India stands at a strategic crossroads where technology is no longer just an enabler of development but a core instrument of national power. In his recent Independence Day address, the Prime Minister called upon the nation to break free from technological dependency and assert itself as a leader in deep-tech innovation. This call reflects an urgent national imperative to build technological sovereignty across critical domains such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and space technology—areas shaping the future of economies, governance, and global influence.
Understanding Deep Technology
Deep technology (deep-tech) refers to innovations founded on cutting-edge scientific and engineering breakthroughs. Unlike traditional startups that focus on business model innovation—such as e-commerce or fintech—deep-tech ventures are technology-first and built on original R&D. They often involve longer development timelines, higher capital requirements, and greater technical complexity, but hold the potential for transformative impact across sectors.
Examples of deep-tech fields include:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Quantum Computing
Biotechnology
Advanced Materials
Space Technology
Deep-tech startups differ fundamentally from traditional startups not only in their focus but also in their funding needs, risk profile, and long gestation periods, requiring a vastly different ecosystem of support.
India’s Strengths in Deep-Tech
India is home to a large base of world-class engineers, scientists, and researchers. Indian professionals form the backbone of global tech companies’ R&D centers, and many top tech leaders globally are of Indian origin. India ranks third in the world in scientific research output and has made impressive gains in the Global Innovation Index, climbing from 81st to 39th.
Indian startups and institutions can operate at significantly lower costs than their counterparts in the US or Europe. This cost efficiency allows Indian deep-tech ventures to conduct experiments, iterate prototypes, and deploy pilots more affordably, making them attractive partners for global collaboration.
Recent years have seen a strong government push through initiatives like:
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for semiconductors
National missions in AI, quantum technologies, and green hydrogen
Expansion of fellowships like the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF)
These efforts indicate growing political commitment to support indigenous capabilities in critical technologies.
Despite these strengths, India’s deep-tech ecosystem faces significant structural and systemic bottlenecks that must be urgently addressed.
India’s bureaucratic system rooted in its colonial administrative legacy is not designed for innovation. The regulatory ecosystem is slow, approvals for research funding, IP filings, and testing clearances are often delayed. Multiple ministries govern different parts of deep-tech MeitY, DST, DRDO, DBT, ISRO creating fragmented oversight and poor coordination. Additionally, bureaucratic risk-aversion, driven by fear of audits and political backlash, further discourages support for cutting-edge technologies.
Deep-tech requires long-term patient capital, yet India lacks a dedicated strategic deep-tech fund. While India has a significant CSR pool (~₹15,000 crore annually), these funds are largely underutilized in supporting technology R&D. Private investors also remain hesitant due to the high-risk, long-horizon nature of deep-tech. As a result, missions like IndiaAI and the National Quantum Mission remain underfunded when compared to global counterparts.
While India produces top-tier scientific talent, many researchers leave for better opportunities abroad. Domestic R&D budgets remain low, and academia-industry linkages are weak. Indian universities often do not produce large-scale, impactful research. Moreover, IP creation is limited, and India still largely serves as the back office of global innovation rather than a source of new deep technologies. The lack of advanced computing infrastructure, such as GPU clusters, also hampers AI and quantum research.
India’s rapid deployment of technologies like facial recognition and AI-powered surveillance raises critical privacy and civil liberties issues. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) has been criticized for granting broad exemptions to the government, thus weakening safeguards for citizens. In the absence of robust legal frameworks, these technologies risk overreach, creating a surveillance-heavy state with limited accountability.
India’s innovation culture currently favors execution over invention. Startups are often focused on fintech, quick commerce, and other capital-light models that offer fast returns. As a result, frontier technologies are underexplored, and deep-tech is treated as a niche sector rather than critical infrastructure. Political theatrics and ideological disputes with global tech firms sometimes distract from the more pressing work of building core national capabilities.
In response to the above challenges, the government has launched multiple efforts aimed at nurturing deep-tech innovation.
Led by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, the NDTSP proposes over 80 policy interventions, following consultations with nearly 200 experts. The policy aims to:
Strengthen technological sovereignty
Promote ethical and inclusive innovation
Support startups through funding, infrastructure, and IP protection
Build a knowledge-driven economy
The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) has been expanded, aiming to support 10,000 PhD scholars over the next five years. Additionally, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will fund high-priority research in electric vehicles, climate tech, and foundational science.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS): Focused on AI, robotics, drones, and IoT.
Indian Semiconductor Mission: Focused on chip manufacturing and design.
EVolutionS: Encouraging startups to develop EV components.
BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council): Supporting biotech innovation and commercialization.
CEST (Climate, Energy and Sustainable Technology): Focused on hydrogen, carbon capture, methane mitigation, and AI-based climate modelling.
The government is promoting Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) across academic institutions to help early-stage startups move from prototype to product.
To become a global leader in deep-tech, India must take several coordinated steps:
India needs an India Strategic Fund that bridges the gap between academic research and industrial application. Models from the US (e.g., DARPA, NSF) and Israel (e.g., Yozma Fund) can offer valuable lessons.
Governance needs to be fast, accountable, and coordinated. Streamlining regulatory processes, integrating efforts across ministries, and empowering innovation-friendly bureaucrats are key.
Joint R&D programs, co-funded university labs, and IP commercialization strategies are essential to bring research to market.
India must scale up advanced computing infrastructure and increase public funding for R&D to retain talent and support cutting-edge innovation.
A cultural shift is needed—from incrementalism and short-term gains to long-term, foundational innovation. Deep-tech should be viewed as a strategic national asset, not just a commercial opportunity.
India has the essential ingredients talent, market size, and policy momentum to become a global deep-tech leader. However, this potential will remain untapped unless the country overcomes structural inertia, bureaucratic barriers, and cultural limitations. With bold reforms, strategic investments, and a clear national vision, India can move beyond being the back-office of the world and take its rightful place as a creator of the technologies that will define the future.
As the world cautiously begins to turn a corner in its struggle against hunger, India has emerged as a pivotal force driving this progress. At a time when food insecurity continues to rise in several regions, India’s strategic policy reforms, digital innovations, and inclusive nutrition programs are demonstrating that transformational change is achievable. The UN’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 report highlights India’s contributions as a rare bright spot amid worrying global trends.
Despite incremental improvements, hunger remains a persistent global challenge:
In 2024, 673 million people were undernourished globally, only a modest decrease from 688 million in 2023.
Africa and Western Asia continue to see worsening food security, with over 20% of Africa’s population affected.
If current trends continue, 512 million people could still be facing hunger by 2030, with 60% residing in Africa.
In 2024, 2.3 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity — 336 million more than in 2019.
2.6 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet, with affordability deteriorating in low-income countries (excluding India).
Food price inflation has been a major barrier, peaking at 13.6% globally in January 2023 and reaching 30% in low-income regions.
Stunting declined globally to 23.2% in 2024, down from 180 million children (2012) to 150.2 million.
However, wasting (6.6%) and overweight (5.5%) rates among children have seen little improvement.
Exclusive breastfeeding increased from 37% (2012) to 47.8% (2023)—a major milestone.
Only 34% of children (6–23 months) receive minimum dietary diversity, and 65% of women (15–49 years) meet basic dietary standards.
Alarmingly, anaemia among women has risen from 27.6% to 30.7% between 2012 and 2023.
According to the Global Food Security Report 2025, India has made significant strides:
Undernourishment in India dropped from 14.3% (2020–22) to 12% (2022–24)—a reduction of nearly 30 million people.
While global hunger remains stagnant or worsens in many regions, India’s gains have helped offset regressions, particularly in Africa and Western Asia.
Despite the progress, India faces critical challenges that threaten long-term food and nutrition security:
Over 60% of Indians still cannot afford a healthy diet.
Nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, pulses, and animal products remain unaffordable for many.
Cold-chain infrastructure is inadequate, affecting access to perishable nutritious foods.
India has contributed significantly to increased breastfeeding rates, yet:
Anaemia among women continues to rise.
Children’s dietary diversity remains low, increasing the risk of hidden hunger.
India loses up to 13% of its food between farm and market.
Inadequate cold storage, inefficient logistics, and outdated transportation systems lead to spoilage and wastage.
Even as hunger declines, malnutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies are growing.
These issues are pronounced among the urban poor and rural populations.
Despite being a top food producer, India suffers from:
Fragmented land holdings
Limited access to modern technology
Climate-induced variability and water stress
Many households lack basic knowledge about balanced diets, especially for children and pregnant women.
While digital reforms have improved distribution, data inaccuracies, inconsistent implementation, and last-mile delivery failures persist.
Migrant and informal sector populations often remain excluded from entitlement systems.
India’s success lies in its multi-pronged strategy—combining technology, nutrition, agriculture, and community engagement.
Aadhaar-enabled digitization ensures leakage reduction and targeted delivery.
One Nation, One Ration Card makes entitlements portable, ensuring food access for migrant workers across states.
PM POSHAN (Midday Meal Scheme) now emphasizes dietary diversity and child development.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) supports early childhood nutrition and health monitoring.
POSHAN Abhiyaan tackles stunting, anaemia, and low birth weight through data-driven monitoring and community outreach.
National Food Security Mission encourages:
Crop diversification
Improved seed use
Sustainable, climate-resilient practices
Agro-climatic planning tailors interventions to local ecological needs.
The Zero Hunger Programme promotes biofortified crops and nutrient-rich genetic gardens.
Staples like rice and wheat are fortified with iron, folic acid, and vitamin A.
Campaigns like Eat Right India raise awareness on balanced diets, hygiene, and safe food choices.
School programs and community health workers help spread nutrition literacy.
Investments in cold chains, logistics, and storage infrastructure aim to:
Reduce food loss
Improve access to perishables
Support higher income for farmers
Focus on nutrient-rich food production including:
Pulses, vegetables, fruits, and animal products
Support for women-led FPOs cultivating climate-resilient crops
Use of digital tools like:
AgriStack
e-NAM (National Agricultural Market)
Geospatial planning platforms
With just five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—especially SDG 2: Zero Hunger—India’s achievements offer hope and direction. The country has proven that hunger can be reduced despite economic and climate headwinds, provided there is:
Strong political will
Smart public investment
Community-driven and inclusive policies
As the world confronts worsening inequality and food insecurity, India’s model—though still evolving—demonstrates that it is possible to feed people with dignity, ensure nutritional security, and transform food systems sustainably.
Jackie Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and an early investor in the company, recently passed away in Miami due to Lewy Body Dementia (LBD).
Lewy Body Dementia is a progressive and complex brain disorder. It is recognized as the second most common form of dementia, after Alzheimer’s disease.
LBD is associated with the abnormal accumulation of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These protein deposits, known as Lewy bodies, interfere with normal brain chemistry. As a result, individuals with LBD may experience problems related to thinking, movement, behavior, mood, and body functions.
There are two main forms of Lewy Body Dementia that cause cognitive symptoms:
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD)
The condition usually begins at age 50 or older, although it can sometimes affect younger individuals. It appears to be slightly more common in men than in women.
LBD causes a gradual decline in mental abilities, which worsens over time. On average, the disease lasts five to seven years from the time of diagnosis until death, though it can range from two to twenty years depending on the individual.
People with LBD may experience visual hallucinations, where they see things that are not present. They may also exhibit fluctuating levels of alertness and attention.
Many patients show Parkinsonian symptoms, such as:
Rigid muscles
Slow movement
Difficulty walking
Tremors
As the disease progresses, individuals require increasing assistance with daily activities. In the later stages, they may become entirely dependent on others for care.
Currently, there is no cure or known way to prevent Lewy Body Dementia. However, certain medications and therapies can help manage the symptoms temporarily. These may include treatments for cognitive decline, movement disorders, and behavioral issues. Supportive therapies such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy can also improve quality of life.
Scientists have recently recorded the presence of the rare nocturnal moth species Antitrisuloides catocalina in the Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary located in Palakkad district, Kerala.
Antitrisuloides catocalina is a nocturnal moth belonging to the genus Antitrisuloides.
It is a member of the Noctuidae family, which includes two known species worldwide.
The specimen discovered in Kerala was previously known only from North-East India.
Detailed analysis identified the Kerala specimen as a subspecies called Antitrisuloides catocalina cyclica.
This discovery expands the known geographical range of the species to the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats.
Also known as Mayiladumpara, the sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation and breeding of the majestic peacock.
Located in Palakkad district, Kerala, it is the only peacock sanctuary in Kerala and the first of its kind in India.
Established in 1996, the sanctuary honors the memory of Induchoodan, a legendary Indian ornithologist and writer from the nearby village of Kavassery.
The sanctuary is nestled in lush green landscapes and serves as a vital habitat for peafowl and other wildlife.
e-Sushrut@Clinic is a lightweight, cloud-based Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) specifically tailored for outpatient clinics. Developed by C-DAC, it is a simplified version of their flagship e-Sushrut HMIS software.This government-backed platform is designed to cater to the needs of small and medium-sized healthcare providers, offering a cost-effective solution to digitize health services and records.
Key Features
Outpatient Focus: Designed for outpatient management, pharmacy, and nursing workflows.
Affordable & Accessible: Delivers essential healthcare functionalities at a low per-user cost.
Easy Onboarding:
Any healthcare provider can access it via laptop or mobile browser.
Onboarding is facilitated through integration with the Health Facility Registry (HFR) and Health Professionals Registry (HPR).
Providers not registered with HFR/HPR can register directly on the platform.
Enhanced Healthcare Delivery:
Enables digital management of patient records, prescriptions, and billing with minimal technical requirements.
Supports telemedicine, diagnostics, and prescription management.
Integration with ABDM:
Offers several ABDM utilities including integration with the AIIMS Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) for hypertension and diabetes.
The CDSS is free for all ABDM-integrated software and assists doctors in diagnosis and treatment planning.
The launch of e-Sushrut@Clinic marks a major step in the digitization of India’s healthcare sector, especially for public and private outpatient clinics.
It lowers the digital entry barrier for smaller healthcare facilities and ensures standardized care delivery under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
The Prime Minister recently announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, a new employment-focused initiative aimed at boosting formal job creation in the country.
The scheme aims to create over 3.5 crore formal jobs within a period of two years, by offering direct cash incentives to both first-time employees and employers.
The scheme is divided into two parts:
This part targets first-time employees who are registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Eligible employees with a monthly salary of up to ₹1 lakh will receive EPF wage support of up to ₹15,000, disbursed in two installments.
1st installment: Payable after 6 months of continuous service.
2nd installment: Payable after 12 months of service and completion of a financial literacy programme.
To promote savings, a portion of the incentive will be retained in a savings instrument or fixed deposit, which the employee can withdraw later.
Aimed at encouraging additional employment generation, especially in the manufacturing sector.
Employers hiring new employees (with monthly salaries up to ₹1 lakh) will receive incentives up to ₹3,000 per employee per month for a period of two years, provided the employment is sustained for at least six months.
For jobs created in the manufacturing sector, the incentive period will be extended to the third and fourth years as well.
Payments to first-time employees (Part A) will be made via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System (ABPS).
Payments to employers (Part B) will be credited directly to their PAN-linked bank accounts.
This scheme marks a major policy push towards formalizing employment, especially for youth entering the workforce for the first time.
By supporting both workers and employers, it aims to reduce informal sector dependency, boost job stability, and strengthen financial inclusion.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
Offline/Online Class
