BharatNotes Time needed: 3–4 hours | High-yield rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10–15 questions per paper)
ISRO — Space Missions
Chandrayaan Series
| Mission | Launch | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Chandrayaan-1 | Oct 22, 2008 | India's first lunar mission; discovered water molecules on Moon (M3 instrument, NASA collaboration) |
| Chandrayaan-2 | Jul 22, 2019 | Orbiter (still functional); Vikram lander crash-landed; Pragyan rover could not deploy |
| Chandrayaan-3 | Jul 14, 2023 | Soft-landed August 23, 2023 (18:04 IST); near south polar region (~69°S); India = 4th country to soft-land on Moon and 1st ever near lunar south pole |
Prelims trap: Chandrayaan-3 landed near (not exactly at) the geographic south pole — described as "south polar region." In-situ confirmation of sulphur on the lunar south pole surface for the first time.
Aditya-L1 (Solar Mission)
- Launch: September 2, 2023 (PSLV-C57), Sriharikota
- Destination: Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point halo orbit — reached January 6, 2024
- India's first solar observatory; world's first solar observatory at L1 from a developing country
- 7 payloads: VELC, SUIT, PAPA, SoLEXS, HEL1OS, ASPEX, MAG
- Purpose: Study solar corona, solar winds, CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections), space weather
XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite)
- Launch: January 1, 2024 (PSLV-C58), Sriharikota
- India's first dedicated X-ray polarimetry mission and world's second (after NASA's IXPE, 2021)
- Studies X-ray polarisation from black holes, neutron stars, pulsars
SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment)
- Launch: December 30, 2024 (PSLV-C60); Docking: January 16, 2025; Undocking: March 13, 2025
- Two 220 kg spacecraft (Chaser + Target); used indigenous Bhartiya Docking System
- India = 4th country to demonstrate space docking (after USA-1966, USSR/Russia-1967, China-2011)
- Key technology for future space stations and lunar missions
Prelims trap: SpaDeX docking happened on January 16, 2025 (launched December 30, 2024). India is the 4th country — not the 3rd or 5th.
RLV (Reusable Launch Vehicle) — "Pushpak"
- RLV-LEX-02: March 22, 2024; Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka
- Tests autonomous landing capability — crucial for future reusable rockets (like SpaceX Falcon 9)
Gaganyaan (Human Spaceflight)
| Phase | Status / Target |
|---|---|
| TV-D1 (Crew Escape abort test) | October 21, 2023 — successful; tested crew escape system at sea |
| G1 (First uncrewed orbital flight) | Target: H2 2026 (delayed from December 2025); will carry Vyommitra humanoid robot |
| H1 (Crewed mission) | Target: 2027 (ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, May 2025) |
- Astronaut trainees: Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, Shubhanshu Shukla
Prelims trap: Gaganyaan's crewed mission is targeted for 2027, not 2025 or 2026. G1 is uncrewed; H1 is crewed.
ISRO Launch Vehicles — Comparison Table
| Vehicle | Payload to LEO | Payload to GTO | Engine type | Key missions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSLV | 500 kg (LEO) / 300 kg (SSO) | — | Solid + liquid | EOS-07 (Feb 2023 — first success); maiden Aug 2022 failed; SSLV-D3 (Aug 2024) = operational; technology transferred to HAL + IIL consortium |
| PSLV | 3.8 tonnes | 1.75 tonnes | Solid-Liquid-Solid-Liquid | Workhorse; Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter, Aditya-L1, XPoSat; 58+ missions |
| GSLV Mk II | 5 tonnes | 2.5 tonnes | Liquid + Russian cryogenic | INSAT/GSAT series; NVS-02 (Jan 2025); NISAR (Jul 2025) |
| LVM3 (GSLV Mk III) | 8 tonnes | 4 tonnes | Solid + liquid + indigenous cryogenic (CE-20) | Chandrayaan-3, OneWeb, Gaganyaan test flights; 100% success rate (9 flights) |
Key difference: LVM3 uses India's indigenous cryogenic engine (CE-20); GSLV Mk2 uses Russian-supplied cryogenic upper stage.
Other ISRO Missions
| Mission | Details |
|---|---|
| NISAR | NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar; launched July 30, 2025 (GSLV-F16); 743 km sun-synchronous orbit; dual-frequency SAR (NASA: L-band; ISRO: S-band + spacecraft bus); maps Earth's land/ice every 4–6 days at 5–10 m resolution; first satellite where NASA and ISRO co-developed hardware |
| PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 | January 12, 2026; EOS-N1 = DRDO imaging satellite; 17 commercial co-payloads |
| Shukrayaan-1 (Venus Orbiter Mission) | Cabinet approved September 18, 2024; Launch: March 29, 2028 (LVM3); India's first Venus mission; India's 2nd interplanetary mission after MOM (2013) |
| Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) | Cabinet approved September 18, 2024; BAS-1 first module launch: 2028; Full 5-module station: 2035; 52 tonnes; 400 km orbit; crew of 3–4 |
| India's crewed Moon landing | Target: 2040 |
Prelims trap: NISAR launched aboard GSLV (not PSLV or LVM3). It is the first satellite with co-developed hardware between NASA and ISRO. BAS completion = 2035; BAS-1 first module = 2028; crewed Moon landing = 2040 — three different dates.
ISRO's Commercial Architecture
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL):
- Incorporated: March 2019; Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under Department of Space
- Role: Current primary commercial arm of ISRO; handles technology transfer, PSLV/SSLV production, commercial satellite services; managed OneWeb launches (LVM3)
IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre):
- HQ: Bopal, Ahmedabad, Gujarat — under Department of Space
- Role: Authorises and supervises space activities of Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs/private sector); single-window clearance
- First private launch authorised: Vikram-S (Skyroot Aerospace), November 18, 2022
India's Private Space Sector:
| Company | Achievement | Date | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyroot Aerospace | Vikram-S — India's first private rocket | November 18, 2022 | Sub-orbital; 88.8 km altitude; Mach 5.07; Mission "Prarambh" |
| Agnikul Cosmos | Agnibaan SOrTeD — world's first single-piece 3D-printed engine rocket | May 30, 2024 | Semi-cryogenic; sub-orbital test from India's first private launch pad (ALP-01, Sriharikota) |
Prelims trap: IN-SPACe HQ is in Ahmedabad (NOT Bengaluru or Delhi). Vikram-S (Skyroot) = India's first-ever private rocket (November 2022). Agnibaan = world's first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine rocket (May 2024).
International Space
| Mission/Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Artemis Programme (NASA) | Return humans to Moon; Artemis I (uncrewed, Nov 2022); Artemis II — see dedicated table below; Artemis III (crewed lunar landing, target 2027) |
| James Webb Space Telescope | Launched Dec 25, 2021; L2 Lagrange point; infrared; deepest images of universe; operational since July 2022 |
| Perseverance Rover (Mars) | NASA; landed February 18, 2021; Jezero crater; Ingenuity helicopter (first powered flight on another planet) |
| Artemis Accords — India signed | India signed June 21, 2023 during PM Modi's Washington D.C. state visit; India became 27th signatory; NOT a treaty — politically binding executive agreements |
| SpaceX Starship | Booster caught by "Mechazilla" tower, November 2024; developing fully reusable super-heavy launch system |
| China's Tiangong Space Station | Operational; Chang'e-6 mission (2024) — first far-side Moon sample return |
Prelims trap: Artemis Accords are NOT a treaty — they are executive agreements; no parliamentary ratification required. India signed June 21, 2023. Separate from Outer Space Treaty 1967 (which India IS a signatory to). Artemis II (crewed flyby) launched April 1, 2026 — NOT 2025; completed April 10. Artemis III (crewed lunar landing) now targeted 2027.
Artemis II — Dedicated Table (April 2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Crewed lunar flyby (NOT lunar orbit; NOT landing) |
| Launch | April 1, 2026 — Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1, Kennedy Space Centre |
| Splashdown | April 10, 2026 (Pacific Ocean) — 10-day mission |
| Crew | Reid Wiseman (Commander, NASA), Victor Glover (Pilot, NASA), Christina Koch (NASA), Jeremy Hansen (CSA — Canadian Space Agency) |
| Spacecraft | Orion; crew named it "Integrity" |
| Distance record | 406,771 km (252,756 miles) from Earth — broke Apollo 13's record of 400,171 km |
| Lunar closest approach | ~6,545 km from Moon's far side surface |
| Communications blackout | ~40 minutes behind the Moon — longest comm blackout in crewed spaceflight history |
| Historic firsts | First crewed flight beyond LEO since Apollo 17 (December 1972) — 54-year gap; Christina Koch = first woman beyond LEO; Victor Glover = first person of colour beyond LEO; Jeremy Hansen = first non-US citizen beyond LEO |
| Other milestones | Crew witnessed total solar eclipse from space; saw Moon's far side with naked eye |
Prelims trap: Artemis II was a flyby, NOT a lunar orbit or landing. The crew did NOT land on the Moon — that is Artemis III (targeted 2027). Jeremy Hansen is Canadian (CSA), not NASA. Distance record broken = Apollo 13's record (not Apollo 11). First humans beyond LEO since Apollo 17 (1972), NOT Apollo 11 (1969).
Defence & Strategic
Missiles
| Missile | Type | Range | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agni-V | ICBM (ballistic) | 5,000+ km | MIRV test = Mission Divyastra, March 11, 2024 (Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha); India joins MIRV club (USA, Russia, China, UK, France) |
| Agni-IV | IRBM | 3,500–4,000 km | |
| BrahMos | Supersonic cruise | 290–800 km | India-Russia joint venture; fastest cruise missile in service; IAF's Su-30 MKI equipped |
| Pralay | Quasi-ballistic | 150–500 km | Inducted into Army; less detectable than ballistic missiles |
| Agni Prime (Agni-P) | Canisterised ballistic | ~1,000–2,000 km | New generation; lighter; canister launch |
| Astra Mk1 | Air-to-air (BVR) | 70–110 km | Beyond-visual-range; IAF Su-30 and Tejas |
| MRSAM/Barak-8 | Surface-to-air | 70–100 km | India-Israel co-development; naval + air defence |
Aircraft & Naval
- INS Vikrant: India's first domestically built aircraft carrier; commissioned September 2, 2022 (Kochi); 45,000 tonnes; STOBAR system; Rafale-M deal signed April 2025 (26 jets, ~₹63,000 crore) — will replace MiG-29K
- INS Arihant: 1st SSBN; commissioned 2016
- INS Arighaat: 2nd SSBN; commissioned August 29, 2024
- INS Aridhaman: 3rd SSBN; commissioned April 3, 2026 — 8 missile tubes; completes nuclear triad's undersea leg
- LCA Tejas Mk1A: 83 aircraft (first order, Feb 2021) + 97 aircraft (second order, September 2025) = 180 total ordered; GE F404 engines (113-engine deal, November 2025)
- AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft): 5th-gen stealth fighter; DRDO development; design phase
Prelims trap: India has 3 operational SSBNs as of May 2026. SSBN = nuclear-powered submarine carrying nuclear ballistic missiles — core to India's nuclear triad (land + air + sea). Total Tejas Mk1A ordered = 180 aircraft.
Nuclear Energy
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operating reactors | 24–25 (PHWRs + BWRs + 1 PFBR) |
| Nuclear capacity | ~7,480 MW (as of 2025) |
| PFBR (Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor) | Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu; achieved first criticality April 6, 2026 (PIB/DAE); operated by BHAVINI (not NPCIL); 500 MWe; liquid sodium coolant; MOX fuel (U-Pu); part of India's 3-stage nuclear programme |
| India's thorium reserves | World's largest (~25–30% of global reserves) — Kerala coastal sands (monazite); ~846,000 tonnes (AMD assessment) |
| NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) | India NOT a member; received NSG waiver 2008 (US-India Civil Nuclear Deal); China blocks membership |
| Nuclear Doctrine | No First Use (NFU); massive retaliation; civilian control |
Three-Stage Nuclear Programme:
| Stage | Reactor | Fuel | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | PHWRs (Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors) | Natural uranium | Electricity + Plutonium-239 (by-product) |
| Stage 2 | FBRs (Fast Breeder Reactors) | Pu-239 + thorium blanket | More Pu-239 + U-233 from Th-232 conversion; PFBR = Stage 2 beginning |
| Stage 3 | AHWRs (Advanced Heavy Water Reactors) | U-233 from Stage 2 + thorium | Closes thorium cycle; India self-sufficient in nuclear fuel |
India's Civilian Nuclear Deals:
| Country | Year | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 2008 | "123 Agreement" (Section 123 of US Atomic Energy Act); India got NSG waiver |
| France | 2008 | Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (Maharashtra) — 6 EPR reactors; 9.6 GWe capacity |
| Russia | Long-standing | Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Tamil Nadu); VVER reactors |
| Japan | 2016 (in force 2017) | Japan = only country to have suffered nuclear attack; enables Japanese nuclear technology/companies |
| Australia | 2014 | Uranium supply; first Australian uranium shipment 2017 |
| Canada | 2010 | Uranium supply; Canada had cut ties after India's 1974 Pokhran-I test |
Prelims trap: PFBR achieved criticality on April 6, 2026 — NOT yet in commercial operation (grid connection target late 2026). Once commercial, India becomes only the second country after Russia to operate a commercial fast breeder reactor. PFBR is built and operated by BHAVINI (not NPCIL). India is the only NPT non-signatory with nuclear weapons to have received an NSG waiver.
Prelims trap: India has the world's LARGEST thorium reserves — NOT 2nd or 3rd largest. Thorium is in monazite sands along Kerala's coast (not uranium deposits; uranium deposits are in Jharkhand/Jadugoda and Rajasthan).
Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GM Crops & GEAC
- Bt cotton (2002): India's only commercially approved transgenic GM crop; Cry protein from Bacillus thuringiensis kills bollworm
- Bt brinjal: Moratorium since 2010 (Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh); biodiversity concern
- GM Mustard (HT Mustard DMH-11): GEAC approved October 2022; Supreme Court stayed commercial release; no commercial cultivation as of 2026; would be India's second GM crop and first food crop GM variety
- Genome editing (CRISPR) — 2022 regulation change: SDN-1 and SDN-2 (no foreign DNA inserted) exempt from strict GMO rules (MoEF&CC notification, March 2022); SDN-3 (inserts foreign DNA) still requires full GEAC approval
- GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee): Under MoEFCC (not Ministry of Agriculture)
Prelims trap: GEAC is under MoEFCC, not Agriculture Ministry. Bt cotton approved 2002. GM mustard is NOT commercially cultivated as of 2026.
CRISPR-Cas9
- Discovery: Jennifer Doudna + Emmanuelle Charpentier — Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020
- Cas9 protein: From Streptococcus pyogenes; guided by gRNA to cut DNA at specific sequences
- Applications: Gene therapy, crop improvement, gene drives for pest control, diagnostics
Biological Diversity Act 2002
Three-tier institutional structure:
| Level | Body | Location / Key Role |
|---|---|---|
| National | National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) | HQ: Chennai; statutory autonomous body under MoEFCC; approves access by foreigners/NRIs |
| State | State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) | One per state; regulates access by Indian citizens for commercial purposes |
| Local | Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) | One per local body (panchayat + municipality); 31,574+ BMCs; maintains People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) |
Prelims trap: NBA is headquartered in Chennai (not Delhi or Pune). NBA is under MoEFCC — same ministry as GEAC. BMCs are at every local body level (not just gram panchayats — also urban local bodies).
Diseases, Vectors & Transmission
3–5 questions per paper on this topic.
Vector-Disease Master Table
| Disease | Causative Agent | Vector | Key India Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaria | Plasmodium spp. | Female Anopheles | P. vivax = most common (2/3 of India's cases); P. falciparum = most dangerous; India targets: interrupt transmission 2027, eliminate 2030 |
| Dengue | Dengue virus (DENV 1–4) | Aedes aegypti (primary); Aedes albopictus | No specific antiviral; diagnosis: NS1 antigen test (days 1–9 of fever) |
| Chikungunya | Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) | Aedes aegypti AND Aedes albopictus | Hallmark: severe joint pain (arthralgia); no approved vaccine in India as of 2026 |
| Kala-azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis) | Leishmania donovani | Phlebotomus argentipes (sandfly) | Endemic: Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, West Bengal; India's target: <1 case per 10,000 population at block level |
| Lymphatic Filariasis | Wuchereria bancrofti (99.4% India cases) | Culex quinquefasciatus | MDA: annual DEC + Albendazole; India has ~40% of global burden |
| Japanese Encephalitis | JE Virus | Culex tritaeniorhynchus | Reservoirs: pigs + wading birds; India's vaccine: JENVAC (Bharat Biotech); in UIP for endemic districts only |
| Plague | Yersinia pestis | Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) | Bubonic (flea bite) → Pneumonic (airborne) → Septicemic; last major outbreak: Surat 1994 |
| Epidemic Typhus | Rickettsia prowazekii | Body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis) | Overcrowded conditions; Murine typhus: Rickettsia typhi — rat flea; Scrub typhus: Orientia tsutsugamushi — chigger mite |
| Zika | Zika virus (ZIKV) | Aedes aegypti | Sexual + vertical transmission; causes microcephaly in newborns; Kerala outbreak July 2021 |
| Nipah | Nipah virus (NiV) | None (not vector-borne) | Pteropus fruit bats = natural reservoir; human-to-human (close contact); CFR 40–75%; Kerala: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 outbreaks; no approved vaccine/treatment |
| COVID-19 | SARS-CoV-2 | None (not vector-borne) | Airborne + droplet; India-approved vaccines: Covaxin (inactivated), Covishield (viral vector), ZyCoV-D (DNA) |
Prelims trap: Xenopsylla cheopis (rat flea) = vector for both plague AND murine typhus (different pathogens). Scrub typhus is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi — technically NOT Rickettsia genus. Nipah is NOT vector-borne — bat → human (fruit/date palm sap) → human-to-human (close contact). P. vivax = most common (2/3 India's cases); P. falciparum = most deaths.
Vaccines — Types and India's UIP
Vaccine Technology Types
| Platform | Mechanism | Examples | Key UPSC Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live attenuated | Weakened pathogen | BCG, OPV, MMR, Varicella, Yellow Fever | Most immunogenic; cannot give to severely immunocompromised; cold chain critical |
| Killed / Inactivated | Heat/chemical-killed whole pathogen | IPV, Hepatitis A, Rabies, JENVAC (JE), Covaxin | Safer; needs adjuvant and boosters |
| Subunit | Purified protein antigen | Hepatitis B (HBsAg), HPV (Gardasil/CERVAVAC) | No live pathogen; may need adjuvant |
| Conjugate | Polysaccharide + carrier protein | PCV (pneumococcal), Hib, Meningococcal | Critical for infants under 2 years |
| Toxoid | Inactivated bacterial toxin | Tetanus (TT/Td), Diphtheria (DT/DPT) | Immunity against toxin, not bacteria |
| mRNA | mRNA in lipid nanoparticles | Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna | First mass-deployed mRNA vaccines; NOT part of India's UIP |
| Viral vector | Adenovirus vector carries antigen gene | Covishield (AstraZeneca-Oxford; ChAdOx1), Sputnik V | Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute |
| DNA (plasmid) | Plasmid DNA encodes antigen | ZyCoV-D (Zydus Cadila) | World's first DNA vaccine approved for humans; needle-free (PharmaJet Tropis device) |
India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) — Current Schedule
UIP provides free vaccination against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases nationally (JE sub-nationally in endemic districts).
| Vaccine | Disease(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BCG | TB (severe forms) | Live attenuated; at birth |
| OPV | Poliomyelitis | bOPV (bivalent — types 1&3); live attenuated |
| IPV | Poliomyelitis | Salk type; killed; injected; added as Global Polio Endgame strategy |
| Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B | Recombinant subunit; at birth + as part of Pentavalent |
| Pentavalent | Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus + HepB + Hib | 5-in-1; at 6, 10, 14 weeks |
| PCV | Pneumococcal pneumonia/meningitis | Conjugate; expanded nationally since 2017 |
| Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) | Rotavirus diarrhoea | Live attenuated oral; introduced 2016 |
| Measles-Rubella (MR) | Measles + Rubella | Live attenuated; 2 doses |
| JE Vaccine | Japanese Encephalitis | Endemic districts only; JENVAC inactivated or SA-14-14-2 live attenuated |
| Td / TT | Tetanus, Diphtheria | Toxoid; older children + pregnant women |
| HPV Vaccine | Cervical cancer (HPV 16, 18) + genital warts (HPV 6, 11) | Added to UIP February 28, 2026; quadrivalent; girls aged 9–14 years (target: 1.15 crore/year) |
Key Individual Vaccines — Rapid Facts
ZyCoV-D (Zydus Cadila):
- World's first DNA vaccine approved for humans
- DCGI EUA: August 20, 2021 | Needle-free: PharmaJet Tropis device | 3 doses (Day 0, 28, 56) | Approved for ages 12+
Covaxin (BBV152, Bharat Biotech + ICMR):
- Whole virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 + Alhydroxiquim-II adjuvant
- DCGI EUA: January 3, 2021 | Phase 3 efficacy: 77.8% (The Lancet, 2021) | WHO EUL: November 3, 2021
CERVAVAC (Serum Institute of India):
- India's first indigenously developed HPV vaccine; quadrivalent (HPV 6, 11, 16, 18)
- DCGI market authorisation: 2022–23 | Gender-neutral; 2-dose schedule for ages 9–14
Prelims trap: ZyCoV-D EUA = August 20, 2021; Covaxin EUA = January 3, 2021; WHO EUL for Covaxin = November 3, 2021 — three distinct dates. ZyCoV-D is DNA (plasmid) — NOT mRNA. CERVAVAC is quadrivalent (4 HPV types). mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) were never in India's EPI/UIP. HPV vaccine added to UIP on February 28, 2026.
Health Technology & Digital Health
| Initiative | Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) | Launched September 2021; national digital health ecosystem; ABHA (health ID), Health Facility Registry, Healthcare Professionals Registry, Unified Health Interface |
| ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) | 14-digit unique health ID; 84.79 crore IDs created (Jan 2026); enables interoperable health records |
| Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY | ₹5 lakh/family/year; expanded to all citizens aged 70+ years regardless of income (Cabinet: Sep 11, 2024; launched Oct 29, 2024); managed by National Health Authority (NHA) |
| e-Sanjeevani | National teleconsultation service; 300 million+ consultations (2025) |
| CoWIN | COVID-19 vaccination platform; 2.2 billion+ doses; template for India's digital health ecosystem |
TB Elimination Programme
- India's target: Eliminate TB by 2025 — 5 years ahead of global SDG target of 2030
- Progress: TB incidence reduced ~17.7% from 2015 to 2023 (237 → 195 cases per lakh population)
- PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: Launched September 9, 2022; Ni-Kshay Mitras (supporters) pledge nutritional support
- Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY): ₹1,000/month cash transfer for TB patients' nutrition (increased from ₹500)
Malaria Elimination
- India's targets: Interrupt indigenous transmission by 2027 (NMESP 2023–2027); national elimination by 2030
- Malaria cases reduced ~80% from 2015 to 2023; 160 districts in 23 states/UTs reported zero indigenous cases (2022–2024)
Prelims trap: India's TB elimination target of 2025 was missed (incidence ~187/lakh vs elimination threshold of <10/lakh); India now aligns with the global 2030 target. Nikshay Poshan is now ₹1,000/month (doubled from original ₹500). PM-JAY 70+ expansion: income-independent — even wealthy senior citizens aged 70+ are eligible.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Global death toll | 1.27 million deaths directly attributed to AMR in 2019 (Lancet 2022); projected 10 million/year by 2050 |
| WHO Priority Pathogens List | Updated May 2024 — 24 pathogens across 15 families; Critical, High, Medium priority |
| India's NAP-AMR | National Action Plan on AMR (2017–2021) — launched April 2017 by MoHFW; 6 strategic priorities; period lapsed; successor plan under preparation |
| Colistin ban | Banned for food-producing animals (poultry, aquaculture, livestock); in force 2019 — colistin = "last-resort" antibiotic; banned in animal feed to prevent resistance transfer |
ESKAPE Pathogens
| Letter | Pathogen | Key Resistance |
|---|---|---|
| E | Enterococcus faecium | Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) |
| S | Staphylococcus aureus | MRSA (Methicillin-resistant) — "superbug" |
| K | Klebsiella pneumoniae | Carbapenem-resistant; ESBL-producing |
| A | Acinetobacter baumannii | Pan-drug resistant; ICU infections |
| P | Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Intrinsic multidrug resistance |
| E | Enterobacter species | AmpC β-lactamase; cephalosporin resistant |
Prelims trap: ESKAPE acronym = two "E"s (Enterococcus AND Enterobacter). Colistin ban = 2019 (not 2017 or 2021). WHO 2024 Priority Pathogens List = 24 pathogens (the 2017 list had 12).
Digital India & IT
| Initiative | Key Details |
|---|---|
| UPI (Unified Payments Interface) | NPCI (not-for-profit company owned by consortium of banks — NOT a government body); launched April 2016; FY2024-25: 185.8 billion transactions; value ₹261 lakh crore; IMF recognised as world's largest real-time payment system (49% of global transactions); active in 8–10 countries; interoperable with Singapore (PayNow), UAE (AANI) |
| Digital India Programme | Launched 2015; 3 pillars: Digital Infrastructure, Digital Services, Digital Empowerment |
| Aadhaar | 1.38 billion+ enrolments; biometric (fingerprint + iris); UIDAI manages |
| DPDP Act 2023 | Digital Personal Data Protection Act, August 2023 — India's first standalone personal data protection law; Data Protection Board to adjudicate; max penalty ₹250 crore |
| 5G | Launched October 2022 (Jio + Airtel); 5.23 lakh 5G BTS installed; 99.9% of India's districts covered (DoT Year-End Review 2025) |
| Bharat 6G Mission | Apex Council meeting December 2025; 104 projects worth ₹271 crore approved for R&D; target: commercial 6G by 2030; private trials 2027–29 |
| IndiaAI Mission | Cabinet approved March 7, 2024; outlay ₹10,372 crore for 5 years; common compute capacity crossed 34,000 GPUs (PIB confirmed); 7 pillars including IndiaAI Compute, Innovation Centre (indigenous LMMs), Datasets Platform, FutureSkills; implemented through IndiaAI IBD under Digital India Corporation (DIC), MeitY |
| CERT-In | Under MeitY; national nodal cybersecurity agency; mandatory 6-hour incident reporting (effective June 28, 2022); 180-day log retention within India; non-compliance = criminal liability up to 1 year imprisonment |
Prelims trap: NPCI is NOT a government body — not-for-profit company promoted by RBI + Indian Banks' Association. NPCI operates UPI, RuPay, IMPS, FASTag (NETC), BBPS, AePS.
Prelims trap: IndiaAI Mission approved March 7, 2024 — NOT January or February 2024. Common compute capacity = 34,000+ GPUs (original target was 10,000+ — was surpassed). 5G coverage = 99.9% of districts with 5.23 lakh BTS.
Cybersecurity — Key Institutions & Laws
| Body | Full Name | Under | Key Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| CERT-In | Indian Computer Emergency Response Team | MeitY | National nodal cybersecurity agency; 6-hour mandatory incident reporting; under IT Act 2000 Section 70B |
| NCCC | National Cyber Coordination Centre | MHA | Operational cyber intelligence coordination; real-time internet traffic monitoring; established 2015 |
| CSIRT-Fin | Computer Security Incident Response Team — Finance | MeitY + RBI + SEBI | Sector-specific CERT for financial sector |
| NTRO | National Technical Research Organisation | PMO (NSA) | Technical intelligence including cyber domain |
| NCSC | National Cyber Security Coordinator | NSC/PMO | Coordinates national cybersecurity policy across agencies |
CERT-In Rules 2022: Direction issued April 28, 2022; effective June 28, 2022; 6-hour mandatory reporting of 20 specified cyber incident types; 180-day log retention within India; NTP clock synchronisation with NPLI/NTSC servers.
No standalone comprehensive national cybersecurity policy (NCSP) is in force as of 2026 — governance through CERT-In Directions, IT Act 2000, DPDP Act 2023, and sectoral regulators.
Prelims trap: CERT-In is under MeitY — NOT Home Ministry or NSC. NCCC is under MHA — NOT MeitY. CERT-In = incident response; NCCC = intelligence coordination.
Semiconductor Policy — India
Semicon India Programme
- Cabinet approved: December 2021; expanded/operationalised 2022
- Total outlay: ₹76,000 crore for semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem
- Fiscal support: 50% for semiconductor fabs; 50% for display fabs; 50% for OSAT units
- Nodal agency: India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) under MeitY
Three Cabinet-Approved Semiconductor Plants (February 29, 2024)
| Facility | Location | Partners | Investment | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Electronics Semiconductor Fab | Dholera SEZ, Gujarat | Tata Electronics + PSMC (Powerchip, Taiwan) | ₹91,000 crore | Full Fab — 28–110 nm nodes; 50,000 wafers/month |
| Tata OSAT (ATMP) | Jagiroad, Assam | Tata Electronics | ₹27,000 crore | OSAT (Assembly, Test, Marking, Packaging) |
| CG Power OSAT | Sanand, Gujarat | CG Power + Renesas (Japan) + Stars Micro (Thailand) | ₹7,600 crore | OSAT — up to 15 million units/day; automotive, consumer, 5G |
Micron Technology (Sanand, Gujarat)
- Micron Technology (US): Semiconductor Assembly and Test facility at Sanand Industrial Park, Gujarat
- Investment: $2.75 billion; GoI provides 50% fiscal support; Gujarat 20%
- DRAM and NAND memory chip packaging
- Inaugurated: February 28, 2026 — India's first operational commercial semiconductor assembly facility
India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (December 2025)
- Cabinet approved 10 projects with ₹1.60 lakh crore total investment across 6 states
- Covers new fabs, OSAT plants, and compound semiconductor units
- Represents massive scale-up from the original February 2024 approvals
Prelims trap: Tata Dholera = Fab (wafer fabrication, most complex); Assam and Sanand = OSAT/ATMP (assembly and test). Fab ≠ OSAT. Semicon India Programme outlay = ₹76,000 crore (total scheme) — NOT ₹91,000 crore (that's only the Dholera fab project cost). Micron inaugurated February 28, 2026 (NOT March 2026).
AI/ML — India's AI Policy & Global AI Governance
IndiaAI Mission
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cabinet approval | March 7, 2024 |
| Total outlay | ₹10,372 crore over 5 years |
| Implementing body | IndiaAI IBD under Digital India Corporation (DIC); DIC is under MeitY |
| Seven pillars | (1) IndiaAI Compute Capacity, (2) IndiaAI Innovation Centre, (3) Datasets Platform, (4) Application Development, (5) FutureSkills, (6) Startup Financing, (7) Safe & Trusted AI |
| Compute achieved | 34,000+ GPUs deployed (original target: 10,000+); subsidised rate: ₹115–150/GPU-hour |
| Innovation Centre | Develops indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational AI models |
AI Governance — India
- DPDP Act 2023: Primary data governance law; Data Protection Board to adjudicate; implications for AI-processed personal data
- No standalone AI legislation enacted in India as of 2026
- MeitY AI Governance Guidelines (November 5, 2025): Non-binding "lightweight" voluntary framework; 7 principles including "Do No Harm"; created AI Governance Group (AIGG) chaired by Principal Scientific Adviser
- IT Rules amended (February 2026): Mandatory labelling of AI-generated content (deepfakes, synthetic media)
Global AI Governance Milestones
| Event | Date | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Bletchley Declaration | November 1–2, 2023 (UK AI Safety Summit) | First global declaration on AI safety risks; 28 countries + EU; India was signatory; focused on "frontier AI" risks |
| AI Seoul Summit | May 21–22, 2024 (South Korea + UK) | Seoul Declaration adopted; G7 + other nations; AI safety testing and transparency commitments |
| EU AI Act | In force: August 1, 2024; most provisions: August 2026 | World's first comprehensive AI legislation; risk-based tiered regulation; prohibitions on "unacceptable-risk AI" (e.g. social scoring) effective February 2025 |
Prelims trap: IndiaAI Mission approved March 7, 2024; outlay ₹10,372 crore. EU AI Act entered force August 1, 2024 but full enforcement = August 2026 (phased rollout). Bletchley = November 2023 (UK); Seoul = May 2024 (South Korea). India has no AI Act — only advisory guidelines and amended IT Rules.
Key Science Concepts — Prelims-Tested
Physics Concepts
Superconductivity:
- Zero electrical resistance below critical temperature (T_c)
- Meissner Effect: Expulsion of magnetic field from the interior of a superconductor — becomes a perfect diamagnet
- BCS Theory: Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (published 1957); explains via Cooper pairs; Nobel Prize in Physics 1972
- Applications: MRI machines, maglev trains, particle accelerators (LHC at CERN), quantum computers
Semiconductors:
- n-type doping (adds electrons): Group V impurities — phosphorus (P), arsenic (As) — majority carriers = electrons
- p-type doping (creates holes): Group III impurities — boron (B), gallium (Ga) — majority carriers = holes
- p-n junction = diode; basis of transistors, solar cells, LEDs
Optical Fibre: Principle = Total Internal Reflection; core (higher refractive index) + cladding (lower); advantages: immune to EMI, very high bandwidth, low signal loss.
LiDAR: Laser pulses; measures time → 3D mapping; applications: autonomous vehicles, archaeology (discovered 60,000+ Maya structures in Guatemala under canopy, 2018), topographic mapping.
RADAR, SONAR, SAR:
- RADAR: Radio waves; weather, air traffic control, missile tracking; SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) = ground-imaging from satellites; all-weather, day/night (used in NISAR, EOS-09)
- SONAR: Sound waves underwater; Active SONAR emits + listens (reveals position); Passive SONAR only listens (preferred by submarines for stealth)
Nuclear Fission vs Fusion:
| Parameter | Fission | Fusion |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Splitting heavy nuclei | Joining light nuclei |
| Fuel | Uranium-235, Plutonium-239 | Deuterium + Tritium (hydrogen isotopes) |
| Radioactive waste | Yes — long-lived | Minimal (tritium, short-lived) |
| Used in | Nuclear power plants; atomic bomb | Sun + stars; hydrogen bomb; ITER (experimental) |
| India | Operational (PHWRs, PFBR) | Experimental (SST-1 tokamak, IPR Gandhinagar) |
ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor):
- Location: Cadarache, France
- Members: USA, EU, India, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea (7 parties); India joined December 2005
- SST-1 (Steady State Superconducting Tokamak-1): at Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, Gujarat
National Quantum Mission (NQM):
- Cabinet approved: April 19, 2023; outlay: ₹6,003.65 crore over 8 years
- Four Technology Hubs: IISc Bengaluru (computing), IIT Madras (communication), IIT Delhi (sensing), IIT Bombay (materials)
- 1,000 km Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) milestone achieved by QNu Labs using indigenous technology (by 2025)
- Two quantum fabrication facilities (₹720 crore; IIT Delhi + IISc)
Prelims trap: BCS theory Nobel Prize = 1972 (theory published 1957). Meissner effect = expulsion of magnetic field (distinct from zero resistance). ITER is in France — India is a member, not host. SST-1 is at IPR, Gandhinagar — NOT Kalpakkam or Mumbai. Active SONAR emits; Passive SONAR only listens. RADAR = radio waves; LiDAR = laser pulses; SONAR = sound waves.
Chemistry & Materials
- Graphene: Single layer of carbon atoms (honeycomb lattice); Nobel Physics 2010 (Geim + Novoselov); strongest material known; excellent conductor
- Aerogel: Lightest solid; 99.98% air; excellent thermal insulator; used in space missions
- Perovskites: Solar cell material with rapidly improving efficiency; potential replacement for silicon
Biology
- One Health concept: Intersection of human health, animal health, environment; zoonotic disease prevention; WHO/FAO/WOAH collaboration
- mRNA: Carries genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes; basis of COVID mRNA vaccines; cancer vaccine trials underway
- Microbiome: Trillions of microorganisms in gut; linked to immunity, mental health, obesity
Key Scientific Institutions — India
| Institution | Location | Under | Key Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| IISc | Bangalore | Autonomous (DBT/DST funded) | Premier research university; established 1909; ranked #1 in India consistently |
| DRDO | New Delhi (HQ) | Ministry of Defence | Defence R&D; 50+ labs; develops missiles (Agni), submarines, fighter jets |
| CSIR | New Delhi (HQ) | Ministry of Science & Technology | 37 national laboratories; pharma (CDRI), genomics (CCMB), chemicals (NCL) |
| ISRO | Bangalore (DOS/HQ) | Department of Space | Space technology; launch vehicles; satellites |
| BARC | Mumbai (Trombay) | Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) | Nuclear research; reactor design; isotope production; established January 3, 1954 as AEET; renamed BARC January 22, 1967 |
| IGCAR | Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu | DAE | Fast reactor research; designed PFBR; FBTR operates here |
| BHAVINI | Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu | DAE (PSU) | Operates PFBR (first criticality April 6, 2026); distinct from NPCIL |
| ICAR | New Delhi | Ministry of Agriculture | Agricultural R&D apex body; 102+ institutes |
| IARI | New Delhi (Pusa) | ICAR | "Pusa Institute"; developed HYV wheat varieties (Green Revolution) |
| ICMR | New Delhi | Ministry of Health | Apex biomedical research body; founded 1911; co-developed Covaxin |
Research Stations:
| Station | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dakshin Gangotri | Antarctica (Queen Maud Land) | First Indian station (1983–84); now used as supply base only |
| Maitri | Antarctica (Schirmacher Oasis) | Operational since 1989; India's main Antarctic base |
| Bharati | Antarctica (Larsemann Hills) | Operational since March 18, 2012; India's 3rd station |
| Himadri | Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway (Arctic) | India's Arctic station; operational since July 2008 |
Science & Technology Governance:
- DST (Department of Science and Technology): Nodal ministry for S&T policy
- SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board): Statutory body under DST; funds fundamental research
- Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to GoI: Currently Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood; chairs AIGG (AI Governance Group)
Prelims trap: BARC is in Mumbai (Trombay) — NOT Kalpakkam. IGCAR designed PFBR; BHAVINI built and operates it — both at Kalpakkam but distinct institutions. India has TWO active Antarctic stations (Maitri + Bharati) — NOT one and NOT three. ONE Arctic station — Himadri at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (Norway). ICMR was founded in 1911 — one of the oldest medical research councils in the world. NCPOR (National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research) is in Goa under MoES.
2025–26 Current Affairs: Science & Technology
ISRO Space Missions — 2025–26
| Mission | Date | Key Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpaDeX — Docking + Undocking | Docking: Jan 16, 2025; Undocking: Mar 13, 2025 | PSLV-C60 (launched Dec 30, 2024); two 220 kg spacecraft (Chaser + Target); indigenous Bhartiya Docking System; India = 4th country after USA (1966), USSR (1967), China (2011) | 4th country to demonstrate space docking; indigenous docking system |
| NVS-02 (NavIC 2nd-gen) — GSLV FAILURE | January 29, 2025 (GSLV-F15) | Orbit-raising engine pyro-valve failed — satellite stranded in wrong orbit; NavIC constellation now ~3 functional satellites (IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I, NVS-01); NVS-03/04/05 planned by 2027 | NVS-02 failure; NavIC degraded; NVS series = 2nd-gen with indigenous rubidium atomic clocks + L1 band |
| EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) — PSLV-C61 FAILURE | May 18, 2025 | ISRO's 101st mission — PSLV third-stage (PS3) nozzle/chamber pressure anomaly ~203 seconds into flight; satellite lost; PSLV's rare failure after long track record | Rare PSLV failure; EOS-09 (C-band SAR surveillance satellite) lost; 101st ISRO mission |
| NISAR launched | July 30, 2025 (GSLV-F16) | NASA-ISRO SAR satellite; 743 km sun-synchronous orbit; dual-frequency SAR (NASA: L-band; ISRO: S-band + spacecraft bus); maps Earth's land/ice every 4–6 days at 5–10 m resolution; fully operational January 2026 | First NASA-ISRO co-developed hardware; GSLV launch |
| LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 | December 24, 2025 | Heaviest payload ever deployed to LEO by LVM3; commercial for AST SpaceMobile; 9th LVM3 — 100% success rate maintained | LVM3: 9 launches, 100% success |
| PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 | January 12, 2026 | Primary: EOS-N1 (DRDO imaging satellite); 17 commercial co-payloads from India, Mauritius, Luxembourg, UAE, Singapore, Europe, USA | PSLV-C62; EOS-N1 = DRDO satellite |
Prelims trap: NISAR launched aboard GSLV (not PSLV or LVM3). PSLV-C61/EOS-09 = PSLV's rare failure (May 18, 2025); satellite was lost. India is the 4th country to demonstrate space docking.
NavIC — Status and Challenge
- Full name: Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC); also called IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System)
- Coverage: India and up to 1,500 km beyond India's borders
- NVS series: 2nd-generation satellites; features — indigenous rubidium atomic clocks (replacing imported ones) + L1 band (GPS-compatible)
- Current crisis: NVS-02 (January 2025) failure → only ~3 functional satellites; minimum for navigation = 4; NVS-03, 04, 05 planned by 2027
Nuclear Energy — PFBR Milestone
| Development | Date | Key Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFBR achieves First Criticality | April 6, 2026 (08:25 PM IST) | 500 MWe; liquid sodium-cooled; MOX fuel (U-Pu); blanket of U-238/Th-232; designed by IGCAR; built & operated by BHAVINI (not NPCIL); commercial power generation projected late 2026 | PFBR criticality = April 6, 2026; BHAVINI; Kalpakkam; India = 2nd country after Russia with commercial FBR |
Defence & Strategic — 2025–26
| Development | Date | Key Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defence exports — all-time record | April 2, 2026 (PIB/MoD) | ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025–26 — up 62.66% from ₹23,622 crore (FY 2024-25); exports to 80+ countries; DPSUs 54.84%, private sector 45.16%; target ₹50,000 crore by 2029 | All-time record; 62.66% rise; 80+ countries; target ₹50,000 crore (DPEPP 2020) |
| INS Aridhaman commissioned | April 3, 2026 (Visakhapatnam) | India's 3rd SSBN; 8 missile tubes (K-15 / K-4 mix); completes nuclear triad undersea leg; India now has 3 SSBNs: Arihant (2016), Arighaat (Aug 2024), Aridhaman (Apr 2026) | 3rd SSBN; 3 operational SSBNs as of 2026; nuclear triad complete |
| Tejas Mk1A — 2nd order | September 2025 | 97 additional aircraft (68 single-seat + 29 twin-seat); ~₹62,000 crore; 1st order = 83; total: 180 Tejas Mk1A ordered; GE Aerospace $1 bn deal for 113 F404 engines (November 2025) | 180 total Tejas ordered; F404 engine from GE |
| DRDO scramjet — 1,200-second burn | May 9, 2026 (DRDL, Hyderabad) | Full-scale scramjet combustor sustained burning for 1,200 seconds (~20 minutes) using indigenous liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuel; supporting ET-LDHCM (Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile; Project Vishnu; Mach 8+; 1,500–2,500 km range) | 1,200-sec scramjet burn = world-class endurance; Mach 8+ hypersonic; DRDO milestone |
| Rafale-M deal signed | April 2025 | 26 Rafale Marine jets (22 single-seat + 4 twin-seat); ~₹63,000 crore; for INS Vikrant; will replace MiG-29K | India-France; 26 Rafale-M |
| Agni-V MIRV test — Mission Divyastra | March 11, 2024 | Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles; Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha; India joins MIRV club (USA, Russia, China, UK, France) | Agni-V; MIRV; India = 6th MIRV country |
Prelims trap: India's defence exports in FY 2025-26 = ₹38,424 crore — all-time record. India now has 3 SSBNs (as of May 2026). SSBN ≠ SSN (attack submarine has no nuclear ballistic missiles). DRDO's ET-LDHCM = scramjet-powered (NOT rocket-powered) — key distinction.
Digital India & Semiconductor — 2025–26
| Development | Date | Key Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micron Technology ATMP — inaugurated | February 28, 2026 (PM Modi, Sanand, Gujarat) | India's first operational commercial semiconductor assembly facility; DRAM + NAND packaging; ~$2.75 bn total investment; first products shipped to Dell | First operational semicon assembly in India; Sanand, Gujarat; Feb 28, 2026 |
| India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 | December 2025 | Cabinet approved 10 new projects, ₹1.60 lakh crore total investment across 6 states; covers new fabs, OSAT plants, compound semiconductors | ISM 2.0; ₹1.60 lakh crore; 10 projects |
| Dholera Semiconductor Fab — SEZ notified | April 16, 2026 | Tata Electronics; Dholera Special Economic Zone, Gujarat; 28–110 nm; 50,000 wafers/month; first commercial chips expected late 2026 | India's first semiconductor Fab; Tata + PSMC (Taiwan); Dholera |
| 5G — 99.9% district coverage | By February 2026 | 5.23 lakh 5G BTS installed; 5G reaches 99.9% of India's districts; DoT Year-End Review 2025 | 5.23 lakh BTS; 99.9% districts |
| Bharat 6G Mission | December 2025 | 104 projects worth ₹271 crore approved for R&D; target: commercial 6G by 2030; private trials 2027–29 | Bharat 6G Mission; ₹271 crore; 2030 commercial target |
| IndiaAI Mission — compute milestone | PIB 2025 | Common compute capacity crossed 34,000 GPUs; subsidised rate ₹115–150/GPU-hour; 3 startups selected to develop Indian foundation models | 34,000+ GPUs; IndiaAI Compute; original target was 10,000+ |
| National Quantum Mission (NQM) — 1,000 km QKD | By 2025 | 1,000 km Quantum Key Distribution network achieved by QNu Labs (indigenous technology); 4 quantum technology hubs operational; 17 startups supported | 1,000 km QKD; QNu Labs; 4 hubs (IISc, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay) |
| MeitY AI Governance Guidelines | November 5, 2025 | Non-binding voluntary framework; 7 principles including "Do No Harm"; created AI Governance Group (AIGG) chaired by Principal Scientific Adviser (Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood) | No AI Act; advisory only; AIGG under PSA |
Health & Biotech — 2025–26
| Development | Date | Key Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| National HPV Vaccination Programme launched | February 28, 2026 (PM Modi, Ajmer, Rajasthan) | Free nationwide HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14 years; target: 1.15 crore girls annually; quadrivalent vaccine (HPV 6, 11, 16, 18); 2-dose schedule; added to UIP | HPV in UIP from Feb 28, 2026; quadrivalent; girls 9–14 |
| Ayushman Bharat expanded to 70+ seniors | Launched October 29, 2024 (Cabinet: Sep 11, 2024) | All senior citizens aged 70+ regardless of income; additional ₹5 lakh/year top-up; ~6 crore senior citizens (4.5 crore families) | Income-neutral for 70+; ₹5 lakh top-up; largest govt health insurance |
| ICMR — malaria vaccine development | 2025 | India developing indigenous R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine production partnership; Bharat Biotech licensed to manufacture R21 malaria vaccine (developed by Oxford/Serum Institute); WHO pre-qualified October 2023; Africa deployment in progress | R21 malaria vaccine; Bharat Biotech manufacturing licence; first malaria vaccine with >75% efficacy |
| GenomeIndia — genome sequencing | 2025 | GenomeIndia project completed sequencing of 10,000 Indian genomes (diverse ethnic groups); data deposited in national biorepository; informs precision medicine and disease burden studies; DBT-funded | 10,000 Indian genomes sequenced; GenomeIndia; DBT |
| Nikshay Poshan Yojana — enhanced | 2025 | TB patient nutrition cash transfer increased to ₹1,000/month (from original ₹500); DBT directly to bank accounts | ₹1,000/month for TB patients; NPY enhanced |
Prelims trap: National HPV vaccination programme launch date = February 28, 2026 (NOT 2025 or 2024). Micron facility inaugurated = February 28, 2026 (same date as HPV programme). R21 malaria vaccine was WHO pre-qualified October 2023 — not the older RTS,S vaccine.
