Why in the News?

The Indian Union Budget for 2024-25 announced the establishment of a ₹1,000 crore venture capital fund aimed at boosting the space economy in India. This fund is intended to support space tech startups and small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout their lifecycle.

More on the News

• Purpose: The venture capital fund will provide financial support to space tech startups and SMEs at various stages of development.
• Complementary Initiatives: It will build on existing initiatives like the Seed Fund Scheme launched by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) in 2023.

Need for Promoting Space Tech Start-ups and Private Sector

• Reducing Import Dependency:
• Current Situation: India imports space technology components that are 12 times more costly than the earnings from exports (2021-22). These include components like high-strength carbon fibers and space-qualified solar cells.
• Goal: Reduce import costs by developing domestic space tech capabilities.
• Freeing Up ISRO Resources:
• Focus Shift: Encouraging space entrepreneurship will allow the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to concentrate on core R&D activities such as interplanetary exploration and strategic launches.
• Shifting to a Demand-Driven Model:
• Sector Integration: Space technology integration benefits almost every major sector, from urban development to disaster management, through satellite data.
• Global Competitiveness:
• Foreign Players: Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have revolutionized the global space industry with cost-effective solutions.
• Indian Private Sector: Indian private firms have largely been vendors for government programs; thus, enabling end-to-end space activities will help them compete globally.
• Socio-Economic Benefits:
• Innovations: Space tech can address challenges in agriculture, disaster management, and communication.
• Growth Projection: The Indian space sector is expected to grow at a ~48% CAGR over the next five years, reaching $50 billion.

Private Sector Participation in Space

• Startups: Over 200 space-based startups are currently active in India.
• Milestones:
• Vikram-S: India's first privately built rocket, launched by Skyroot Aerospace.
• NSIL and HAL Partnership: An MoU was signed for producing PSLVs.
• Agnikul Cosmos: Test-launched a 3D-printed rocket engine.
• OneWeb India: Received approval for satellite broadband services from IN-SPACe.

Challenges in Promoting Start-ups and Private Sector Participation

• Regulation Issues:
• Multiplicity of Regulations: Startups face a maze of approvals from multiple agencies (DoS, ISRO, Antrix Corporation).
• Regulator vs. Operator: ISRO’s dual role as both regulator and operator creates conflicts of interest.
• Risky Nature of Industry:
• Market Uncertainty: Long incubation periods and lack of a guaranteed market make space ventures risky for investors.
• Funding Constraints:
• Investor Preferences: Indian investors often prefer safer investments over high-risk space tech ventures.
• Cost Issues: Reliance on imported materials increases costs and delays.
• Security and Strategic Concerns:
• Risks: Increased private sector involvement raises concerns about foreign interference and security.
• Other Challenges:
• Talent Pool: Limited skilled workforce.
• Space Debris: Growing space activities increase space debris.

India’s Initiatives to Promote Space-Tech Entrepreneurship

• Key Organizations:
• IN-SPACe: Regulates and promotes private space activities in India.
• Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL): Handles commercial activities of ISRO.
• New Space India Limited (NSIL): Manages ISRO's commercial endeavors.
• Indian Space Association (ISpA): Industry body for private space sector development.
• Key Initiatives:
• Indian Space Policy 2023: Allows full participation of non-government entities in space activities.
• FDI Policy: Allows up to 74% FDI in satellite manufacturing and 49% in launch vehicles and spaceports.
• SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN): Encourages public-private collaboration for space startups.
• Tax Benefits: Satellite launches are exempt from GST.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
• ATL Space Challenge: Encourages students to tackle space sector challenges.
• AIC Scheme: Supports startups in UAVs, drones, space debris tracking, and more.
• Mentoring: Access to retired ISRO experts for guidance.

Way Forward

• Enact Space Activities Act:
• Purpose: Provide legal clarity and impetus for the industry.
• Mapping Value Chain:
• Action: Identify challenges and trends, and facilitate government contracts for private startups.
• Capacity Building:
• Programs: Invest in academic and training programs for skills in systems engineering.
• Building Synergy:
• Partnerships: Foster collaborations between startups, ISRO, and international companies.
• Other Measures:
• Funding: Increase the Technology Development Fund Corpus and viability gap funding.

By implementing these measures, India aims to strengthen its space economy, enhance private sector participation, and position itself as a competitive player in the global space industry.

• Development: The Zorawar, India's indigenous light tank, is a collaborative effort between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• Prototype: The prototype of the Zorawar is complete and will soon begin extensive trials to validate its performance and capabilities.

Key Features:

• Weight and Mobility: The Zorawar is classified as a light tank, weighing under 25 tonnes. This lightweight design enhances its mobility and agility, making it suitable for diverse operational environments.
• Engine: It is powered by a Cummins engine, but DRDO is also working on developing a domestic engine to further enhance self-reliance. Additionally, DRDO is developing a new 1400 HP engine for the Arjun Mk1A main battle tank.
• Operational Conditions: The tank is specifically designed to function effectively in extreme weather and high-altitude conditions, particularly along India's northern borders.
• Transportability: The Zorawar is engineered for easy air transport, allowing for rapid deployment and operational flexibility.
• Firepower: It is capable of firing at high angles, which is crucial for engaging targets in varied terrain.

Strategic Importance:

• Response to Standoff: The need for a light tank like the Zorawar became particularly apparent during the standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh. China had deployed modern light tanks and other armored vehicles, highlighting the requirement for India to enhance its own capabilities in similar domains.
• Versatility and Upgrades: The Zorawar is designed to be versatile and adaptable for future upgrades, ensuring that it can incorporate advanced technologies as they become available.

Collaborative Efforts:

• MSME Involvement: The project involves collaboration with various Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), promoting indigenous defense development and boosting local industry participation in defense manufacturing.

The Zorawar light tank represents a significant advancement in India's indigenous defense capabilities. Its development is a response to emerging threats and operational needs, particularly in high-altitude and challenging terrains. With its lightweight design, advanced features, and focus on future upgrades, the Zorawar is poised to enhance India's armored warfare capabilities and contribute to national security. The project also exemplifies the growing role of domestic industry and innovation in defense technology.

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is in the news due to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approving funds for the next phase of the Bustard Recovery Program, which will run from 2024 to 2029. Here's an overview of the program, its background, current status, and objectives:

Bustard Recovery Program

Coverage of Species

• Great Indian Bustard (GIB): A critically endangered species with very few individuals left in the wild.
• Lesser Florican: Another endangered bustard species, also under threat.
• Other Bustard Species in India:
• Bengal Florican
• Macqueen's Bustard

Background

• Initial Plan: Recovery efforts for bustards began in 2013 under the National Bustard Recovery Plan.
• Bustard Recovery Project: Launched in 2016, this project aimed for an initial five-year period and has now been extended until 2033.

Current Status

• Great Indian Bustard: Approximately 140 individuals remaining in the wild.
• Lesser Florican: Fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining.

Project Implementation

• Lead Agency: Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
• Funding Agency: National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
• Partner Agencies:
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Rajasthan Forest Department
• Gujarat Forest Department
• Maharashtra Forest Department

Project Objectives

• Conservation Breeding:
• Goal: Establish secure ex-situ populations of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican to support recovery efforts.
• Applied Research:
• Focus: Identify and prioritize conservation areas, understand threats, assess the status of populations and habitats, and evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies.
• Capacity-Building and Outreach:
• Objective: Enhance protection efforts, raise awareness among stakeholders, and encourage sustainable land-use practices.
• Pilot Implementation of Surgical Habitat Management:
• Aim: Test and showcase best practices through experimental habitat management interventions to improve habitat conditions for bustards.

Significance

The Great Indian Bustard is one of the most critically endangered bird species in India, with its population declining rapidly due to habitat loss, hunting, and other anthropogenic pressures. The Bustard Recovery Program is a crucial step in halting and reversing this decline, aiming to secure a future for both the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican through comprehensive conservation efforts.

The approval of funds and the continuation of the Bustard Recovery Project reflect the government's commitment to preserving these iconic species and their habitats. Through collaborative efforts involving various agencies and stakeholders, the program seeks to address the multifaceted challenges faced by these endangered bustards and ensure their survival for future generations.

The conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is a complex and multi-faceted effort involving various agencies, legal protections, and specialized programs.

Collaborating Agencies

• Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
• Role: Promotes nature conservation across India with a focus on biological diversity through research, education, and public awareness.
• History: Established in 1883, BNHS is a leading wildlife research organization in India.
• International Fund for Houbara Conservation / Reneco
• Focus: Conservation efforts for the Houbara bustard and related initiatives.
• The Corbett Foundation
• Role: Works on wildlife conservation, including bustard species, through various initiatives.
• Humane Society International
• Objective: Engages in animal protection and welfare activities, including conservation of endangered species.
• Jivdaya Charitable Trust
• Mission: Focuses on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, including bustard conservation.
• The Grasslands Trust
• Goal: Dedicated to the conservation of grassland ecosystems, which are crucial for the GIB’s habitat.

About the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

Conservation Status

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Listed under Schedule I and IV, providing high levels of protection.
• IUCN Red List: Classified as Critically Endangered, reflecting its severe risk of extinction.
• CITES: Listed in Appendix I, which includes species threatened with extinction and prohibits international trade.

Key Characteristics

• Habitat: An agro-grassland bird endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. In India, the GIB primarily inhabits Rajasthan and Gujarat, with smaller populations in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Food Habit: Omnivorous, feeding on grass seeds, insects (like grasshoppers and beetles), and occasionally small rodents and reptiles.
• Behavior: Lacks frontal vision and breeds mainly during the monsoon season, laying a single egg on open ground.
• Ecological Role: Acts as an indicator species for the health of grassland ecosystems.

Steps Taken for GIB Conservation

• Protected Areas
• Designations: Key habitats have been designated as National Parks and sanctuaries, such as Desert National Park (Rajasthan) and Naliya Grassland (Lala Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary).
• Species Recovery Programme
• Initiative: Part of the centrally Sponsored Scheme for Wildlife Habitat Development, this program provides financial and technical assistance to states for GIB protection.
• Conservation Breeding
• Objective: Develop captive populations for eventual release into the wild and support in-situ conservation. Breeding centers are operational in places like Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan.
• Legal Protection
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: The GIB is protected under Schedule I, which prohibits hunting and trade.
• Capacity Development
• Training: Includes specialized training in artificial incubation and insemination techniques. For example, personnel were trained in these techniques at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) in Abu Dhabi during 2022-23.
• Supreme Court Oversight
• Legal Monitoring: The Supreme Court is actively involved in monitoring the conservation program for GIB and Lesser Florican, with a pending petition seeking further protection for these species.

Conclusion

The conservation of the Great Indian Bustard requires a coordinated, multi-level approach involving various stakeholders, from government agencies to non-governmental organizations. By addressing habitat protection, legal frameworks, breeding programs, and capacity building, these efforts aim to secure the future of the GIB and, by extension, the health of its grassland ecosystem. The involvement of the Supreme Court underscores the importance of judicial oversight in ensuring effective conservation measures.