UPSC Science & Technology current affairs: space missions, biotechnology, AI, cybersecurity, and defense technology.
Part of: UPSC Current Affairs 2026 Hub
India’s total R&D spending rose to ₹244,768 crore in 2023‑24, lifting the GERD‑GDP ratio to 0.84% and prompting several high‑budget initiatives such as the RDI Fund, ANRF, and multiple national missions. The rise in GERD and improved Global Innovation Index ranking underscore the government’s push for private‑sector participation and innovation self‑reliance, a key focus for UPSC economics and policy analysis.
The Ministry of Science & Technology, in line with NITI Aayog’s ‘AI for All’, has launched multiple AI‑driven biotechnology initiatives—including GenomeIndia, the Indian Biological Data Centre, and ANRF’s MAHA missions—aimed at advancing health, agriculture and industry. These programmes create a robust data ecosystem, foster industry‑academia collaboration, and are pivotal for UPSC topics on science, technology, and governance.
A joint government‑backed study finds that newer vehicles are compatible with E20 petrol, while older BS‑III models may need rubber‑part replacements. Mechanics report rising fuel‑system problems post‑rollout, prompting calls for stricter fuel‑quality checks and public awareness, all within the broader goal of energy security and farmer support.
The Ministry of Science & Technology outlined the National Quantum Mission's expansion, involving 86 institutions, new fellowships like JRF, SRF, QC‑Bridge and PARIMANA, and a Letter of Intent with Japan for quantum collaboration. This initiative strengthens India's human‑resource base and international ties in emerging quantum technologies, a key focus for UPSC GS‑3.
The Technology Development Board has funded Sonic Biochem to set up a plant for producing functional and textured soy protein concentrates using an indigenous, non‑GMO process. The project supports India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals by reducing import dependence, saving foreign exchange, and creating export opportunities in the growing plant‑based protein market.
On 30 July 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh disclosed the full roster of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Technology Development Board — a statutory body under the Ministry of Science & Technology that provides financial assistance for the development and commercialization of indigenous technologies (GS3: Economy)">Technology Development Board</span> Investment Committee and the eight projects funded under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme — a programme that supports innovative technology projects through grants and equity from TDB (GS3: Economy)">RDI Scheme</span>. The reply also highlighted TDB’s conflict‑of‑interest policy, underscoring parliamentary oversight of technology financing.
On 30 July 2026, CSIR detailed its multi‑pronged push to develop affordable, indigenous healthcare technologies—ranging from COVID‑19 diagnostics to CRISPR‑based gene therapies—under the Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda, aiming to reduce import dependence, boost genomics capacity and strengthen India’s health security.
A joint study by ARIES, USO‑PRL and Ahmednagar College using Nobeyama Radioheliograph data reveals that the Sun’s upper atmosphere rotates faster than its surface, with speed increasing with height and slightly decreasing during high sunspot activity. The finding reshapes solar‑physics models and is crucial for UPSC topics on space weather, scientific institutions and technology policy.
The Ministry of Science & Technology has launched major programmes such as ANRF, the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme, the National Quantum Mission and Bio‑RIDE to boost R&D, attract private investment and align research with strategic priorities, marking a significant increase in public science spending.
India’s Ministry of Science & Technology reports that the National Quantum Mission, backed by ₹6003.65 crore, is driving indigenous quantum algorithms, hardware, and skilled manpower, with milestones like a 120‑qubit simulation outperforming classical supercomputers. The initiative aims to deliver quantum computers up to 1000 qubits by 2034‑35 for strategic applications across defence, health, and finance.
On 29 July 2026, Andhra Pradesh signed an MoU with AstraZeneca India, along with Strand Life Sciences and Qure.ai, to establish the Integrated Genomic Solutions Centre in Amaravati. The centre will use NGS and AI for precision oncology, linking with the state’s Sanjeevani digital health project, marking a major step toward advanced, personalised cancer care and biotech development.
The Centre’s study, presented by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on 28 July 2026, found that only rubber parts and gaskets in pre‑2016 BS‑III vehicles may need replacement when using E20 fuel, with no major performance or durability issues. The findings underscore the limited impact of ethanol blends on older vehicles and are relevant for UPSC topics on energy policy, transport regulation, and governance.
The Ministry of Science & Technology has expanded institutional frameworks—NRDC, CSIR, DBT, DST, BIRAC and TDB—to license, incubate and commercialise government‑developed technologies, resulting in hundreds of licensed inventions, dozens of startups and significant royalty income between 2023 and 2025. For UPSC, these mechanisms illustrate how public‑sector R&D is linked to economic growth, employment generation and the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
The Ministry of Science & Technology celebrated 25 years of the Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Hanle, announcing a 3.7‑m upgraded HCT and a 13.7‑m National Large Optical‑infrared Telescope in the 2026 budget, underscoring India's push to become a global leader in astronomy.
India's GERD rose to ₹244,767.81 crore in 2023‑24, reaching 0.84% of GDP, with private sector share crossing 50%. New initiatives like the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund, ANRF, and several national missions aim to boost private participation and push GERD toward the 1% target.
On August 4, 2026, Delhi transport bodies will march to Parliament demanding the withdrawal of mandatory E20 ethanol‑blended petrol, citing vehicle damage and loss of fuel choice. The protest, led by local and national transport associations, underscores the tension between renewable‑fuel policy, consumer interests, and industry concerns, a key issue for UPSC aspirants studying energy and transport governance.
Indian astronomers, led by the IIA, have directly observed a Blue Straggler Star in the cluster Collinder 261 gaining mass from a companion, confirming the mass‑transfer formation theory. The finding, based on TESS photometry and VLT spectroscopy, offers vital evidence for stellar evolution models and showcases India’s active role in international astrophysics research.
On 26 July 2026, Andhra Pradesh launched the AI‑driven City Flood Alert platform, developed by RTGS, APSDMA and IIT Gandhinagar, to predict urban floods up to 48 hours in advance and issue flash‑flood warnings six hours ahead. Initially deployed in flood‑prone Vijayawada, the system will later expand statewide, marking a shift toward predictive disaster governance relevant for UPSC disaster‑management and technology‑policy topics.
On 23 July 2026, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre ordered GitHub to remove the Bluetooth‑based messaging app Bitchat, citing its potential misuse for anonymous communication during internet shutdowns and protests. The move underscores challenges of regulating decentralized tech under the IT Act and its implications for national security, a key topic for UPSC exams.
Scientists at SASTRA University have developed a low‑cost nanofluid electrolyte that simultaneously suppresses hydrogen evolution, prevents zinc corrosion, and enhances oxygen reactions in rechargeable zinc‑air batteries. Backed by DST, the technology—patented and based on waste‑derived carbon catalysts—offers a safer, greener alternative to lithium‑ion batteries, aligning with India's clean‑energy and waste‑upcycling objectives.
The Union Cabinet's BioE3 Policy, approved in 2024, is driving a nationwide biomanufacturing push through funded projects, new Biofoundries, Bio‑AI Hubs, and a Strain Resource Centre, while fostering Centre‑State partnerships and public‑private collaboration to reduce import dependence and boost Make‑in‑India.