Science & Tech by Kumar Manish

🔆 Mains Question 📍 India aspires to become a global innovation leader, yet suffers from a chronic research and development (R&D) deficit. Examine the structural causes of this deficit and suggest measures to bridge it. 🔆 Answer Pointers ✅ Low R&D spending: ~0.6–0.7% of GDP vs China (~2.4%), US (~3.5%) ✅ State-dominated R&D: Govt funds ~63% of R&D; weak private sector participation ✅ Patent paradox: Rising filings, but low per-capita innovation & commercialisation ✅ Academia–industry disconnect: Research remains siloed, theoretical, market-agnostic ✅ Risk-averse industry: Preference for imports & incremental innovation ✅ Brain drain: Talent migrates due to poor funding, infra, career incentives ✅ Governance bottlenecks: Slow approvals, fragmented funding, bureaucratic delays 🔆 Way Forward ✅ Raise R&D spend to 2% of GDP in medium term ✅ Incentivise private sector R&D (tax breaks, grants, co-funding) ✅ Focus on mission-mode research (AI, semiconductors, quantum, green tech) ✅ Reform universities into research-intensive institutions ✅ Strengthen IP ecosystem & research commercialisation ✅ Ensure long-term, predictable funding with outcome-based evaluation Conclusion Without urgent structural reform in R&D financing, governance and academia–industry linkages, India’s ambition of becoming a global innovation power will remain unrealised.

🔆 Mains Question 📍 India aspires to become a global innovation leader, yet suffers from a chronic research and development (R&D) deficit. Examine the structural causes of this deficit and suggest measures to bridge it. 🔆 Answer Pointers ✅ Low R&D spending: ~0.6–0.7% of GDP vs China (~2.4%), US (~3.5%) ✅ State-dominated R&D: Govt funds ~63% of R&D; weak private sector participation ✅ Patent paradox: Rising filings, but low per-capita innovation & commercialisation ✅ Academia–industry disconnect: Research remains siloed, theoretical, market-agnostic ✅ Risk-averse industry: Preference for imports & incremental innovation ✅ Brain drain: Talent migrates due to poor funding, infra, career incentives ✅ Governance bottlenecks: Slow approvals, fragmented funding, bureaucratic delays 🔆 Way Forward ✅ Raise R&D spend to 2% of GDP in medium term ✅ Incentivise private sector R&D (tax breaks, grants, co-funding) ✅ Focus on mission-mode research (AI, semiconductors, quantum, green tech) ✅ Reform universities into research-intensive institutions ✅ Strengthen IP ecosystem & research commercialisation ✅ Ensure long-term, predictable funding with outcome-based evaluation Conclusion Without urgent structural reform in R&D financing, governance and academia–industry linkages, India’s ambition of becoming a global innovation power will remain unrealised.

🔆 Micrometeoroids & Orbital Debris (MMOD) – Explained 📍 What is MMOD? ✅ Micrometeoroids: Naturally occurring tiny particles (few micrometres–2 mm) ▪️ Origin: Asteroid belt collisions & comets ▪️ Travel at extremely high velocities ✅ Orbital Debris: Human-made, non-functional objects in Earth’s orbit ▪️ Origin: Defunct satellites, rocket fragments, explosions, ASAT tests 📍 Why MMOD is Dangerous ✅ Even tiny particles can cause severe or catastrophic damage due to high kinetic energy ✅ Kessler Syndrome: Cascading collisions increasing debris density, threatening safe space operations 📍 Mitigation & Management ✅ Shielding: Use of Whipple shields and advanced spacecraft design ✅ Tracking & Avoidance: Large debris tracked; collision-avoidance manoeuvres executed 📍 International Cooperation ✅ IADC: Global coordination on space debris research & mitigation ✅ ESA Zero Debris Charter: Target of zero new debris by 2030 📍 Indian Initiatives (ISRO) ✅ Project NETRA: Early warning system for space debris & hazards ✅ IS4OM: Dedicated facility for safe & sustainable space operations ✅ POEM: Reusing spent PSLV stages as orbital platforms to reduce debris

🔆 ISRO’s Heaviest-Ever Launch (LVM3) 📍 What happened? ✅ ISRO launched LVM3 carrying BlueBird Block-2 (~6,100 kg) ✅ Heaviest payload ever placed by India into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) 📍 Why important? ✅ Tests heavy-lift capability + cost efficiency ✅ Same rocket for Gaganyaan (human spaceflight) ✅ Positions India as a reliable LEO launch provider 📍 About the satellite ✅ Part of LEO constellation for direct-to-mobile connectivity ✅ Enables 4G/5G calls, data & streaming without ground relays 📍 Bigger picture ✅ Strengthens India’s commercial space market ✅ Shows readiness for frequent, heavy missions

Practice question:Discuss the role of nuclear energy in India’s clean energy transition. In this context, evaluate how the SHANTI Bill, 2025 addresses the challenges of capacity expansion, safety regulation, and liability management.

SHANTI Bill, 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) 1. Background & Context • India aims to achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and Net Zero by 2070. • Existing laws: • Atomic Energy Act, 1962 • Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 • These laws are considered fragmented and restrictive for future expansion. • SHANTI Bill seeks to modernise, consolidate, and future-proof India’s nuclear legal framework. ⸻ 2. What is Nuclear Energy? • Energy generated from controlled nuclear fission. • Produces large amounts of electricity with minimal GHG emissions. • Acts as a base-load power source, complementing renewables like solar & wind. ⸻ 3. Evolution of Nuclear Laws in India • Atomic Energy Act, 1962 • Replaced 1948 Act • Ensured peaceful use under strict government control • Amendments (1986, 1987, 2015) • Allowed government companies & joint ventures • Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 • No-fault liability • Focus on safety & compensation ⸻ 4. Present Status of Nuclear Power in India • Share in electricity generation: ~3% (3.1% in 2024–25) • Installed capacity: 8.78 GW • Projected capacity by 2031–32: 22.38 GW • Long-term vision: 100 GW by 2047 ⸻ 5. Nuclear Energy Mission (Budget 2025–26) • Allocation: ₹20,000 crore • Focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) • Target: 5 indigenously designed SMRs by 2033 • Key BARC initiatives: • BSMR-200 (200 MWe) • SMR-55 • High-temperature gas-cooled reactor (for hydrogen) ⸻ 6. Why India Needs to Scale Nuclear Power • Rising demand from: • Data centres • Advanced manufacturing • Urbanisation • Need for 24×7 clean base-load power • Supports: • Energy security • Decarbonisation • Technological self-reliance ⸻ 7. Key Features of SHANTI Bill, 2025 A. Private Sector Participation • Permits private companies in: • Nuclear plant operations • Power generation • Equipment manufacturing • Limited fuel-cycle activities (under regulation) • Mandatory prior safety authorisation. B. Activities Reserved for Central Government • Enrichment & isotopic separation • Spent fuel reprocessing & waste management • Heavy water production • Other notified strategic activities C. Licensing & Safety Regulation • Clear provisions for: • Grant • Suspension • Cancellation of licences D. Graded Liability Framework • Operator liability varies by: • Type of installation • Risk profile • Replaces single liability cap system. E. Civil Liability & Compensation • Balanced and practical compensation mechanism • Claims Commissioners appointed by Centre • Nuclear Damage Claims Commission for severe cases ⸻ 8. Institutional & Regulatory Strengthening • Statutory status to AERB • Enhances independence & authority • Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council • Dispute resolution • Appellate Tribunal for Electricity • Appellate authority under the Bill ⸻ 9. Non-Power Applications (Mains Enrichment) • Regulation of nuclear/radiation use in: • Healthcare • Agriculture • Industry • Research • Exemptions for limited R&D and innovation activities ⸻ 10. Safeguards & Strategic Control • Strategic sectors remain under sovereign control • Strong focus on: • Safety • Security • Safeguards • Emergency preparedness • Ensures national security & strategic autonomy ⸻ 11. Significance of the Bill • Enables clean energy transition • Encourages innovation & private investment • Aligns nuclear energy with climate goals • Strengthens regulatory governance • Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat in advanced technologies ⸻ 12. Conclusion The SHANTI Bill, 2025 marks a decisive shift in India’s nuclear governance by balancing expansion with strategic control. By modernising laws, enabling regulated private participation, and strengthening safety institutions, it positions nuclear energy as a key pillar of India’s clean, secure, and self-reliant energy future.

Practice Question : Cyber crime has emerged as a major internal security challenge in India. Discuss with reference to Bihar.

Hindustan newspaper ⸻ Bihar as a Cyber Fraud Hotspot • Bihar ranks 3rd in India in terms of cyber fraud hotspots. • Haryana ranks 1st and Maharashtra ranks 2nd. • Despite this, Bihar ranks 28th among states in mobile phone usage. ⸻ 📊 Key Data & Facts • Mobile usage in Bihar: Only 56.18% of the population • Nearly half of Bihar’s population does not own a mobile phone. • Around 1.71 crore people still use 2G mobile phones. • Over 90,000 online fraud complaints have been registered. • Only 3 out of every 7 people in Bihar use the internet. ⸻ 📱 Mobile Usage in Other States State Mobile Usage Jharkhand 63.95% Uttar Pradesh 70.30% Uttarakhand 106.89% Madhya Pradesh 69.35% Rajasthan 80.01% ⸻ 🧠 Reasons for High Cyber Fraud • Low digital literacy • High dependence on 2G and outdated technology • Lack of cyber awareness • Rapid digitalization without adequate cyber security preparedness • Large number of first-time internet users ⸻ 🏙️ Cyber Fraud Hotspot Districts in Bihar • Nalanda • Patna • Nawada • Sheikhpura ➡️ Cyber crime networks from these districts are linked with other states and even foreign countries. ⸻ ⚖️ Administrative & Police Response • Cyber Cell investigations reveal: • Most frauds occur via phone calls, fake links, and digital payment platforms. • Cyber criminals operate through inter-state and international networks. • 2024 data: • Around ₹1.40 crore frozen from cyber fraud-related accounts. • Increase in chargesheets, but cyber crimes are becoming more sophisticated.

Times of India article on the supercomputer launched at IIT-Patna (Dec 26, 2025): ⸻ Supercomputer Launched at IIT-Patna to Boost Research 📌 What happened? • Param Rudra supercomputer was inaugurated at Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT-P). • It is the first supercomputer in Bihar established at any academic/government institute. • Launched under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). • Marked as a significant milestone in expanding India’s research infrastructure. ⸻ 📌 Background: National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) • NSM is a Government of India initiative aimed at deploying advanced supercomputing infrastructure across research and academic institutions to enhance R&D capabilities. • Under the NSM, 37 supercomputers have been deployed across the nation with a combined compute capacity of 39 PetaFlops. • Supports development of indigenous technologies (processors, software, cooling systems) to build a robust supercomputing ecosystem. ⸻ 📌 Significance / Importance For Bihar: • First high-end computational resource in the state. • Boosts local research ecosystem and attracts scientific talent. • Potential to reduce dependence on external HPC facilities. For India: • Strengthens national HPC grid under NSM. • Enhances India’s capabilities in advanced computing and global competitiveness in R&D infrastructure. ⸻ 📌 Stakeholder Statements • MeitY Official: Highlighted the transformative impact of the supercomputer on research and innovation. • IIT-Patna Director: Emphasized its role in facilitating complex computational research for students and faculty. ⸻ 📌 Research and Academic Uses The facility is expected to support research in multiple advanced and interdisciplinary fields, including: ✔ Computational Astrobiology & Astrochemistry ✔ Reaction Dynamics ✔ Computational Material Design ✔ Molecular Electronics ✔ Computational Fluid Mechanics ✔ Computational Nano-Bio Interfaces ✔ Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Data Science ✔ Quantum Computing The first set of research areas highlighted underscores the wide spectrum of scientific and technological research enabled by access to supercomputing.

Floods and drought in Bihar have been the major hurdles over the years which have constantly affected its growth and prosperity. Discuss the role of science and technology in this kind of disaster management with typical examples. (66th BPSC Main Exam)

Q) Bihar is a Flood-Prone State. How can modern technology help control floods and manage this disaster? (67th BPSC Main Exam)

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