Science and Technology (S&T) Digest 1-15 October 2023, Issue 23

Dr Saroj Bishoyi, Research Fellow, VIF

November 6 , 2023 Views: 2336 Comments: 0

In this Issue

I. Defence and Security

First Training Squadron (1TS) in Port Klang, Malaysia

As part of the Indian Navy's long range deployment in South East Asia, the ships of First Training Squadron (1TS) -INS Tir, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi are visiting Port Klang, Malaysia. The activities being undertaken by the 1TS include various professional and community interactions, training exchanges, cross deck visits and sports fixtures with personnel of Royal Malaysian Navy, as well as ships open for visit of school children. The deployment of 1 TS is aimed at exposing the trainees to the sociopolitical, military and maritime linkages of India with the friendly countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and strengthening of bilateral engagements between the two Navies. Click here to read...

Digital Initiatives of Defence Accounts Department

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched several digital initiatives of Defence Accounts Department (DAD) during its 276th Annual Day celebrations at Delhi on 1 October 2023. The initiatives include an integrated defence finance dashboard for Ministry of Defence ‘SARANSH’ - Summary of Accounts, Budget and Expenditure for Raksha Mantralaya; BISWAS - Bill Information and Work Analysis System and e-Raksha Awaas. In his address, the Defence Minister described the DAD as the guardian of defence finance and appreciated its efforts towards enhancing the country’s defence capabilities through a transparent & efficient system. Terming accounting as extremely important for an individual, organisation and nation as a whole, he said: “Our wants are unlimited, but the available resources are limited”. He commended the DAD for ensuring judicious use of resources while extracting optimum output. Click here to read...

‘INS Sagardhwani’ on Sagar Maitri Mission-4 to Establish Scientific Partnerships

INS Sagardhwani, an oceanographic research vessel of Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO, embarked on a two-month long Sagar Maitri (SM) Mission-4 from South Jetty, Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi on 11 October 2023. Sagar Maitri is a novel initiative of DRDO that supports the broad objective of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy declaration ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ to promote closer cooperation in socio-economic aspects as well as more significant scientific interaction, especially in ocean research among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries. The current mission (SM-4) plan includes scientific deployments onboard INS Sagardhwani in the Northern Arabian Sea and initiating collaborative research programmes with the Department of Marine Sciences & Fisheries at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Click here to read...

Focus on Enhancing Defence Industrial Cooperation with France

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Mr Sebastien Lecornu in Paris on 11 October 2023. The two Ministers discussed a wide range of topics from the assessment of regional situation to the ongoing military-to-military engagements, with a focus on enhancing defence industrial cooperation. The Ministers reviewed the ongoing defence projects and discussed ways to deepen the collaboration between the defence industries of both the countries. They also discussed potential collaboration in niche domains such as space, cyber and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Defence Minister Singh also visited the Safran Engine Division's R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris and witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology. Click here to read...

II. STI in Space Sector

Gaganyaan Test Vehicle Space Flight to Be Launched in October 2023

The launch of "Gaganyaan" Test Vehicle Space flight, that is, "Gaganyaan" Test Vehicle Development flight (TV-D1) is scheduled on 21 October 2023. The S&T Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh said, while addressing the gathering at a felicitation programme of ISRO scientists associated with the Chandrayaan Mission on 10 October 2023. ISRO will also test the efficacy of the Crew Escape System which is the crucial part of "Gaganyaan" mission, resulting in unmanned and manned missions to outer space by 2024. The test is to be conducted at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Crew Module will carry the astronauts during the Gaganyaan mission to outer space. The test involves launching a crew module to outer space and bringing it back to Earth and recovering it after touchdown in the Bay of Bengal. Click here to read...

India’s Space Economy Projected To Grow Beyond $40 Billion by 2040

Delivering the inaugural cum keynote address at ‘Campus Dialogue’ on Chandrayaan 3 under the theme ‘Viksit Bharat @2047' at the Central University of Jammu on 14 October 2023, the S&T Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, India’s quantum leap in space research with India’s space economy standing at $8 billion has been only possible due to the courageous decision taken by PM Narendra Modi to unlock the space sector from the shackles of the past. India’s Space economy projected to grow beyond $40 Billion by 2040 and as per ADL (Arthur D Little) Report, India’s space economy has the potential to go beyond $100 Billion by 2040, which is going to be a gigantic jump, the Minister added. He informed that the Government of India has embarked on a mission to open Space Technology Teaching Centres in higher educational institutions. Click here to read...

India's IN-SPACe Unveils Space Economy Vision

On 9 October 2023, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the nodal agency under the Department of Space (DOS), unveiled the decadal vision and strategy for Indian space economy. The decadal vision, through which it wishes to address the creation of demand, local manufacturing capabilities, and infrastructure and provide for a comprehensive regulatory framework that will encourage and facilitate private participation in the sector. Strategy for the Indian space economy will be achieved through ten key strategic and enabling capabilities: demand generation, earth observation platform, communication platform, navigation platform, research and development, ecosystem, creation of a talent pool, access to finance, international synergy and collaboration, and lastly policy and regulation. Click here to read...

23rd August to be Observed as 'National Space Day'

The Union Government has issued a notification that 23rd August will be observed as 'National Space Day' to commemorate the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The notification issued by the Department of Space said that India became the first country to land near the South Pole of the moon with the success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission. It stated that the day marks an important milestone in the country's advancements in space missions, will inspire younger generations towards enhanced interest in pursuing STEM and will provide a major impetus to the space sector. Days after the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3, India launched its maiden solar mission Aditya-L1 in September. ISRO also said earlier this month that it will commence unmanned flight tests for the Gaganyaan mission and preparations for the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), which demonstrates the performance of the Crew Escape System, are underway. Click here to read...

ISpA and GIFAS Sign MoU to Strengthen Cooperation in Space Sector

The Indian Space Association (ISpA) and the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) signed a significant MoU aiming to enhance the understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of business opportunities in France and India at the second chapter of Indian Space Conclave 2023 in Delhi. The collaboration will help foster sustainable growth, promote innovation and advocate the adoption of new technologies in France and India's space industries. The MoU will act as an extension to the already flourishing Indo-French relationship in the space sector and augment the individual and collective membership bases of the organizations through the benefit of greater international linkages for the members, ISpA said in a statement. Click here to read...

Tamil Nadu Government Honours ISRO Scientist and Announces Scholarships

In recognition of the significant contributions made by space scientists from the State, the Tamil Nadu Government has announced an award of Rs 25 lakh for each of the nine ISRO scientists. Additionally, a scholarship programme has been initiated in honor of these scientists. A scholarship named after renowned scientists would be provided to nine postgraduate engineering students to nurture the spirit to make scientific inventions. The Scientists who were facilitated by the state government include former ISRO Chairman K Sivan, Dr Mayilsamy Annadurai, Dr V. Narayanan, Thiru. A. Rajarajan, M. Sankaran, J. Asir Packiaraj, M. Vanitha, Nigar Shaji and Dr. Veeramuthuvel. Former ISRO Director K Sivan expressed his appreciation for the Tamil Nadu government's initiative, noting its potential to inspire young students. Click here to read...

III. Nuclear Technology

Countries Turn to Nuclear for Energy Security and Climate Action to Increase

On 9 October 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its annual outlook for nuclear power in the coming decades, revising up its global growth projections for a third straight year. In both its high and low case scenarios, the IAEA now sees a quarter more nuclear energy capacity installed by 2050 than it did as recently as 2020, underscoring how a growing number of countries are looking to this clean and reliable energy source to address the challenges of energy security, climate change and economic development. In the high case scenario of the new outlook, nuclear installed capacity is seen more than doubling by 2050 to 890 gigawatts electric (GW(e)) compared with today’s 369 GW(e). In the low case, capacity increases to 458 GW(e). From last year’s outlook, the high and low cases have risen by 2% and 14%, respectively. Click here to read...

Net Zero Nuclear Founded to Triple Global Nuclear Capacity

Net Zero Nuclear has been founded by World Nuclear Association (WSA) and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) to call for collaboration among governments, industry leaders and civil society to triple global nuclear capacity to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.The first Net Zero Nuclear corporate partners were highlighted at the conference, including GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Terrapower, Centrus, and Urenco. In the lead up to COP28, which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai later this year, Net Zero Nuclear aims to bring together political leaders and industry to engage in evidence-led, actionable, solutions-focused dialogue to enable the rapid expansion of the global nuclear fleet and the acceleration of research and development into emerging nuclear technologies. Click here to read...

IAEA Mission Recognizes Saudi Arabia's Commitment to Radiation Safety

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission said Saudi Arabia has demonstrated commitment to safety for all applications and occurrences of radiation sources in the country. The team recommended actions for improvement, including the establishment of a national strategy for radioactive waste management. The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, the first to Saudi Arabia, was conducted at the request of the Government of Saudi Arabia and hosted by the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC). In 2018, Saudi Arabia’s Government announced its national policy for an atomic energy programme for peaceful uses, committing to achieve the highest safety and security standards in nuclear and radiation facilities, activities and practices. The country uses radioactive sources in medicine, industry, research, and education and has an important Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) industry, areas that were the focus of this IRRS mission. Click here to read...

IAEA’s New Centre to Build Expertise in Countering Nuclear Terrorism

On 3 October 2023, the IAEA opened a unique nuclear security training centre, the first international facility of its type, to support the growing efforts to tackle global nuclear terrorism. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi officially opened the IAEA Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre during a ceremony at the Agency’s Seibersdorf laboratories in Austria, attended by representatives from 45 countries and territories. The centre will provide more than 2000 square meters of specialized technical infrastructure and equipment for course participants to learn about the physical protection of nuclear and other radioactive material, as well as detection and response to criminal acts involving nuclear material and facilities. Click here to read...

IV. Emerging Technologies and Applications

New Drone (Amendment) Rules 2023 further Liberalise Drone Operations

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified the new Drone (Amendment) Rules 2023 for drone pilots. After the amendment, it has now been made clear that a government issued proof of identity and a government issued proof of address i.e. Voter ID, Ration Card or Driving License can now be accepted to apply for a Remote Pilot Certificate if the drone pilot does not have a passport. The prerequisite of having a passport was becoming a hurdle for aspiring drone pilots especially in the agricultural sector across rural India. This effort is to further liberalise, promote and facilitate drone operations across the country and make India a global drone hub by 2030. The rule is effective from the 27th of September 2023. Click here to read...

Knowledge Exchange Could Translate Cyber Physical Systems into New Domains

Experts highlighted that the application of cyber physical systems in industry and society can translate the technology into new domains, aiding its usage in areas like sensors and communication and the hubs can bring this about by exchanging best practices and learning from each other, at the 3rd National Workshop on Technology Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems (TIPS) in Kanpur. Dr V K Saraswat, Member Science, Niti Aayog emphasised the need for cyber physical systems beyond Industry 4.0 and society 5.0. The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) was approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2018, for a five-year period. As part of the NM-ICPS implementation, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) have been established across reputed institutes in the country. These TIHs play a pivotal role in the mission's success by focusing on technology development and translation, human resource and skill development, entrepreneurship and start-ups development, and international collaborative research. Click here to read...

Mining of Strategic Minerals- Lithium, Niobium and Rare Earth Elements

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved amendment of Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (‘MMDR Act’) for specifying rate of royalty in respect of 3 critical and strategic minerals, namely, Lithium, Niobium and Rare Earth Elements (REEs). This approval will enable the Central Government to auction blocks for Lithium, Niobium and REEs for the first time in the country. Critical minerals have become essential for economic development and national security in the country. Critical minerals such as Lithium and REEs have gained significance in view of India’s commitment towards energy transition and achieving net-zero emission by 2070. Lithium, Niobium and REEs have also emerged as strategic elements due their usages and geo-political scenario. Encouraging indigenous mining would lead to reduction in imports and setting up of related industries and infrastructure projects. Click here to read...

Industry to be a Major Resource Contributor in New Technology Initiatives

The Industry will be expected to be a major resource contributor in all the future StartUp ventures and other new technology initiatives. The S&T Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, while delivering keynote address at the 3rd India Quantum Technology Conclave 2023 organised by ASSOCHAM in Delhi on 5 October, that "There is no option but to strike an equitable relationship with the Government, Academia and Industry to be on an equal page as the nation takes further strides in frontier R&D including emerging Quantum Technology.” The Minister said, the National Quantum Mission (NQM) will make India one of the Top Global leaders in areas like quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, quantum materials, metrology and devices. He pointed out that the NQM approved by the Cabinet at a total cost of over Rs.6,000 crore aims to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). Click here to read...

MoU Signed between REC and NICSI for ICT and Digital Transformation

The REC (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) - a 'Maharatna' company under the the Ministry of Power, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI) under National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India for various Information & Communications Technology (ICT) and Digital Transformation Services. This MoU will benefit the REC ecosystem by facilitating exploration of latest technology in evolving areas like IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Blockchain, Cyber Security etc. This collaboration with NICSI will enable REC in providing one-stop end-to-end NIC/NICSI Software products deployment, hosting, core roll-out, technical support, security, services, system administration, etc. Click here to read...

MoU with Mahindra to Foster Skill Development among the Youth

The Northern Region Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute (NRFMTTI), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India based in Hisar, Haryana, has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of India's leading manufacturers of tractors and agricultural machinery, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., Mumbai. This strategic partnership aims to foster skill development among the youth, equipping them with the necessary expertise for a career in the field of farm mechanization. The MoU outlines a collaborative effort to offer comprehensive training programmes that will prepare young individuals for the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural machinery industry. The primary objective of this partnership is to bridge the gap between industry requirements and the skill sets possessed by the youth, ultimately strengthening the workforce in the farm mechanization sector. Click here to read...

Technology and Bharatiya Bhasha Summit Held in Delhi

As a part of the Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav, the two-day Technology & Bharatiya Bhasha Summit, on 30 September and 1 October 2023, held in New Delhi. The aim of the Summit was to facilitate a seamless transition from the current education ecosystem to one rooted in Bharatiya languages, in line with the vision of NEP 2020 and to set the course for a technologically enriched future for Bharatiya languages in education. The summit encompassed three pivotal thematic sessions: (i) Technology FOR Bharatiya Languages; (ii) Technology IN Bharatiya Languages; and (iii) Technology THROUGH Bharatiya Languages. Multiple technical sessions were held under these three themes. These themes emphasized the integration of technology in promoting Bharatiya Bhasha, including its role in teaching, training, examination, and translating educational materials. Click here to read...

V. International Cooperation

India-France Cooperation on Digital Technologies

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the MoU between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of the French Republic on cooperation in the field of Digital Technologies. The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of information pertaining to the digital technologies and will mutually support each Participant’s goal to promote access to digital Technology in their country in accordance with the MoU. Both G2G and B2B bilateral Cooperation in the field of Digital technologies will be enhanced. MoU envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT. Click here to read...

India-UAE Sign MoU to Promote Industrial Investment and Tech Cooperation

India and the UAE will cooperate more closely in sustainable industrial development following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at Emirates Palace on 5 October 2023. Focusing on facilitating industrial investments, technology transfer and enabling the deployment of key technologies in industries, the MoU will benefit both countries through joint industrial and technological developments. The MoU focuses on seven key areas, including supply chain resilience, renewable energy and energy efficiency, health and life sciences, space systems, AI, Industry 4.0 and advanced technologies, as well as standardization and metrology. To build supply chain resilience, the two countries will collaborate to identify opportunities to supply raw materials. Click here to read...

India-UAE Fin-Tech Cooperation

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Al Etihad Payments (AEP) for Domestic Card Scheme (DCS) Implementation in UAE. AEP is an indirect subsidiary of the Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE). As per the agreement, NIPL and AEP will work together to build, implement, and operationalize UAE's national domestic card scheme. The DCS will aim to facilitate the growth of e-commerce and digital transactions in the UAE, bolster financial inclusion, support the UAE's digitization agenda, increase alternate payment options, reduce the cost of payments, and enhance the UAE's competitiveness and position as a global payments leader. The partnership aligns perfectly with NIPL's mission to offer its knowledge and expertise to assist other countries in establishing their own cost-efficient, and secure payment systems. Click here to read...

India-Trinidad & Tobago Cooperation in the field of Digital Technologies

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi has given its approval to a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 11th August 2023 between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Digital Transformation Technology of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation. The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences and digital technologies-based solutions (viz. INDIS STACK) in the implementation of digital transformational initiatives of both the country. The MoU shall come into effect from the date of signature of the Parties and shall be remain in force for a period of 3 years. Both G2G and B2B bilateral Cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) will be enhanced. MoU envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT. Click here to read...

India-EU Trade & Technology Council Working Group on Energy Technologies

The India-European Union (EU) Trade & Technology Council (TTC) Working Group 2 (WG2) convened a two-day international workshop on “Green & Clean Energy Technologies” during 10-11October 2023. India-EU-TTC is strategic coordination and engagement on trade and technology between India and Europe. It was formally announced on 25 April 2022. Within the framework of the TTC, three working groups have been set up. The Working Group 2 on Green & Clean Energy Technologies is chaired by Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India from the Indian side and Mr. Marc Lemaître, Director-General, Directorate General for 'Research and innovation', European Commission, Brussels from the European side. Click here to read...

VI. Regional and Global Trends

The Biden Administration Eyes More AI Chip Curbs to Chinese Companies

The Biden administration is considering closing a loophole that gives Chinese companies access to American artificial intelligence (AI) chips through units located overseas, according to four people familiar with the matter. The United States last year shook relations with Beijing when it unveiled new restrictions on shipments of AI chips and chipmaking tools to China, seeking to thwart its military advances. Those rules are set to be tightened in the coming days. In the initial round of curbs, the Biden administration left overseas subsidiaries of Chinese companies with unfettered access to the same semiconductors, meaning they could easily be smuggled into China or accessed remotely by China-based users. The efforts to close the loophole show how the Biden administration is struggling to cut China off from top AI technology and how difficult it is to plug every gap in export controls. Click here to read...

China’s Chip Imports Decline 15 percent in First Nine Months of 2023

As Beijing braces for a new round of US tech export controls, China’s semiconductor-chip imports declined 14.6 per cent year on year in the first nine months of 2023. According to recent data published by the General Administration of Customs, the number of integrated circuits (ICs) that China imported from January to September reached 355.9 billion units, down from 416.7 billion in the same period last year. The total value of IC imports in the past three quarters fell 19.8 per cent year on year to US$252.9 billion, which marked an improvement from the 26.7 per cent drop in value in the first three months of the year. By comparison, the value of China’s overall imports saw a 7.5 per cent decrease in the same nine-month period. Click here to read...

US Extends Waiver for Taiwan’s TSMC to Continue its Operations in China

On 13 October 2023, Taiwan’s Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) said in a stated that it expects to receive permanent authorization to continue operating a chip manufacturing factory in Nanjing after being granted an extension to a waiver to supply US chip equipment to its factories in China. TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, said it has been authorized to continue operating in Nanjing, where TSMC is expanding its 28-nanometer chip capacity to satisfy demand. In 2022, the chipmaker received a one-year authorization to operate the Nanjing fab deploying 28-nanometer and 16-nanometer technologies. The Chinese market contributed about 12 percent to the company’s total revenue in the second quarter. The authorization has existed since 2007, but TSMC has not needed it previously. It has a modest campus in a Shanghai suburb and operates a site in Nanjing that makes 16-nanometer chips, four generations behind leading-edge technology. Click here to read...

Vivo Vows Support for Executives Arrested in India on Money Laundering

Vivo, the Chinese smartphone maker, has vowed to “exercise all available legal options” to help its four executives arrested in India, as mainland businesses contend with rising geopolitical tensions between Beijing and New Delhi. India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the executives, including one Chinese national. The company said in a statement to the South China Morning Post that Dongguan-based Vivo “firmly adheres to its ethical principles and remains dedicated to legal compliance”. It added, “The recent arrest deeply concerns us. We will exercise all available legal options.” In July 2022, Indian authorities raided dozens of Vivo’s offices on suspicion of money laundering, following similar actions against its Chinese peers Xiaomi and Huawei Technologies in the world’s second-largest smartphone market. Click here to read...