India Unveils Quantum Microscope and 1st Liquid Helium Cryogenic Facility at IIT Bombay, Pioneering Cancer Diagnosis Breakthroughs

India has inaugurated its first Liquid Helium Cryogenic Facility at IIT Bombay, alongside advances in quantum sensing technologies, which are expected to play a transformative role in medical imaging and cancer diagnosis.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Liquid Helium Facility at IIT Bombay, calling it a milestone in India’s quantum ecosystem. The facility includes a helium recovery system that reduces cryogenic experiment costs to one-tenth while conserving helium, a rare global resource.

The Minister dedicated the facility to the nation and reviewed India’s first indigenous quantum sensing and imaging platforms. Among them was QMagPI, a portable magnetometer capable of detecting ultra-low magnetic fields at the nanotesla scale.

Quantum Lab at #IITBombay, supported by the Department of Science & Technology (#DST) under the National Quantum Mission #NQM, is the first of its kind in the country.

Quantum Diamond Microscope and Quantum MagPi are cutting edge breakthroughs with diverse applications,… pic.twitter.com/nki3Wi6ZoU

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) November 24, 2025

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Key highlights of the announcement

• Liquid Helium Cryogenic Facility: India’s first such installation, dedicated at IIT Bombay, enables ultra-low temperature experiments essential for quantum research.
• Quantum Microscope Potential: Quantum sensing breakthroughs at IIT Bombay are being positioned as tools for high-resolution medical imaging, which could significantly improve early cancer detection.
• Government Backing: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that this initiative reflects India’s commitment to building a strong ecosystem in quantum science, cryogenics, advanced materials, and next-generation computing.
• Cancer Diagnosis Applications: Quantum microscopes, when paired with cryogenic environments, can reduce noise and enhance sensitivity, allowing researchers to observe biological samples at unprecedented resolution. This could lead to earlier and more accurate cancer diagnostics compared to conventional imaging.

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Why this matters

• Medical Breakthroughs: Traditional microscopes often struggle with resolution limits. Quantum microscopes, leveraging entangled photons and cryogenic cooling, can surpass these barriers.
• Cryogenics in Healthcare: Liquid helium cooling stabilizes quantum sensors, making them reliable for clinical applications. This is crucial for biopsy-free cancer detection and precision medicine.
• Global Competitiveness: India joins the ranks of countries investing heavily in quantum-enabled healthcare, positioning itself as a leader in quantum medical technology.

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Challenges and next steps

• Infrastructure Costs: Cryogenic facilities are expensive to maintain, requiring continuous helium supply and specialized expertise.
• Clinical Translation: Moving from lab-based quantum sensing to hospital-ready diagnostic tools will demand regulatory approvals, clinical trials, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Talent Pipeline: India will need to train more quantum engineers, medical physicists, and biotechnologists to fully harness this innovation.

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Broader implications

This development is not just about cancer diagnosis—it signals India’s ambition to integrate quantum technologies into healthcare, computing, and materials science. If successful, quantum microscopes could revolutionize how diseases are detected and treated, while cryogenic facilities will serve as the backbone for future quantum computing and sensing ecosystems.

Dehradun’s Big Leap—₹10 Crore AI Centre Aims to Blend Tech with Trust

• Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates AI Centre at Dehradun University, Calls for Integrity in Technology Use
• New AI Centre to Train Future Innovators and Startups, Aligns with PM Modi’s Digital India and Skill India initiatives

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, Skill Development, and Innovation at Graphic Era University in Dehradun—a landmark moment for Uttarakhand and India’s tech ecosystem.

Key Highlights:

• First-of-its-kind in Uttarakhand: Spanning 1.5 lakh sq. ft., the centre includes:
  • Apple iOS Development Centre (in collaboration with Apple and Infosys)
  • NVIDIA-powered AI and HPC hub featuring DGX B200 system with 8 GPUs and 1.74 TB GPU memory
• Investment: ₹10+ crore to support research in healthcare, agriculture, smart cities, and more
• Academic Prestige: India’s first Generative AI Ready Campus powered by AWS, ranked 48th in NIRF 2025, accredited A+ by NAAC

Ethical Tech Vision:

Dr. Singh emphasized: AI can create miracles if used judiciously, but without integrity it can also be misused, referencing deepfakes and misinformation.

He advocated a hybrid model—where AI complements human judgment, not replaces it.

Real-World Impact:

AI-enabled telemedicine vans are serving rural India, showcasing how hybrid AI-human models can deliver healthcare to underserved regions.

Strategic Outlook:

India, once a late adopter of technologies, is now leading in space exploration and quantum research.

Dr. Singh stressed the importance of linking academic research with industry and startups to sustain this momentum.

From Genes to Genius: India Launches Landmark Health Biobank

The Phenome India National Biobank, inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in New Delhi, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to collect and store genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India.

This initiative captures India's vast diversity—geographically, ethnically, and socio-economically—and is modeled after global benchmarks like the UK Biobank.

Why It Matters

• Decode complex diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and rare genetic disorders
• Enable early diagnosis and targeted therapies
• Support AI-driven diagnostics and gene-guided treatments
• Track long-term health trajectories and gene-environment interactions

Scientific and Societal Impact

• Addresses India-specific health challenges such as central obesity in lean individuals
• Enables population-specific health strategies
• Bridges the gap between lab research and real-world application
• Supports India’s leadership in CRISPR, quantum tech, and antimicrobial resistance research

Core Technologies Powering the Biobank

Technology	Purpose	Application
Genomic Sequencing	Decoding individual DNA	Identifies genetic variants linked to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and rare disorders
CRISPR-based Genome Editing	Functional genomics and therapeutic research	Enables gene-function studies and potential gene therapies for conditions like sickle cell anemia
AI & Machine Learning	Pattern recognition and predictive modeling	Powers diagnostics, risk stratification, and personalized treatment recommendations
Big Data Analytics	Integration of multi-modal datasets	Analyzes genomic, clinical, and lifestyle data across 10,000+ individuals
Digital Health Platforms	Real-time data collection and monitoring	Supports longitudinal tracking of health outcomes and lifestyle factors
Biobanking Infrastructure	Secure sample storage and retrieval	Preserves biological specimens (blood, tissue, etc.) under controlled conditions for future research

Research Focus Areas

• Gene-environment interactions
• Population-specific health strategies
• AI-driven diagnostics
• Drug development and antimicrobial resistance

Strategic Integration

• Complementing India’s broader scientific ecosystem
• Leveraging quantum computing for high-throughput data processing
• Collaborating with CSIR, DBT, and industry for translational research
• Implementing ethical frameworks for data governance and privacy

The Phenome India Biobank is not just a data repository—it is a national health intelligence engine poised to transform healthcare and biomedical research in India.

IIM Mumbai Launches AIC–NIFIE to Incubate Tech Startups and Drive Atmanirbhar Bharat Vision

Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM Mumbai) marked a significant milestone today with the inauguration of the AIC-NITIE Incubation Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AIC–NIFIE) by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge). The centre is envisioned as a transformative platform to catalyze innovation, support early-stage startups, and foster a self-reliant India under the national mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The inauguration was part of Dr. Singh’s visit to the institute, during which he also addressed a distinguished gathering under IIM Mumbai’s Leadership Series, themed “Viksit Bharat: India’s Startup Strides over the Last Decade and the Way Forward.”

AIC–NIFIE, established under the aegis of Atal Innovation Mission, is designed to provide holistic support to innovators and entrepreneurs through incubation, mentorship, industry linkages, and access to research and technology. The centre will work closely with startups in manufacturing, supply chain, sustainability, and digital transformation — sectors critical to India’s economic future.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of academic institutions like IIM Mumbai in bridging policy, research, and enterprise. “Innovation is the backbone of a developed India. Centres like AIC–NIFIE will be instrumental in translating India’s demographic dividend into tangible economic growth,” he stated.

Director of IIM Mumbai, Prof. Manoj K. Tiwari, noted, “The launch of AIC–NIFIE is a step towards building a dynamic innovation ecosystem within the institute. It aligns with our mission to create impact through thought leadership, research, and entrepreneurship.”

With this initiative, IIM Mumbai deepens its commitment to national development through support for startup ecosystems, with launch of 14 startup’s as on date, industry-driven research, and the creation of new knowledge economies.

About IIM Mumbai:

IIM Mumbai, formerly NITIE, is a renowned management institution established in 1963. Ranked 6th in India's 2024 NIRF Rankings, it excels in Operations, Supply Chain, Sustainability, and General Management. Located in Mumbai, the institute leverages its proximity to the financial capital for industry interface and collaboration. With a faculty from top global institutions like MIT and Kellogg School of Management, IIM Mumbai offers a vibrant intellectual environment.

The institute boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, a world-class library, and a picturesque campus. As a nodal hub for capacity building under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, it hosts a Centre of Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. IIM Mumbai innovates in pedagogy and impact, with international student exchange partnerships and cutting-edge research, shaping leaders and India's management ecosystem. Its strong industry connections and research focus make it a leader in management education. For more information, please visit https://iimmumbai.ac.in/

IBM and Modi Govt Exploring Collaboration in Geospatial AI and Quantum Computing

IBM and the Indian government are exploring collaborations in quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and geospatial AI solutions. This initiative aligns with India's National Quantum Mission, which aims to position the country as a global leader in quantum technology.

IBM's Global Head, Arvind Krishna, recently met with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh to discuss potential partnerships. The discussions highlighted India's rapid technological transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the importance of private sector involvement in driving innovation.

The collaboration could have significant implications for industries such as defense, intelligence, and economic security, as quantum technology is seen as a key factor in determining future global power.

Quantum technology is seen as a key factor in reshaping defense, intelligence, and economic security. A recent NITI Aayog report emphasized the transformative impact of quantum technology on defense and intelligence.

The collaboration aligns with India's goal of achieving self-reliance in critical technologies and becoming a global leader in emerging tech sectors.

During the meeting, Dr Singh mentioned the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which aims to build a robust research ecosystem in India. ANRF provides strategic funding for advanced research.

Besides IBM, Google has been working with the Indian government on various initiatives, including digital literacy programs and AI-driven solutions for agriculture and healthcare. Microsoft has partnered with the Indian government to enhance digital transformation in public services and promote AI adoption in sectors like education and healthcare.

AWS has collaborated with the government to provide cloud computing solutions for startups and small businesses, supporting India's digital economy. TCS has been involved in developing AI and blockchain solutions for government projects, including smart city initiatives.

National Quantum Mission (NQM), which was launched in April 2023, has received budget of ₹6,003.65 crore and aims to position India as a global leader in quantum technology by 2031.

Quantum technologies are expected to revolutionize sectors like communication, cryptography, healthcare, and climate monitoring. The mission aligns with national priorities like Digital India, Make in India, and Sustainable Development Goals.

India's proactive investments and strategic initiatives are setting the stage for long-term growth in quantum computing.

DST Selects 8 Quantum & Cyber-Physical Systems Startups for Support under NQM and NM-ICPS

On 26 November 2024, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the selection of eight pioneering startups for support under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). 

These startups are at the forefront of innovation in quantum technology and cyber-physical systems, and they represent significant strides in fields such as quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum materials.

These startups were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process and are expected to make significant contributions to their respective fields.

Here are the eight pioneering startups selected for support under the National Quantum Mission and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems:

1. QNu Labs (Bengaluru) - Quantum communication
2. QPIAI India Private Ltd (Bengaluru) Quantum computing
3. Dimira Technologies (IIT Mumbai) Indigenous cryogenic cables essential for quantum computing
4. Prenishq (IIT Delhi) - Precision diode-laser systems
5. QuPrayog (Pune) - Optical atomic clocks
6. Quanastra (Delhi) - Advanced cryogenics and superconducting detectors
7. Pristine Diamonds (Ahmedabad) - Creating Diamond materials for quantum sensing
8. Quan2D Technologies (Bengaluru) - Superconducting Nanowire Single-photon Detectors

These startups are poised to make significant contributions to their respective fields in quantum technology and cyber-physical systems.

Dr. Jitendra Singh

The DST will support the selected startups through a structured framework that includes: Funding Opportunities, Mentorship and Guidance, Infrastructure Support, and facilities to aid in the development and testing of new technologies, among other things.

Categorised by Cities and Institutes:

By Cities:

• Bengaluru:
• QNu Labs
• QPIAI India Private Ltd
• Quan2D Technologies
• Pune:
• QuPrayog
• Ahmedabad:
• Pristine Diamonds
• Delhi:
• Quanastra

By Institutes:

• IIT Mumbai:
• Dimira Technologies
• IIT Delhi:
• Prenishq

These startups represent a diverse range of innovations and specializations in quantum technology and cyber-physical systems.

With this initiative, the Minister remarked, the selected startups are not just participants in a technological mission but torchbearers of India’s ambition to emerge as a global leader in quantum science.

During the event, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh proposed that such initiatives and programs should be held beyond Delhi to ensure broader participation and engagement across the country. He emphasized that taking these events to smaller towns and other regions would provide the youth with a valuable opportunity to witness the advancements in quantum technologies and related fields firsthand.

Remote Hilly-Areas or Udhampur, J&K Gets AI-backed Telemedicine Mobile Clinic

A state-of-the-art, Artificial Intelligence (AI) supported Telemedicine Mobile Clinic "Aarogya-Doctors on Wheels" for remote hilly areas of Ramnagar region in Udhampur district of J&K has been launched, this Sunday, by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.

The latest upgraded Tele Clinic is Artificial Intelligence-driven to provide healthcare facilities in far flung areas of the region, where such facilities are either not available or inadequately available.

The mobile clinic functions on the latest methodology wherein a patient can narrate his illness or complaint in his native language and the AI doctor understands the language and responds to the patient in the same language.

Thereafter, the patient is connected to one of the leading super specialists in the country as this telemedicine hospital has been tied up with some of the leading hospitals in the country. Later, the patient's entire body profile and investigations are done. Within about 40 to 50 minutes, a patient is provided with the prescription. Dr Singh said the patient is provided free-of-cost treatment.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made a firm resolve to provide healthcare facilities to the remotest parts of the country, harnessing the latest technological developments. The present initiative is also inspired by that, he said.

The Minister informed that the first phase of this facility was conducted in the far-flung Gandoh area of district Doda where it spent three months. The second phase was conducted along the Zero Line villages of the International Border, and the third phase was held in the upper reaches of Bilawar. The fourth phase in the next few months will be conducted in Dudu Basantgarh in the upper reaches of Ramnagar block of Udhampur.

Dr Jitendra Singh appealed to local people to avail the facility, saying that through this latest super speciality hospital, doctors are coming to their doorsteps.

"This campaign, through funds raised from voluntary sources, was started in Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency one year back and it is possibly among the rare parliamentary constituencies to have initiative such a high tech mobile healthcare facility. For local assistance, a physician is also physically available inside the van, " said Dr Jitendra Singh. 

India Now Among 7 Elite Nations Using Quantum Technology

India is now among the seven elite countries in the world that are using Quantum Technology, said the Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh while addressing the Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi, yesterday.

To recall, in December 2021 a quantum-powered secure communication trials were succesfully conducted between two physically distant DRDO labs. Later, in December of last year, Indian Army begun the process of procurement & Deployment of QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) systems 
developed by QNu Labs, a Bengaluru-based startup.

Bharat today is armed with state-of-the-art technology in the Defence sector, Dr Jitendra Singh said.

Unlike in the past, our Armed Forces are equipped with advanced weaponry including drones, heliborne operations and UAVs and are ready to adapt to new frontiers like Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, he said.

Dr. Singh, the Science & Technology Minister said, ‘i-Hub Quantum’, set up at IISER, Pune, is working in the area of Quantum Technologies and developing atom interferometry-based sensing and navigation devices; TIH at IIT Madras, namely, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation is working on developing a secure mobile phone for defence personnel. 

TIH at IIT Roorkee, namely, iHUB Divya Sampark supporting IDR Doot Mk-1, India’s first indigenous Nano drone for helping Indian Armed Forces during counter terrorist/counter insurgency and room intervention operations; i-Hub Quantum, set up at IISER, Pune working in the area of Quantum Technologies developing atom interferometry-based sensing and navigation devices; TIH at IIT Mandi, namely, Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Foundation developing the Naval Combat Management System (NCMS), TIH at IISc 
Bengaluru developing integrated robotic joint actuators for precise control of automation systems etc.

The three major defense applications of quantum technology are — quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication.

In April this year, Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Navy's R&D unit Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE) for research in developing quantum key distribution techniques that the Indian Navy 
could leverage in the nation's efforts towards securing free space communications.

In the same month, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) partnered with Synergy Quantum India (SQ India) to establish Quantum Solution Lab with an aim of developing financially feasible quantum technologies and their applications in both military and civilian use cases.

Bill of $6.03 Bn Fund for R&D and Innovation Introduced in Lok Sabha

Today, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha, for setting up a national agency to fund research across universities, institutions and laboratories in the country.

Named "Anusandhan National Research Foundation", the bill once implemented, will provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture.

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill-2023 seeks to set up a Rs 50,000-crore (~ US $6.03 Billion) fund, with a sizeable contribution from the private sector, to "seed, grow and promote" research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India's universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

Introducing the Bill, Dr Jitendra Singh said, when passed by Parliament the Act will provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture.

The Minister said, it will also promote scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences to promote, monitor and provide support as required for such research and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

It may be recalled that on 28th June, 2023 the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the Parliament. The approved Bill will pave the way to establish NRF that will seed, grow and promote Research and Development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

The bill, after approval in the Parliament, will establish NRF, an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), at a total estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 crores ( ~ US $6.03 billion) during five years (2023-28).

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative Department of NRF which will be governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals across disciplines. Since the scope of the NRF is wide-ranging – impacting all ministries - the Prime Minister will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of Science & Technology & Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio Vice-Presidents. NRF’s functioning will be governed by an Executive Council chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

NRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries. It will focus on creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.

The bill will also repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an act of Parliament in 2008 and subsume it into NRF which has an expanded mandate and covers activities over and above the activities of SERB.

Minister Lists Out India's Major SpaceTech Achievements, Says India 5th Amongst Spacefaring Nations Having End-to-End Capabilities

Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, has said that India is the fifth amongst spacefaring nations having end-to-end capabilities in space research and development, including the capability to launch from our own land and operate programs of earth observation, satellite communication, meteorology, space science & navigation and ground infrastructure.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that right now NewSpace industries are also emerging at fast pace after space sector reforms.

The Minister also listed out significant progress made by ISRO during the last five years.

Some of the major achievements are listed below:

• Year — 2018
• 27 satellites and 22 Launch Vehicle missions have been successfully accomplished during the period (July 2018 – July 2023), besides the successful Pad Abort Test (PAT) to qualify the Crew Escape System (CES) in July 2018 and the Reusable Launch Vehicle autonomous landing mission in April 2023.
• In June 2018, India announced a capacity building training programme UNNATI (UNispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training by ISRO) on Nanosatellites development through a combination of theoretical coursework and hands-on training on Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT). A total of 90 participants from 45 countries benefitted from the program across three batches. (Two in 2019 and 1 in 2022).
• Year — 2019
• India’s second mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-2 was successfully launched on July 22, 2019 on-board GSLV Mk III-M1. Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter is providing valuable science data for the research community.
• The launch of PSLV-C48/ RISAT-2BR1 in December 2019 marked the 50th launch of PSLV, the workhorse launch vehicle.
• In 2019, ISRO launched an annual special programme called "Young Scientist Programme" or the "YUva VIgyani KAryakram" (YUVIKA), in line with the Government's vision "Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan”.
• A total of 603 students have attended the YUVIKA program spread over 3 years – 2019, 2022 and 2023.
• In 2019, the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) got incorporated, as a wholly owned Government of India Undertaking/ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS).
• Year — 2020
• On June 26, 2020, the Government of India announced Space Sector Reforms – a major transformation of Indian Space Sector with enhanced participation of private players in Indian space programme and playing key roles to boost India’s market share in Global Space Economy.
• Setting up of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and enhancing the role New Space India Limited (NSIL) are the two major thrust areas in the Reform.
• The establishment of IN-SPACe was announced in June 2020 by Government of India, as an autonomous agency under Department of Space, to create eco-system of industry, academia and start-ups and to attract major share in the global space economy, by authorizing and regulating activities of NGEs in space sector through detailed guidelines and procedures.
• Year — 2022
• IN-SPACe Headquarters at Ahmedabad was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in June 2022.
• Dedicated ISRO System for Safe & Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) to the nation in July, 2022.
• LVM3 (GSLV MkIII) M2/OneWeb India-1 Mission was successfully accomplished on 23rd October 2022.
• Launch of Vikram-S (Prarambh mission), a suborbital launch vehicle from M/s Skyroot Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, was accomplished successfully on 18th November 2022.
• First private launchpad & mission control center established by M/s Agnikul Cosmos Pvt. Ltd., Chennai in ISRO campus at SDSC, SHAR on 25th November 2022.
• Year — 2023
• On Feb 10th, 2023, the successful flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV – D2) took place, launching three satellites – EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 (a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Space Kidz India, Chennai).
• On March 7th, 2023, controlled re-entry experiment for the decommissioned Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT-1) satellite was carried out successfully, with final impact in the Pacific Ocean, demonstrating the nation’s continued efforts towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
• LVM3 M3/OneWeb India-2 Mission was successfully accomplished on 26th March, 2023, placing 36 OneWeb satellites into their intended orbit. With this, NSIL successfully executed its contract to launch 72 satellites of OneWeb to Low Earth Orbit.
• Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) was successfully demonstrated at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka on 2nd April, 2023.
• GSLV-F12/NVS-01 mission was successfully accomplished on 29th May, 2023. GSLV deployed the NVS-01 navigation satellite, the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) service,into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
• LVM3-M4 successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft on 14th July, 2023. Lunar orbit insertion activities are in progress and Moon landing is scheduled on 23rd August, 2023.

Govt will Promote Industry-driven Start-Ups to Create Wealth and Jobs - Minister

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today said, Government will promote Industry-driven Start-Ups to create wealth and jobs.

Addressing the 37th Foundation day of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) as Chief Guest at National Institute of Immunology, NII, Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh called for equal stake with equal partnership and responsibility by Industry to sustain the Start-Ups boom.

The Minister said, Start-Ups will become sustainable, if Industry from the very beginning will identify the theme/subject/product and invest matching equity with the Government.

The Minister assured that funds will not be a constraint under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government to promote the “Innovation Eco-System” in the country.

Giving the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of an Atma Nirbhar Bharat, where India’s vaccine strategy brought together pharma, industry and academia in a partnership with an eye on meeting the current as well as possible future challenges, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the idea behind initiatives like this is to have a sustainable partnership in the long run and provide a sustainable source of livelihood to India’s youth. He added that the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Modi, is encouraging industrial outreach by extending all possible support.

The Minister also pointed out that last yearb(in May) he had launched Single National Portal "BioRRAP" for Biotech researchers and Start-Ups and also to cater to all those seeking regulatory approval for biological research & development activity in the country and thus offer a huge relief for "Ease of Science as well as Ease of Business”.

He asserted that India is poised to become a Global Bio-manufacturing Hub and will figure among the top 5 countries of the world by 2025.

Dr Jitendra Singh pitched for development of India’s own Molecule and said for Indian Problems, Indian Remedies must be devised. He said, Biotechnology is the technology of tomorrow as IT has already reaching its saturation point. The Minister emphasized that Biotech will be the key to Amrit Kaal Economy and also for making India a frontline nation in the world.

Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that India's bio-economy has grown 8 times in the last 8 years under Prime Minister Modi from $10 billion in 2014 to over $80 billion in 2022. Similarly, Biotech Startups have grown 100 times in the last 8 years from 52 odd startups in 2014 to 5300 plus in 2022.

He said, 3 Biotech Startups were incorporated every day in 2021 and a total of 1,128 biotech startups were set up in 2021 alone, signaling the rapid growth of the sector in India.

Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the Biotechnology Sector in India has evolved over the last three decades and has made significant contribution in various sectors including health, medicine, agriculture, industry and bio-informatics, due to enormous support received both from government & private sector.

He underlined that the Biotechnology Sector has seen a rapid growth in the last 9 years and India is now being rated among top 12 biotechnology destinations in the world. He said, more than three times funds allocated to this sector compared to pre-2014 era to make India globally competitive in biotechnology research, innovation, and entrepreneurship and also paving the way for the promising future.

In his address, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Dr Rajesh Gokhale said, "India must catch up fast with the Foundational Technologies of 21st Century to remain relevant in the game.He said, Government of India, through the Science, Technology and Innovation, among other things, aspires to position India among the world’s top five scientific powers and it is very much committed in supporting scientific research and innovations."

He added that DBT is the nodal agency for promotion of Biotechnology in the country and nurturing Biotechnology by creating a strong ecosystem for facilitating basic, early and late translational research and entrepreneurship and also formulation of policies and guidelines in all sectors of biotechnology. Department is relentlessly working towards promotion of research, innovation and technology leading to product development; building capacities, both human resource and infrastructure; fostering national and international partnerships.

Delivering the Foundation Day Lecture, Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru said that Department of Biotechnology is the only department in the Government of India which has got end-to-end approach from Idea to development of final product. He also informed that gathering that it was Biotech or rather the IR8 variety of Rice, which was responsible for the Green Revolution thus making significant contributions to Agri Sector, as the yield was 3 to 4 times per hectare than the normal seed.

Prof K VijayRaghvan in his address said that there was a time when there was a danger that DBT could have been mistaken for Fermentation Technology but thanks to efforts by Dr Ramachandran that it evolved as a separate specialized stream and department. He said, linkage of Biotechnology with Digital Technology will open the floodgates for this sector.

Dr Alka Sharma, Senior Advisor, DBT and MD, BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) in her welcome address said, DBT has established 15 theme-based autonomous institutions across the country. She also informed that one international institution namely the New Delhi center of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology and two Public Sector Undertakings BIBCOL and BIRAC have also been established for manufacturing of biologicals and fostering and nurturing the startup innovation ecosystem.

Dr. Sanjay Mishra, Senior Scientist presented vote of thanks and took the collective pledge to make DBT, one of the premier Research and Innovation Departments of the country and the world in times to come.

DBT has contributed in strengthening all the diverse aspects of Biotechnology. Some of the major achievements in key areas include —  

1. Ease of Governance-Policy Reforms include Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) Department is subsuming its 14 Autonomous Institutions to create one Apex Autonomous Body
2. Vaccines for Swasth Bharat;
   Under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0, a special grant of Rs. 900 Crore was allocated to the Department for the implementation of Mission COVID Suraksha towards development of vaccines against COVID-19.

Sectoral achievements include —

• Genomic Sequencing - Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) ng for Tracking Pathogens 
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Regulatory Reforms include Biological Research Regulatory Approval Portal (BioRRAP)– “One Nation One Portal”, Biotech-KISAN,(~100/year) for law enforcing agencies, medico-legal applications and quality testing. CDFD offers diagnostic services for various genetic disorders including rare genetic disorders which help iDBT-Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) offers DNA Fingerprinting services.

North India's 1st Nuclear Plant is Coming Up in Haryana

Representative Image [by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay] 

North India's first Nuclear Plant is coming up in Haryana in the town of Gorakhpur, which is about 150 km north of the national capital of New Delhi. This was disclosed today, by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.

Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, has also been given permission for forming joint ventures with PSUs for resources to opening up of atomic energy plants, which is an upcoming and promising sector, having potential to fulfill India’s all energy needs in times to come.

To recall, in November last year Dr. Jitendra Singh has invited participation of private sector and Startups for building Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Technology within India. India is taking steps for development of SMRs, with up to 300 MW capacity to fulfill its commitment to Clean Energy transition

Today, Dr. Jiteandra Singh said that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime, one of the major achievements would be the installation of Nuclear/ Atomic Energy plants in other parts of the country, which were earlier confined mostly to the South Indian States like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh or in the west in Maharashtra.

Keeping in line with the priority to increase India’s nuclear capacity, a number of path breaking decisions were taken in last over 8 years. The minister added that a bulk approval of installation of 10 nuclear reactors has been given a nod by the Modi Government, the minister said.

It is to be noted that, on 13 January 2014, the foundation stone of the first phase of this Nuclear plant project dubbed as Gorakhpur Haryana Nuclear Power Project was laid by the then Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. The plant is based on indigenous technology developed by Indian scientists. 

Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) having two units of 700 MWe capacity each of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) indigenous design is under implementation near Gorakhpur village in Fatehabad district in Haryana.

Till date, an amount of ₹4,906 Cr has been spent out of total allocated funds 20,594 Cr. (Total Financial progress is 23.8% as on date).

Construction of other Main Plant buildings/structures viz. Fire Water Pump House (FWPH), Safety Related Pump House (SRPH), Fuel Oil storage area-1&2 (FOSA-1&2), Ventilation stack, overhead tank (OHT), Switchyard Control Building, Safety related & Non-safety related Tunnel & Trenches, Retaining walls and Garland Drain is progressing well. Ground improvement in Turbine Building -1 & 2, 220 kV Switchyard and IDCT-1A is completed. Ground improvement in other areas IDCTs, 400kV Switchyard, Emergency makeup water pond and station roads are in progress. The contractors for IDCT package and Turbine Island Package have mobilized site.

Purchase orders for major long manufacturing cycle equipment/components like Primary Coolant Pumps, Calandria, Reactor Headers, Refuelling Machines Heads, Moderator and other D20 Heat Exchangers, etc. are already in place. End Shields and all Steam Generators for the first unit have been received at site. Manufacturing of other equipment is in various stages and delivery at site is expected well in time to meet the construction schedule.

Construction of Water Duct from Tohana to GHAVP for meeting operational cooling water requirements has been taken up through Haryana Irrigation & Water Resources Department (HI&WRD) as deposit work and progressing well.

India’s 1st National Repository for Life Science Data Launched at Faridabad

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated to the nation India’s first national repository for life science data–'Indian Biological Data Center’ (IBDC) at Faridabad, Haryana.

IBDC has accumulated over 200 billion bases from 2,08,055 submissions from more than 50 research labs across India.

As per the BIOTECH-PRIDE guidelines of the Government of India, IBDC is mandated to archive all life science data generated from publicly-funded research in India. Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange) Guidelines was released by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, in July last year. 

IBDC has a data storage capacity of about 4 petabytes and houses the ‘Brahm’ High Performance Computing (HPC) facility. The computational infrastructure at IBDC is also made available for researchers interested in performing computational-intensive analysis. Users can contact the data center by submitting their requests at support@ibdc.rcb.res.i

Dr Jitendra Singh informed that IBDC has started nucleotide data submission services via two data portals viz. the ‘Indian Nucleotide Data Archive (INDA)’ and ‘Indian Nucleotide Data Archive - Controlled Access (INDA-CA)’ and has accumulated over 200 billion bases from 2,08,055 submissions from more than 50 research labs across India.

The national repository also hosts an online ‘Dashboard’ for the genomic surveillance data generated by the INSACOG labs (https://inda.rcb.ac.in/insacog/statisticsinsacog). The online dashboard provides customized data submission, access, data analysis services, and real-time SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring across India. Data submission and access portals for other data types are under development and would be launched shortly. 

IBDC is committed to the spirit of data sharing as per FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. 

Interestingly, IBDC is being developed in a modular fashion wherein different sections would typically deal with particular type/s of life science data. 

The computational infrastructure at IBDC is also made available for researchers interested in performing computational intensive analysis. Users can contact the data center by submitting their requests at support@ibdc.rcb.res.in. 

Further, IBDC conducts regular workshops and orientations (https://ibdc.rcb.res.in/news-and-announcement/) to assist users in submitting the data. Video tutorials for data submission to IBDC are also available at the data center website.

The data center team can also be contacted at support@ibdc.rcb.res.in for scheduling of any workshop on data submission/analysing 

Linked with AgriTech Startups, Science Museum Inaugurated in Himachal's Chambal

The Minister says, Himachal with rich biodiversity is most suitable for promotion of Agri-tech Start-ups and promised DBT hand-holding of young innovators to take a plunge in ongoing start-up boom in the country

Ministry of Science and Technology taken an initiative to install 75 science museums in different Aspirational districts of the country to infuse scientific temper among the school children: Dr Jitendra Singh

Union Minister for Science and Technology and MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated a Science Museum at Aspirational District of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh in presence of State Chief Minister Shri Jairam Thakur and other dignitaries.

Linking it to Start-Ups, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the state-of-art institution in this hilly region will inspire young children to discover their potentials and use their innovative skills to find a source of livelihood in later life.

The "DBT-NIPGR-Pandit Jaiwant Ram Upmanyu Science Museum" set up by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, an autonomous institute of Department of Biotechnology, at Government Boys Senior Secondary School (GBSSS), Chamba will help infuse scientific temper among the school children. 

Dr Jitendra Singh said that Himachal being a Himalayan State with rich biodiversity is most suitable for promotion of Agri-tech Start-ups and the Department of Biotechnology is willing to hand-hold the young innovators to take a plunge in the ongoing start-up boom in the country. He said, the geography and climatic conditions in Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh favour the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants and these can be developed into Agri-tech and aromatic enterprises. The Minister offered Chief Minister Jairam Thakur all help to study and implement CSIR supported Aroma Mission in Jammu and Kashmir, which can be replicated in a big way in Himachal.

The minister pointed out that only recently Prime Minister Modi has reviewed the progress of Aspirational Districts and remarked, “The success of Aspirational Districts on various parameters - be it health, nutrition, education or exports - is heartening. Glad to see the lives of lakhs get transformed due to Aspirational Districts program.

The Minister was happy to note that Chamba has been ranked second in Health and Nutrition in March 2019, ranked among best districts in basic infrastructure in November 2020 and overall second in October 2021 in the country among the 117 districts identified across the country by NITI Aayog. He added that Aspirational District concept is based on objective parameters and it is scientifically designed with evaluation based on certain essential indices. 

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates Science Museum at Aspirational District of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, links it with StartUps; State Chief Minister Shri Jairam Thakur graces the inaugural even.

The Minister says, Himachal with rich biodiversity is most suitable for promotion of Agri-tech Start-ups and promised DBT hand-holding of young innovators to take a plunge in ongoing start-up boom in the country.

Ministry of Science and Technology taken an initiative to install 75 science museums in different Aspirational districts of the country to infuse scientific temper among the school children: Dr Jitendra Singh

Union Minister for Science and Technology and MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Saturday, inaugurated a Science Museum at Aspirational District of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh in presence of State Chief Minister Shri Jairam Thakur and other dignitaries.

Linking it to Start-Ups, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the state-of-art institution in this hilly region will inspire young children to discover their potentials and use their innovative skills to find a source of livelihood in later life.

Last year in September, Dr. Singh had announced that Government will be setting up Science Museums across the country to promote scientific temper, particularly among children and the younger generation. 

The "DBT-NIPGR-Pandit Jaiwant Ram Upmanyu Science Museum" set up by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, an autonomous institute of Department of Biotechnology, at Government Boys Senior Secondary School (GBSSS), Chamba will help infuse scientific temper among the school children. 

Dr Jitendra Singh said that Himachal being a Himalayan State with rich biodiversity is most suitable for promotion of Agri-tech Start-ups and the Department of Biotechnology is willing to hand-hold the young innovators to take a plunge in the ongoing start-up boom in the country. He said, the geography and climatic conditions in Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh favour the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants and these can be developed into Agri-tech and aromatic enterprises.

The Minister offered Chief Minister Jairam Thakur all help to study and implement CSIR supported Aroma Mission in Jammu and Kashmir, which can be replicated in a big way in Himachal. 

Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that only recently Prime Minister Modi has reviewed the progress of Aspirational Districts and remarked, “The success of Aspirational Districts on various parameters - be it health, nutrition, education or exports - is heartening. Glad to see the lives of lakhs get transformed due to Aspirational Districts program.”

The Minister was happy to note that Chamba has been ranked second in Health and Nutrition in March 2019, ranked among best districts in basic infrastructure in November 2020 and overall second in October 2021 in the country among the 117 districts identified across the country by NITI Aayog. He added that Aspirational District concept is based on objective parameters and it is scientifically designed with evaluation based on certain essential indices.

Dr Jitendra Singh told the gathering thay aligning with the vision of Prime Minister to make Science & Technology reach every nook and corner of the country, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India has taken an initiative to install 75 science museums in different Aspirational districts of the country. He said, the purpose of these science museums is not only to apprise the scientific journey and achievements of India in the last 75 years of Independent India but also to infuse scientific temper among the school children

Dr Singh once again underlined that this initiative will lead to science-based, rational and progressive thinking among the students so that they are encouraged to take science as a career and spread scientific vision in the society, besides giving shape to critical thinking in the form of lucrative start-up Ventures. 

"The establishment of these science museums should not only cherish the rich scientific heritage of our country but also emerge as crucibles of innovation and invoke curiosity and enthusiasm in the students and the youth" , said Dr Jitendra Singh. He said, the establishment of science museums in the aspirational districts will also effectively contribute to the “Jan Bhagidari” and Samgra Shiksha Abhiyan of Government of India.

In his address, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur profusely thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr Jitendra Singh for granting Science Museum to the Aspirational District of Chamba and said it will go a long way in inculcating scientific spirit and approach among the students of this district and also the adjoining areas. 

Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Mr. Thakur said, "In the last 8 years, several developmental projects were sanctioned for Himachal Pradesh to make it at par with other developed states of the country. He particularly mentioned about Shri Modi laying the foundation stone of the Medical Device Park at Nalagarh, at a cost of about Rs 350 crore on 5th October, 2022, which will significantly enhance employment opportunities in the region."

Earlier in the month of May, North India’s 1st Biotech Park/Incubator was launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh in Jammu & Kashmir region. The Biotech Park would act as hub for incubation of new ideas and will support the agri-entrepreneurs, startups, progressive farmers, scientists & scholars not only from J&K, but from neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

IIT Kanpur Incubated Startup Gets Rs 3.29 Crores From Ministry to Develop Smart Water Management Technologies

Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, announced financial support of Rs. 3.29 crores to Kritsnam Technologies, a Start-up Company, incubated at IIT Kanpur to develop smart water management technologies. The minister said the the technology, initially focused on commercial users, can be a game changer in effectively monitoring & controlling the ground water exploitation across country in future.

Kritsnam Technologies (Kritsnam) is a funded and incubated startup from IIT Kanpur working on data-driven water management solutions. The Ranchi, Jharkhand-based startup envision to use freshwater sustainably for industrial, agriculture and drinking purposes.

An MoU was signed in the presence of Dr Jitendra Singh between the Technology Development Board (TDB) under Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Kritsnam Technologies Pvt Ltd, for production & commercialization of Dhaara Smart Flow Meter.

The Minister was informed that the start-up is developing ‘Dhaara Smart Flowmeter’ - an integrated system for online monitoring using two beam ultrasonic flowmeters that is designed to track the water distribution in real-time for applications such as drinking water supply, ground water extraction, industrial water usage and precision irrigation. 

Image - Kritsnam.com

The Dhaara is a new-age water meter that combines the power of IoT with the latest sensor technologies. The integrated telemetry and battery powered capabilities make it easy to manage your water consumption from anywhere and anytime (even when the power is down).

The device collects data through sensors, stores it in the device, and transmits to the online cloud servers and thereafter the data transmitted to servers is analysed and displayed in the dashboard. This unique solution is a combination of hardware & software for flow measurement and water management respectively.

Click to Enlarge [Image © - https://kritsnam.com/ ]

Dr Jitendra Singh said that Dhaara Smart Flow Meter will greatly benefit Prime Minister Modi’s Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs.6,000 crore Central Sector Scheme, for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation. The scheme is being implemented in 80 water stressed districts and 8,565 Gram Panchayats of seven States viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from 01.04.2020 for a period of five years.

Dr. Jitendra Singh further said, Dhaara Smart Flow Meter can also help bulk water consumers to budget their water usage and empower them to understand their patterns, points of inefficiencies and help them to build strong strategies for reducing water wastage.

The Dhaara Smart Flow Meter is battery operated and does not require external power and the hardware architecture is based on the Internet of Things (IoT) communication circuits which is patented in India. In addition, it complies with ISO and Central Ground Water Authority standards. The water usage data is automatically recorded in an online logbook through telemetry via 4G/2G. 

The built-in telemetry and battery-operated capabilities make it easy for users to monitor their water consumption virtually anywhere (even when the power is out). 

The product being developed initially aims at commercial users like hotels, hospitals, malls, IT parks, schools, colleges and industrial users (food products, packaged drinking water, pharmaceuticals, paper & pulp etc.).

Kritsnam raised Pre Series-A funding of Rs 6 crore (~ $8,00,000) in February this year, which was led by an IIT Kanpur’s alumni of 1987 batch, along with participation from Ashish Gupta (Founder of Helion Ventures), Kunal Shah (Founder of Cred), Basab Pradhan (former Infosys Executive) and Sanjiv Verma (former Managing Director of Baxter India), among others. 

The startup was also among the three winners of Water Challenge organized by Smart City Living Lab at IIIT Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Government of Telangana and NIUM.

It may be recalled that the Central Groundwater Authority issued guidelines under which every commercial ground water user must install a smart water meter and pay yearly bills. All the project proponents/users drawing ground water and seeking/having NOC shall have to mandatorily install tamper-proof digital water flow meters with telemetry on all the ground water abstraction structures within their premises.

Ground Water levels in various parts of the country are declining because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increase in population, industrialization and urbanization etc. As per the assessment of Dynamic Ground Water Resources (2017) carried out by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in collaboration with States/UTs, out of the total 6,881 assessment units (Block/ Taluks/ Mandals/ watersheds/ Firkas) in the country, 1,186 units in 17 States/UTs have been categorized as ‘over-exploited’ where ‘Annual Ground Water Extraction’ is more than ‘Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource’.

Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, IP&TAFS, Secretary, TDB said, “Water is essential to all humankind & the ground water is dominant source of drinking water but the pace at which the ground water is depleting is alarming. Govt of India is taking urgent steps needed to replenish the ground water level through water harvesting technologies as well as planned & controlled ground water extraction. ‘Dhaara Smart Flow Meter’ from startup ‘Kritsnam’ would be a great addition to this endeavour. The smart meter has been designed in such a way that, it can perform ground water management with real time processing, even without electricity”.

North India’s 1st Biotech Park/Incubator Launched; Aims To Produce 25 Biotech Startups in A Year

Representational Image Only

The Biotech Park to act as hub for incubation of new ideas and will support the Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Progressive farmers, scientists & scholars not only from J&K, but from neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

After launching North India’s first big space centre in March this year, union minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has inaugurated North India’s first Industrial Biotech Park Ghatti, Kathua, Jammu. The Biotech Park would act as hub for incubation of new ideas and will act as a robust platform to support the Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Progressive farmers, scientists, scholars and students not only from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh but also from nearby States of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

"Kathua is, because of its resource richness with diversity as well as its geographical location, destined to be North India's StartUp destination.," the minister said.

This comes within a week after BioRRAP — a Single National Portal for Biotech researchers and Startups, was launched.

The newly launched biotech park will carry out research on biodiversity, medicinal and aromatic plants of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and it will also promote green category businesses.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the biotechnology park at Kathua has a potential to produce 25 startups in a year which will be among its great contributions to this region. Dr. Singh informed that with the unlocking of space technology in India under PM Narendra Modi, sixty startups have been established in only one and a half year, Onkar Singh, the young scientist from Jammu present today here is among the best examples of it.

The Biotech Parks of J&K are among 9 Biotechnology Parks supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT)Govt. of India's  Ministry of Science & Technology, in various States.

"Under PM Narendra Modi without any regional bias, the UT of Jammu and Kashmir has seen a new dawn of development in education, health infrastructure, science and technology. The establishment of AIIMS, IIM, IIT, IIMC, Space Centre at Central University of Jammu, Highway villages, Express Corridor, Atal Setu, Mega-Quintal Seed Processing Plants, Medical Colleges some of which have been established in Kathua are some of the national level development projects J&K has seen in last eight years," said the minister.

In addition to this biotech park in Jammu, there are two more Industrial Biotech Parks comin up in the region — one at Ghatti, Kathua, Jammu and other in Handwara, Kashmir. These are jointly funded by DBT  and Jammu & Kashmir Science, Technology & Innovation Council.The work on these Biotech parks was started in February 2019. Notably, the J&K region already has CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, (CSIR-IIIM), which has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of this project.

DBT has established Biotechnology Parks/Incubators across the country to translate research into products and services by providing necessary infrastructure support. These Biotechnology Parks offer facilities to Scientists, and Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) for technology incubation, technology demonstration and pilot plant studies for accelerated commercial development of Biotechnology.

For "Ease of Science", India Gets Single National Portal for BioTech Researchers and Startups

Last Saturday, a Single National Portal for Biotech researchers and Startups was launched that are seeking regulatory approval for biological research and development projects.

The Portal "BioRRAP" (Biological Research Regulatory Approval Portal) is essentially a centralized mechanism created to cater to all those seeking regulatory approval for biological research & development activity in the country and thus offer a huge relief for "Ease of Science" as well as "Ease of Business".

Notably, there are over 2,700 biotech start-ups and more than 2,500 biotech companies working at present in the country.

BioRRAP is the first public mechanism that tracks requisite regulatory approvals for research proposals online.The portal will keep researchers notified on the stage of their application in terms of regulatory clearances. It further allows users to see preliminary information on all the research work being undertaken by the particular researcher/ organization.

BioRRAP provides a single route to direct the applicant to regulatory agencies providing requisite approval relevant to the biological research. 

Based on a succinct set of questions responded in affirmative by the applicant, the list of regulatory agencies from whom approvals may be required for biological research, is determined and attached to the unique BioRRAP ID generated on the submission.

The online Portal will also allow stakeholders to see the approvals accorded against a particular application through BioRRAP IDs. This portal is brought in existence by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology.

On launch of BioRAPP, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said, "There is no mechanism to track the requisite regulatory approval for a research proposal on a single portal and therefore, to provide more credibility and recognition to such biological researches, Government of India has developed a web system under which each research, requiring regulatory oversight, will be identified by a unique ID called 'BioRRAP ID."

He said, the portal will serve as a gateway and will help researcher to see stage of approval of their applications for regulatory clearances and to see preliminary information on all the research work being undertaken by the particular researcher and/or organization.

Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that other than biotechnology, biological work related to biodiversity, latest methods of conservation and protection of flora and fauna, forest and wildlife, bio-survey and bio-utilization of biological resources are also gaining momentum in India due to effect of climate change on them.

He added that research in the various biological fields is continuously expanding its vista in India supported by the grants from various public and private sector. Many of these research falls under the purview of one or more regulatory agencies which first approve the research proposal after which researcher undertakes that specific research.

The minister directed the DBT officials for wider publicity of this unique National Portal and asked them to make short duration films capturing all the nuances of the registration and regulatory approval through the portal.

Cybersecurity Platform WiJungle Bags National Award on National Technology Day 2022

WiJungle, a one stop unified cyber security platform has been felicitated with the prestigious National Technology Award 2022 by Dr. Jitendra Singh – Honorable Minister of State for Science & Technology. The award was presented in a ceremony organised on National Technology Day held on 11 May 2022 & presided over by Dr. Srivari Chandrsekhar – Chairperson, Technology Development Board & Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Mr. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board. The award consisted of a gold plated leaf trophy and cash award of INR 15 Lacs.

The Eleventh (11th) May of every year is celebrated as the National Technology Day as a symbol of the quest for scientific inquiry and technological creativity and the translation quest in the integration of Science, Society and Industry. This year, the National Technology Day was celebrated under the theme ‘PRAGATI – Promoting avenues for Growth through Technological Innovations’ at The Ashok Hotel, New Delhi. Speaking at the event Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the future belongs to technology-driven economy and calls for building an Innovation Ecosystem in the country. 

Hon'ble minister also launched the SSR and SRIMAN Guidelines on the occasion of Technology Day function and said SSR is vital for strengthening science and society linkages for making S&T ecosystem responsive to societal needs, while SRIMAN guidelines aims to promote efficient utilisation and wider access of Research Infrastructure (RI) to scientists, researchers and industry professionals across the country

Delighted with the win, Karmesh Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO of WiJungle said - 

At WiJungle, we are dedicated to enabling organizations to secure and strengthen their entire network through the single window. We consider this award as an honour that solidifies our foundation and efforts in the domain of cybersecurity.

With the increased surface for cyber threats, being an AI and ML based security platform, WiJungle eradicates the need to have several standalone security products and safeguards organizations' networks.

The cybersecurity platform overcomes the management and scalability challenges by reducing the capital investment of an organization by up to 60 percent. In a short span, it has witnessed extensive growth in customer base by 200 percent with major traction coming from SMBs and the Government.

Technology Development Board, a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India by the virtue of its mandate, honours technological innovations that have helped in the national growth under the aegis of National Awards from the year 1999.

Bacardi 1862 India - OML wins big at the Inkspell April Fest 2022 held on 29th April 2022

A Successful Wrap up of the Inkspell April Fest comprising of vIDEA Awards and Summit and The Unlocked Awards  MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4th Annual Edition of Inkspell's Video Media Awards & Summit 2022 and the 2nd Annual Chapter of The Unlocked Awards 2022 in collaboration with the Global Trends Forum, were successfully conducted virtually on 29th April, in which 'Bacardi 1862 India - OML' stole the spotlight of the evening by bagging 10 trophies and becoming the 'Agency of the Year'.  With #vIDEAwards2022, the idea was to celebrate the excellence shown by creative professionals and marketers for the use cases of video marketing and bring them to the center stage at a national forum with global exposure. Since the pandemic, it has been nothing but inspiring to witness how the digital marketing world pivoted entirely and went through a sea of changes to stand where we are right now. In 2021, what we also saw was how brands played a crucial role in capping the digital divide by unlocking more cohesive opportunities for the customers and telling their brand stories. On the other hand, TULA recognized those entities who did not only ensure business continuity during the crisis but also transformed obstacles into strategic advantages by launching exemplary campaigns, programs, products, services, and solutions that became the game-changers in their respective industry sectors. "This year's winners of the #vIDEAawards2022 have blown our mind with their flawless execution of leveraging the power of video content to achieve remarkable business results. We hope the streak continues and we keep on celebrating such powerful video campaigns across the year," says Priyanka Sehgal, one of the jury members. Pegged on the core theme of #vIdeaDoneRight, the #vIDEAawards2022 invited excellent campaign entries from across the brands, agencies, production houses, and design studios, and sparked relevant conversations to discuss the leading trends and opportunities, address key concerns in the domains, and draw a roadmap for the growth of the video media. Right from recognizing the outstanding video content developed under different Genres including short films, feature films, TV series, Web Series, video essays, live streaming, etc, to celebrating the leading professionals, agencies, platforms, and enterprises whose contribution to the growth of the video media industry has been extraordinary, and have tremendously uplifted the quality and quantity of video content being produced in the country, #vIdea2022 Awards witnessed it all.  The awards were held in the virtual presence of eminent jurors and speakers like Imran Qadri of Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Sujan Roy of Ashok Leyland, Balaji Vaidyanathan of Franklin Templeton, Raja Chakraborty of Emami Limited, Piali Dasgupta of Columbia Pacific Communities, Archana Aggarwal of Airtel, Anay Pathak of Dell Technologies, Rituraj Bidwai of Sobha Ltd., Aman Kanjhlia, a Contextual Story-Teller, Nandita Khaire of RemBrand Consulting, Amit Verma of Rapido, Anil Kumar Singh of HT Digital Streams, Zubin Kutar of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts, Ankoor Dasgupta, Marketing Coach & Consultant, Rishabh Mahendru of Adlift, Shruti Malani of Beddy by Centuary, Rahul Ramchandani of Google, Priyanka Sehgal of Sparkles Dating, Aman Dhall of CommsCredible, Sandeep Naug of  VerSe Innovation, Prashant Kulkarni of Carnival Group to name a few. With an aim to build future-forward solutions around video marketing, the event also witnessed power-packed insights on topics like Future of Brand Storytelling and the role of videos, delivered by Hansveen Kaur, Business Head at Momspresso; special address by Jitendra Hirawat, Director of SoCheers, on Power of short and simple messaging in video ad formats; and an engaging panel on How to take ROI to the next level by harnessing videos to build brand affinity. The panel was moderated by Priyanka Sehgal of Sparkles Dating where experts like Abraham Uthup of Toonz Animation, Sandeep Naug of VerSe Innovation, Saurabh Varma, Film Director & Chief Creative Officer, Content Engineers, Rahul Mishra, Head of Marketing, Shemaroo Entertainment, and Mansi Bihani, Co-founder, Video Factory shared their opinions. Some of the companies that participated and won the prestigious awards at the ceremony are Hindustan Unilever, ICICI Lombard, CNN News18, Motilal Oswal, ITC, HT Brand Studio, Columbia Pacific Communities, Bharat Electronics, Fino Payments Bank, Adani Group, Barbeque Nation, Discovery Kids, VYRL Originals, Zee Entertainment, MG Motor India, Bajaj Finserv Direct, HDFC Life, Mankind Pharma, HDFC Life Insurance Company, Lighthouse Learning, Thomas Cook India, AETN18 Media, Sony Pictures Entertainment India, Amazon Prime Video India, Godrej Interio, OML Entertainment, Reliance General Insurance Company, Sunny Cooking Oil, Kaya, Magsman, Bingo, Mindshaft Media, Frigorifico Allana, London Dairy, Allana Consumer Products, SoCheers, Aditya Birla Group, Glen, My11Circle (Lucknow SuperGiants), RPSG Group, RummyCircle, ACCA India (SEPPL), Flipkart Seller Hub, Voot Select Viacom18 Digital Ventures, Samsung Galaxy S21, Parimatch India, Onsurity Technologies, Jai Group, NBF, Tata Tele Business Services, YourDesiCart, Social Panga, CCAvenue, SVF Entertainment, Famous Innovations, Fastrack Smartwatches, Adlift, Eye-Q Films, Eggfirst, Videowala, DViO Digital, Cheil India, Logicserve Digital, Theseus Digital, Small Screen Film, MASS Studios, Moving Pixels, Schbang Digital Solutions, Mind and Matter, Andamen, Mia by Tanishq, ArtE Mediatech, Digital Refresh Networks, Manipal Hospitals, Appiness Interactive, Larsen & Toubro, Infotech, Urban Digital Solutions, Pixian Studio, White Rivers Media, Moglix, Whisper, Big Trunk Communications, among others. The ceremony was supported by our partners Global Trends Forum, India Creative Industries Council, India Today Group, Kenscio, News Broadcasting Federation, The Prevalent India, and Khushi Advertising. For more detailed information on the categories and the respective winners, visit: https://www.videaawards.com/, https://www.unlockedawards.com/ and www.inkspell.co.in or contact Geetika on +91-7863851515 or info@inkspell.co.in. About Inkspell Media:  Inkspell Media specializes in creating high-impact industry events and corporate meetings which are driven by topical discussions among business leaders, keynote addresses by veterans and experts, networking with peers, learning and development initiatives, and awards programmes.  Our team of specialists from various industry sectors are bound together by the ideology of 'bringing the niche to the mainstream'. Through our enriching sessions, the speakers and evangelists share information and insights on innovative technologies, industrial disruptions, go-to-market strategies, and roadmap for growth, thereby helping the entire community of organizations understand novel ideas and concepts, and adopt them in contextual best practices.