and Development Organisation was set up to develop critical defence technologies with emphasis on development of major defence systems.
● The Department operates through a network of laboratories and establishments under the Ministry of Defence.
Indigenous Technologies Developed by DRDO are following:
● Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
● Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR-SAM)
● Surface to Surface Missile System
● Electronic Warfare System Shakti
● Hull Mounted Sonar- New Generation
● Varunastra Torpedo
● Commander’s Thermal Imaging Sight for T-90
● NBC Protection System for BMP 2/2K
● Low Level Light Weight Radar Mk-II
● Multi Mission Maritime Aircraft
● Akash Weapon System
● 7 Ton Heavy Drop System
● Electro-Optical Fire Control System for Naval Ships
● Mareech- Anti Torpedo Decoy System
● Abhay Sonar
● Near Field Acoustic Characterization System (NACS)
● Advanced Indigenous Distress Sonar System (AIDSS) for Submarines.
Achievements in Technology for Space
● India has come a long way in the indigenization of space technology and today India has registered its presence among the top six space faring nations in the world.
● The most important achievement in space science and technology are as:
Indian Cryogenic Engine & Stage and GSLV - D5
● In 2014, the successful flight testing of indigenous cryogenic stage onboard GSLV-D5 flight has been a major landmark technological milestone in achieving self-reliance in India’s Cryogenic Launch Vehicle technology.
Mars Orbiter Mission:
● MOM was the India’s first interplanetary mission launched on 5th November 2013.
● The Mars Orbiter Spacecraft was successfully launched onboard PSLV-C25.
● It made India one of the four nations in the world to send a space mission to Planet Mars.
PSLV – A Workhorse Launch Vehicle
● India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has given the country the crucial autonomy in ‘access to space’.
● The successful launch of India’s first Interplanetary Mission to Mars as well India’s first Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-1 was credited to PSLV.
● Besides, it has a proven track record of 24 successful flights.
Space Capsule Recovery
● A leap-frog in Indian Launch Vehicle Technology was achieved in 2007 through the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment Mission SRE-1.
● It has established India’s technological capability to recover an orbiting satellite with precise re-entry trajectories.
● SRE-1 demonstrated several advanced technologies such as thermal protection system, deceleration and recovery system, etc.; of relevance for future Human Space Flights.
India’s Mission to Moon
● India’s maiden moon exploration mission ‘Chandrayaan-1’ was launched in October 2008 with the objective of mapping the lunar surface with high resolution remote sensing and study the chemical and mineralogical composition.
● This mission has enabled detection of the presence of Hydroxyl (OH), a molecule consisting of oxygen and hydrogen atoms and water molecules on the lunar surface.
● It has set new directions of lunar explorations in the global community.
Chandrayaan 2
● It is the second lunar mission launched recently by the ISRO.
● It consisted of a lunar orbiter, the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan lunar rover, all of which were developed in India.
● The main scientific objective is to map and study the variations in lunar surface composition, as well as the location and abundance of lunar water.
● It was launched by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III).
Satellite Navigation
● India is pursuing satellite navigation programme to provide position and navigation information for various applications.
● Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is being developed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary.
● The first satellite of this 7-satellite constellation, IRNSS 1A was successfully launched in July 2013.
Remote Sensing Satellites
● The Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) System is one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation in the world today.
● It provides inputs for management of natural resources and various developmental projects across the country using space based imagery.
● IRS Satellites provide data of varied spatial resolutions and improved repetivity to suit many spectra of applications.
Cartography Satellite
● In 2007, the advanced cartography satellite, Cartosat-2, was launched.
● It has enhanced the imaging capability to sub-meter high resolution in tune with the global trend and provided immense services for cartographic applications useful for our local needs.
Satellite for Oceans
● In September 2009, Oceansat-2 satellite was launched.
● The Scatterometer on Oceansat-2 satellite is the only operational instrument that provides data not only for India but also for the global agencies like NASA and NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) of US.
GAGAN
● ISRO and Airports Authority of India have jointly taken up GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) programme, as a forerunner for the operational Satellite based Augmentation System (SBAS) over the Indian Airspace.
● GAGAN payloads are already incorporated in GSAT 8 and GSAT 10 satellites.
The areas that have been benefited with the utilization of indigenous space technology and its applications are following:● Resource monitoring, ● Weather forecasting, ● Telecommunication, ● Broadcasting, ● Rural connectivity, ● Health & education, ● Governance, ● Disaster management support, ● Location based services, ● Space commerce including host of societal applications.
GROWTH
● GROWTH is expanded as Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen.
● It is an international scientific collaborative project in astronomy studying the physics of fast-changing events in the cosmos.
● It mainly focuses on three scientific themes
○ cosmic explosions (supernovae)
○ small near-earth asteroids
○ electromagnetic identification of gravitational wave sources
● GROWTH is led by Caltech and has partnered with thirteen universities and research institutions - five in the USA and eight spread across the world in India, Sweden, Taiwan, Japan, Israel, Germany and the UK.
● It jointly operates 18 observatories in the northern hemisphere.
● As the earth rotates and daylight creeps in at one of the locations, observations are switched to the facilities which still enjoy nighttime.
● Nighttime is chosen as daylight obliterates the view of the beyond.
● In India, the telescope is situated at Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle in Ladakh.
GROWTH-India
● It is India’s first robotic telescope and started operation in 2018.
● It is a joint project of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB).
● It also has the distinction of being situated at the one of the world’s highest astronomical observatories at 4,500 meters.
● A large telescope is designed for long-range, precise focus. A small one covers a wider field covering a larger, closer area for longer.
● This telescope has a field that is five to six times larger.
● It can ‘slew’ or move its focus from one part of the sky to another in just about 10-15 seconds and its camera can view stellar objects that are thousands to millions of light years away.
First observation
● It made its first science observation in 2018, follow-up study of a nova explosion.
● This recurrent nova, named M31N-2008, has been observed to erupt several times.
● The most recent eruption happened in November 2018.
● The nova was seen to decrease in its brightness which is typical of nova explosions.
Significance
● It could help understand how heavy elements combine to form a star and what happens when stars die.
● It also may help to detect young starbursts and asteroids closer to Earth.
● It will boost India’s capabilities for tracking asteroids.
● Transient phenomena are important as the material inside a star is thrown out during such events. There is no other way that such materials can be observed.
Gaganyaan Mission
● It was announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech in 2018.
● It aims to carry a three-member crew to space by 2022.
● The mission would be an indigenous mission with an Indian crew.
● It intends to stay in space for a minimum period of 7 days.
● It is being planned as part of the Human Space Flight Programme.
● The spacecraft being developed by ISRO consists of a service module and a crew module, collectively known as the Orbital Module.
● ISRO’s GSLV Mk-III will be used to launch the mission.
● The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km.
● The capsule will rotate around the Earth every 90 minutes, and astronauts will be able to see sunrise and sunset.
● The spacecraft will take 16 minutes to reach the orbit and 36 hours to return to Earth.
● It will land in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Gujarat.
● Some of the critical technologies developed for Mission Gaganyaan by ISRO are re-entry mission capability, crew escape system, crew module configuration, thermal protection system, deceleration and flotation system and sub-systems of life support system.
● The French space agency CNES will assist ISRO in terms of expertise in various fields including space medicine, astronaut health monitoring, radiation protection and life support.
● Rs 10,000 crore budget was approved by the Union Cabinet for the space mission recently.
Significance
● It will be for the first time that India is launching its manned mission to space.
● India would then become the fourth country to sent a human to space.
Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite (HYSIS)
● The country's first hyperspectral imaging satellite, HysIS was launched in 2018.
● 30 other international co-passenger satellites were also launched with it.
● It was launched aboard PSLV-C43.
● HysIS is an Earth observation satellite.
● The primary goal of HysIS is to study the earth’s surface in the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
What is hyperspectral imaging?
● Hyperspectral imaging or hyspex imaging (imaging spectroscopy) combines the power of digital imaging and spectroscopy.
● It collects and processes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum.
● Hyspex’ imaging enables distinct identification of objects, materials or processes on Earth by reading the spectrum for each pixel of a scene from space.
● It can help to identify objects on Earth far more clearly than regular optical or remote sensing cameras.
● It is usually used for surveillance and reconnaissance in military, geophysical and marine science applications.
● Hyperspectral imaging system offers three dimensional view of objects.
● Spatial observations allow a person to observe an image when high contrast is available.
● Hyperspectral imaging allows otherwise unobservable objects to be seen with finer resolution and greater perception due to collection of information across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Applications● Agriculture● Defence- for detecting transborder or other stealthy movements, detection of
chemical or biological weapons, bomb damage assessment of underground structures
● Forestry● Assessment of coastal zones, inland waters, soil and other geological
environments● Detection of a terrain● Detection of pollution from industries● Environmental studies
Achievements in Technology for Energy Security
● The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has taken up some important programmes on various new technologies for future energy security.
● Research, development and demonstration projects have been initiated at various research, scientific and educational institutes, universities, national laboratories, industry, etc. as a part of these programmes.
● Therefore, these projects are helping in the development of indigenous research and industrial base, expertise, trained manpower and prototypes/devices/systems in the country.
● These programmes include;
a. Hydrogen Energy
b. Chemical Sources of Energy (Fuel Cells)
c. Battery Operated Vehicles
d. Geothermal Energy
e. Ocean Energy
f. Biofuels
Hydrogen Energy:
● Hydrogen is a clean fuel that does not make the environment polluted.
● The energy derived from it can be used for a broad range of applications as a possible substitute to liquid and fossil fuels.
● The Ministry has supported research, development and demonstration projects on various aspects of hydrogen energy including its production, storage and use as a fuel for generation of mechanical/ thermal/ electrical energy.
Achievements in Hydrogen Energy:
● National Hydrogen Energy Road Map has been prepared for developing National Hydrogen Energy Programme by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
● National Hydrogen Energy Programme envisages to be implemented in Public-Private partnership mode.
● The Road Map has projected that one million hydrogen fuelled vehicles would be on the Indian roads by 2020 to protect the environment.
● 1000 MW aggregate hydrogen based power generating capacity would also be set up in the country by 2020.
● Environmental friendly processes/technologies for the production of hydrogen are being developed and demonstrated.
● Materials/ alloys/ methods have been developed for storage of hydrogen as metal hydrides.
● Hydrogen based two-wheeler, three wheeler, catalytic combustion systems, fuel cell power systems, etc are being developed and demonstrated.
● Hydrogen– Compressed Natural Gas (H- CNG) dispensing station are in the process of being set up in New Delhi.
● Laboratory scale prototypes have been developed and demonstrated and these include
a. Bio-hydrogen production using distillery wastes;
b. Proton exchange membrane based electrolysers for hydrogen production through splitting of water and water methanol mixture;
c. Methanol reformer for production of hydrogen;
d. Hydrogen catalytic combustion cookers;
e. Hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines for stationary power generation; etc.
Chemical Energy
● Chemical Sources of Energy Programme has been launched by the MNRE for safe and secure mode of fuel for future.
● The main objective of the programme is the development and applications of fuel cell technology which produces electricity, water and heat through reaction between hydrogen and oxygen/ air.
● The fuel cell technology offers high conversion efficiency, modularity, compactness and noise-free operations.
Achievements in Chemical Energy:
1. Indigenous base for research & industrial production are being established.
2. Research & Development projects are leading to technology/ process/ material development, etc.
3. Prototypes of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cells (PEMFCs) and Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFCs) are being developed.
4. The application of fuel cells has been demonstrated for decentralised power generation.
5. A Fuel Cell (PEMFC)- battery hybrid van has been developed in the country and has undergone field performance evaluation.
6. 3kW capacity UPS based on PEMFC has been developed.
7. Reformer for a 10 kW PEMFC system has been developed and tested.
Hydrogen- CNG
● Delhi is preparing to roll out Hydrogen enriched CNG buses soon.
CNG and H-CNG
● CNG is Compressed Natural Gas.
● H-CNG is a cleaner version of CNG.
● It contains 18% Hydrogen and 82% CNG.
● Pune based Research Organisation, Automotive Research Association of India has shown that besides saving 5% of costs in fuel, the usage of H-CNG in BS-IV vehicles can cut down carbon di oxide emission by 70%.
● In Delhi, H-CNG is considered as an intermediary step before finally moving to fuel-cell buses.
● In fuel-cell buses, hydrogen is used to produce electricity resulting in zero emissions.
● Also, Delhi can easily switch over to H-CNG as its buses are already running on CNG. Delhi had switched to CNG in 2002.
● Thus, the existing infrastructure like buses, the piping network and dispensing stations can be used.
Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Battery project
● Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI), Tamil Nadu and RAASI Solar Power Pvt Ltd had signed an MoU for transfer of technology for India’s first Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Battery project in 2018.
● Also it was announced that India’s first lithium ion cell production project would come up in Andhra Pradesh in three phases.
● Currently, Indian manufacturers source Lithium Ion Battery from China, Japan and South Korea among some other countries.
● India is one of the largest importers of Li ion batteries.
Significance
● It will boost two flagship programmes
● increasing the share of Clean Energy in the energy basket by generating 175 Giga Watts by 2022, of which 100 Giga Watts will be Solar energy
● National Electric Mobility Mission, to switch completely to electric vehicles by 2030.
● The development of the technology is a validation of the capabilities of CSIR and its laboratories to meet technology in critical areas to support our industry, besides other sectors.
● It is also a boost to Make in India initiative.
Advantages
● They are lighter than other batteries of the same size.
● It has high energy density meaning it can store more energy in the same mass compared to other batteries.
● They hold charge without much leakage. A Li-ion battery pack loses only 5% its energy per month compare to 20% of a Nickel-metal hydride battery pack.
● They do not have memory effect which means it does not require complete discharge before charging as required in other batteries.
● It also has more charge/discharge cycles compared to other batteries.
Applications● Energy Storage Systems like hearing aids, container sized batteries● It can generate power for a cluster of villages● Electric Vehicles (2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler and Bus)● Portable electronic sector- mobile phones, laptops etc● Grid Storage● Telecom and Telecommunication Towers● Medical Devices● Household and Office Power Back (UPS)● Powering Robots in Processing Industry
India’s Ranking in Science and Technology
Global Innovation Index 2018
● India’s rank on the Global Innovation Index (GII) has improved in 2018.
● It has jumped from 60 in 2017 to 57 in 2018.
● This is the consecutive second year when India has been consistently climbing the GII ranking.
Global Innovation Index 2019
● India rose from rank 57 by five places in 2018 to rank 52 in the GII, 2019.
● India has consistently risen in rank in the GII since 2015.
● India continues to be the most innovative economy in central and southern Asia — a distinction held since 2011.
● The report also highlighted that India stands out in the world’s top science and technology clusters, with Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi featuring among the top 100 global clusters.
● It also said that India will make a true impact on global innovation in the years to come.
World University Ranking 2019
● IIT Mumbai, Delhi, and IISc, Bangalore, have been included in the top 200 institutions of the prestigious QS World University Rankings for 2020.
● There are a total of 23 Indian institutions in the top 1,000. While most are government-funded universities, five are privately funded.
● Indian science and technology institutions funded by the government scored high in terms of citations per faculty, with the IISc, Bengaluru, achieving a perfect 100 in that indicator.
● Other indicators such as teacher-student ratio, and international faculty and student populations propelled the private institutions to the top.
Way Forward
● It provided an opportunity to look at examples from similar economies from across the world and understand how they get advancement in science and technology in their countries through the investment in R&D.
● There is an urgent need to emphasize the role of pure science in building the scientific temperament in the country.
● Besides, we need to identify the distinction between Innovation and Invention in science and technology.
● There is also a need to transform India’s Innovation Ecosystem to attract R&D investment into cutting edge technologies and build appropriate infrastructure and institutions.
● India has the potential to be among the top global hotspots of innovation in latest technologies like AI, Blockchain and Robotics etc. So, there is a need to harness it through skilled manpower.
● Next, the already developed infrastructure needs to expand and connect across the country.
● For example, AIM Tinkering labs can be connected in schools, with start-ups, business and high end educational institutions.
● It needs to strive for efficient, productive and outcome driven R&D in the Government sector and public private partnership as well.
● Finally, the time has come to channelize the potential possessed by India in the form of huge working age population that is capable enough to make India the leader in science and technology.
● However, it is required to transform this chunk of population into a human resource having great scientific temperament, and skills to learn and innovate in the emerging field of science and technology i.e. Big data mining, Machine learning, AI, Robotics, 3-D printing, etc.
Thank You!
