Topics: Science and Technology — developments and their applications and effects in everyday life | Achievements of Indians in science & technology | Indigenization of technology and developing new technology
Questions
Q1. 'Frugal Innovation' is one of the most prominent contributions of India to the science and technology community across the world, and has its own set of challenges. Elaborate. (10 Marks)
Q2. Nanotechnology is an evolving field of science and is quickly gathering pace due to a multitude of applications. Enumerate and discuss these applications. (10 Marks)
Q3. Analyse the reasons for the weak research and development ecosystem in India. What are the government steps in spurring the R&D industry? (15 Marks)
Q4. 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? (15 Marks)
Q5. What is quantum computing and what steps are taken by India to promote it? Also discuss the challenges involved in promoting quantum computing. (10 Marks)
Model Structures
Q1. Frugal Innovation (10 Marks)
Introduction
Frugal innovation, also referred to as "reverse innovation" or "constraint-based innovation", is a distinctive approach to innovation, distinguished both by its means and its ends.
Main Body
Frugal innovation and India:
- In 2009, BMVSS co-developed the Jaipur Foot made of ultra-low-cost oil-filled nylon — requires no tools and takes just under an hour to assemble.
- Mitticool developed a natural clay refrigerator to store vegetables and fruits and cool water — natural coolness without electricity or any other form of energy.
- Priced at just over half the cost of its nearest rival, the Tata Nano was the world's cheapest family car.
- India's Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) was budgeted at a staggeringly cheap ~$74 million — NASA's MAVEN Mars mission cost ten times as much.
Challenges of frugality in innovation:
- Structural: A restrictive Intellectual Property regime results in a lack of importance for IP and its protection — a disincentive for global players to 'innovate in India'; institutional weakness — red-tapism, weak political institutions and corruption.
- Operational: Talent pipeline — despite abundant labour supply, India lacks labour with adequate skills for innovation; weak logistics — poor distribution networks, inefficient transportation and handling systems.
- Economic: Despite new networks of investors and venture funds, a big gap remains between available capital and existing opportunities.
Conclusion
Frugal innovation addresses the special requirements of demanding, budget-constrained consumers. India has revived the interest of developed nations by achieving frugality without compromising much on quality, performance, access and scalability.
Q2. Applications of Nanotechnology (10 Marks)
Introduction
Nanotechnology is the branch of science involving manipulation of matter at the nano level — on the scale of about 1 to 100 nanometres — involving atoms and molecules.
Main Body
It is an interdisciplinary branch involving engineering and science, and owes its development to the Atomic Force Microscope and the Scanning Tunneling Microscope.
Applications of nanotechnology:
- Medicine: Nanomaterials like nanomicelles help in better drug delivery, early diagnosis of cancer and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases — targeting so precise that nearby cells and tissues are left unharmed.
- Food: Nanobiosensors in food help detect pathogens and disease-causing microbes, ensuring stale food is disposed of rather than consumed; also aids food processing by improving mechanical resistance so the original texture is not lost.
- Renewable energy: Nanotubes and nano-composites enable low-weight parts for windmills and solar panels, reducing production and installation costs.
- Electronics: Nanotechnology has the potential to replace silicon in electronic devices and microchips, reducing production costs and improving affordability for manufacturers and consumers.
- Technical textiles: Lightweight, wrinkle-free, affordable and durable clothing for firefighting, cleaning and other tough work.
Conclusion
Nanotechnology is an evolving area, and government efforts like the Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission), the Indian Institute of Nano Sciences, and a nanotechnology regulatory board need to be backed by a better research and development atmosphere and investments to make it a success.
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Q3. Weak R&D Ecosystem in India (15 Marks)
Introduction
Research and development (R&D) is at the core of the economic process — it leads to innovation, and innovation in turn drives economic growth. But despite ample thrust by successive governments, the R&D ecosystem in India is not up to the mark.
Main Body
Importance of the R&D sector:
- Innovation and technological improvement are essential to combat and adapt to global climate change and promote sustainable development.
- Imperative for combating national security threats, from cyber warfare to autonomous military systems like drones.
- Investing in research and providing adequate incentives creates jobs, especially for the pool of engineers and researchers.
Reasons for the weak R&D ecosystem:
- Less investment: Per UNESCO, India spends only 0.8% of GDP on R&D, versus 2% by China and 2.7% by the US.
- Low private sector participation: The private sector spends less than 0.2% of GDP on R&D.
- Weak academia–industry linkage: No linkage between higher education and industrial needs; the education system is heavily exam-oriented, lacking focus on creativity, critical thinking and open-mindedness.
- Less research at university level: Most research is concentrated in national centres (Raman Research Institute, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science), while university research is neglected.
- Poor research quality: Much Indian research is published in predatory, non-peer-reviewed journals.
- Lack of infrastructure needed for research and development.
- Very low FDI: India attracts only 2.7% of global R&D spending; China attracts 17.5%.
- IPR issues: Weak enforcement of IPR policies and a weak patents/trademarks regime reduce incentives to invest in innovation and research.
Steps taken by the government:
- Atal Tinkering Labs: Dedicated workspaces for students to innovate and develop ideas.
- Atal Incubation Centres: Promotion of technology businesses and research parks for innovative ideas.
- PM Fellowship Scheme: Encouraging young talent and result-oriented scholars to take up industrial-level R&D.
- Innovate India: A platform sharing innovations happening across the nation.
- IMPRINT India: Adapting engineering and technology to address societal needs and national development.
- Policies such as the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013, National IPR Policy, Technology Vision 2035, and Space Vision India 2025.
Way forward:
- Healthy interface with business for syllabus design and incubation centres in faculties — e.g., Israel's Tel Aviv University has its own industrial arm for commercialising research outcomes.
- Cooperative partnerships like GIAN with international institutions to promote exchange of data and knowledge.
- The Tarun Khanna Committee recommended an umbrella structure for the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).
- A strong IPR regime — stricter laws and better implementation.
- Identify focus areas for innovation to solve India's problems — e.g., IMPRINT focuses on ten major areas like health and water.
- Learn from successful ISRO models in space technology and apply the lessons in other public R&D institutes.
Conclusion
To achieve a $5 trillion economy and build a New India, a proactive strategy to boost India's R&D ecosystem with support from the public and private sectors is the need of the hour — elevating India to a knowledge-driven society.
Q4. Indigenization of the Defence Sector (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)
- Per the Ministry of Defence, expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources — 46% of total expenditure during 2018-19 to 2021-22 — has fallen to around 36%, a result of persistent calls for indigenization. (Statistic-based)
Main Body
Need for indigenization:
- Strategic autonomy: Dependence on foreign suppliers can compromise national security — in conflicts, embargoes or strained diplomatic relations, suppliers may refuse to deliver crucial equipment.
- Economic considerations: India is one of the world's largest defence importers; indigenization can significantly reduce the import bill.
- Technological sovereignty: Full control over the technology used, preventing potential vulnerabilities or sabotage from foreign equipment.
- Boost to domestic industry: Job creation and contribution to economic growth.
- Defence readiness: Despite spending close to $50 billion annually, India may be underprepared for the battles of today, especially those close to home.
- Boost confidence: Indigenous equipment grows the trust of the military and improves India's international standing.
- National security: Shortage of components for imported equipment poses maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) challenges.
- Reduce fiscal burden: India is the second-largest arms importer in the world.
- Employment generation: Government estimates suggest 100,000–120,000 highly skilled jobs if defence imports fall 20–25%, plus widespread innovation, spin-off industries and start-ups.
- Boost exports: India is the 23rd-largest exporter of defence products (SIPRI); it can sell equipment and technologies to its neighbours.
Steps taken to indigenize the defence sector:
- Public-Private Partnership: DRDO, DPSUs, Ordnance Factory Board and private organisations play critical roles.
- Procurement Policy: The Defence Procurement Procedure institutionalises, streamlines and simplifies procurement to support Make in India.
- Offset Policy: Using capital purchases to support the growth of the domestic defence sector.
- Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: Promotes domestic creation and production of defence products.
- Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme: Modern testing infrastructure with an investment of ₹400 crore in collaboration with industry.
- Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 (DPEPP): A guiding document for a focused, structured push for self-reliance and exports.
- Spending on indigenous production: Capital outlay on defence services for FY 2022-23 exceeds ₹1,50,000 crore.
- Defence Industrial Corridors: Two corridors planned as hubs for defence manufacturing.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan: Positive-indigenisation lists of weapons/platforms that will not be imported in future.
- DRDO: Indigenous development of 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, challenges remain — bureaucratic hurdles, limited private sector participation, and lack of R&D funding.
Q5. Quantum Computing — Steps & Challenges (10 Marks)
Introduction
Quantum computing is a field of computing which works at the quantum level and uses properties like superposition, entanglement and interference to perform complex tasks and calculations. It expresses the distinctive way in which matter and energy behave at the atomic and subatomic level.
Main Body
Quantum computing follows the principles of quantum physics and uses quantum bits (qubits), as opposed to classical computing, which follows classical physics and processes information in binary '1s' and '0s'.
Programs and initiatives to promote quantum computing:
- QuEST (Quantum Enabled Science and Technology): Launched by the Department of Science and Technology to develop infrastructure and improve research.
- National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications: To build a skilled workforce of 25,000 in five years — pushing quantum key distribution, encryption, quantum sensing and quantum communication.
- Quantum Computer Simulator toolkit: A research environment for academicians, research scholars and the scientific community.
- Department of Space lab work demonstrating quantum entanglement using quantum key distribution.
Challenges:
- Quantum computers require a lot of energy for cooling to just above absolute zero — otherwise heat generates errors in qubits.
- High interference causes errors in quantum calculations and algorithms.
- Lack of a skilled and trained workforce affects rapid development.
- India lacks resources, raw materials and capability to domestically manufacture quantum computing hardware, making it import-dependent.
Conclusion
Quantum computing is an evolving field in which substantial funding for research and development is needed. To ensure science is used for the sustainable benefit of humanity without harming the environment, better research facilities are required.
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