Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that the last twelve years have seen a rapid shift of science and technology from labs to everyday life. The Ministry of Science & Technology presented a 12‑year review at the CSIR headquarters, showing how government policies, private participation and start‑ups have driven growth in bio‑technology, space, weather services and strategic industries.
Key Developments (2024‑2026)
- Bioeconomy expanded from US$10 billion (2014) to US$190 billion today, with a target of US$300 billion by 2030.
- Space sector: number of space start‑ups rose from single digits to over 400; projected space economy of US$8 billion aims to reach US$45 billion.
- Weather radar network grew from 17 radars in 2014 to nearly 50 operational radars, with another 50 planned under Mission Mausam.
- Successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan‑3, establishing India as the first nation to land near the south pole.
- CSIR’s Aroma Mission and steel‑slag road technology are being scaled up, creating farmer livelihoods and converting industrial waste into durable roads.
Important Facts
The Ministry highlighted several policy frameworks that have underpinned the growth:
- BioE3 has guided the biotech surge.
- The National Quantum Mission and the National Supercomputing Mission are advancing cutting‑edge research.
- Weather forecasting now reaches 1,700 locations with modern services like Nowcast.
- Plans for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and a human Moon landing by 2040 signal long‑term ambition.
Exam Relevance
These developments illustrate the interplay of science, technology and governance – a frequent UPSC theme. Understanding the role of ministries, policy frameworks like BioE3, and public‑private partnerships helps answer questions on economic growth, strategic autonomy and sustainable development. The expansion of weather services ties directly to disaster management and climate resilience, relevant for GS III (Environment) and GS II (Polity) topics.
Way Forward
Minister Singh outlined future priorities: reaching a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, completing the radar expansion under Mission Mausam, operationalising the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, and encouraging private investment in nuclear energy and space. Strengthening linkages between research institutions like CSIR and industry will continue to drive innovation and job creation, supporting the vision of a “Viksit Bharat 2047”.