Subject: GS 3
Syllabus: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Questions
- There has been a persistent call for indigenizing the defence sector in India. Why are these persistent demands being made for indigenization? Have any steps been taken to indigenize the defence sector at present? (250 Words, 15 Marks)
- Biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives. In this context, analyse the role of application of biotechnology in the inclusive economic development of a country. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
1. There has been a persistent call for indigenizing the defence sector in India. Why are these persistent demands being made for indigenization? Have any steps been taken to indigenize the defence sector at present? (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Introduction
- Indigenization of the defence sector refers to the development and production of defence equipment within the country using local resources, expertise, and industries. (Definition-based)
- According to the Ministry of Defence, the expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources, which used to account for 46% of the total expenditure from 2018–19 to 2021–22, has fallen to around 36%. This is a result of persistent calls for the indigenization of the defence sector in India. (Statistic-based)
Main Body
Need for Indigenization
- Strategic Autonomy: Dependence on foreign suppliers for defence equipment can compromise India's strategic autonomy. In the event of conflicts, embargoes or strained diplomatic relations, foreign suppliers may refuse to supply crucial defence equipment, thereby affecting national security.
- Economic Considerations: India is one of the world's largest importers of defence equipment. Indigenization can reduce the country's defence import bill significantly.
- Technological Sovereignty: Indigenization can ensure full control over the technology used in defence equipment, and prevent potential vulnerabilities or sabotage from foreign equipment.
- Boost to Domestic Industry: Indigenization can boost the domestic defence manufacturing sector, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth.
- Defence readiness: Despite spending close to $50 billion on defence annually, India may yet be underprepared to fight in the battles of today, especially those that occur close to home.
- Boost Confidence: The Indian military forces' trust and confidence will grow because of indigenous equipment. Additionally, it will improve India's standing internationally.
- National security at stake: Due to a shortage of components and assemblies, imported equipment is currently posing various maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) challenges in India.
- Reduce Fiscal Burden: India is currently the second-largest importer of weapons in the world. Defence industry indigenization is necessary to reduce the fiscal deficit.
- Employment generation: According to government predictions, India might gain 100,000–120,000 highly skilled jobs if defence-related imports were reduced by 20–25 per cent. In addition, it will lead to widespread innovation, a plethora of spin-off industries and start-ups, and more.
- Boost Indian export: India is the 23rd-largest exporter of defensive products, according to SIPRI data. India can sell its neighbour's equipment and technologies used in the defence industry.
Steps taken to indigenize the defence sector
- Public-Private Partnership: Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and private organisations are playing a critical role in the indigenisation of defence industries.
- Procurement Policy: To support the "Make in India" agenda, Defence Procurement Procedure focuses on institutionalising, streamlining, and simplifying the defence procurement process.
- Offset Policy: The main goals of the defence offset policy are to use capital purchases to support the growth of the domestic defence sector.
- Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: DAP 2020 promotes creating and producing defence products domestically.
- Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme: Modern testing infrastructure would be built with an investment of INR 400 crore in collaboration with industry.
- Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 (DPEPP): The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has developed a draft DPEPP 2020 as a guiding document of MoD to give the nation's defence production capabilities a focused, structured and major push for independence and exports.
- Spending on Indigenous Production: The total budgetary allocation for FY 2022-23 towards the Capital Outlay on Defence Services is more than INR 1,50,000 cr.
- Defence Industrial Corridors: The Indian government has planned to develop two defence industrial corridors to serve as hubs for defence manufacturing.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan: This initiative, announced in 2020, also focuses on self-reliance in defence production. The government has published a list of weapons/platforms that will not be imported in the future.
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): DRDO has been developing and producing various defence technologies indigenously, such as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), and the Akash missile system.
Conclusion
- While significant steps have been taken towards indigenization of the defence sector in India, there are still challenges to be addressed, including bureaucratic hurdles, limited private sector participation, and lack of R&D funding.
2. Biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives. In this context, analyse the role of application of biotechnology in the inclusive economic development of a country. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- Biotechnology refers to the harnessing of cellular and bio molecular processes within living beings to help produce various applications and technologies.
Main Body:
Biotechnology and inclusive growth:
- Agricultural production:
- Biotechnology makes possible the use of genetically modified (GM) crops that can increase agricultural yield and raise their income levels.
- Molecular breeding helps to improve yields and resist disease.
- Making crops tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat) and a reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops).
- Boost to non-chemical agriculture methods and help farmers increase the yield of high value agricultural products.
- Enhance our approach towards an evergreen revolution.
- Selective plant and animal breeding for improved productivity
- Nutrition:
- Biofortified food can help reduce malnutrition drastically.
- Eg- Dhansakthi, an iron fortified crop helped raise nutrition levels in pilot programmes conducted in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
- Manufacturing:
- Alcohol, foods and biofuels can help energise the manufacturing sector in India and generate much needed employment.
- Techniques of modern molecular biology, improves efficiency.
- Example: Paper and pulp, chemical manufacturing, and textile.
- Healthcare:
- Many plants are grown and genetically engineered to produce the antibodies.
- Accelerated development of vaccines.
- Environment:
- Waste treatment and pollution prevention Eg-bioremediation.
- Environmental engineers introduce nutrients to stimulate the activity of bacteria to help in digesting the waste.
Way forward(Steps needed ):
- Bridging the knowledge gap between farmers and biotech scientists.
- Regulatory framework that eases promotion of biotech products without compromising on bioethics.
- Ex: Recent “National Guidelines for Gene Therapy- Product Development and Clinical Trials” of ICMR, DNA Technology bill, etc.
Conclusion:
- Various initiatives of the Department of Biotechnology like Genome India Project, Manav Human Atlas Initiative, UMMID(Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders) and promotion of golden rice are all steps to promote biotechnology for the development of health and social sectors. (any one or two initiatives can be mentioned). or
- Policy on GM crops need to be re-evaluated in the wake of the need for climate-resilient agriculture along with our fight against malnutrition. or
- India can also leverage its IT prowess to pioneer biometrics through projects like the human genome project, telemedicine that can help improve our approach to health services in the country.(Futuristic conclusion)
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