The Union Budget 2026 has proposed a comprehensive biopharma strategy titled 'Biopharma SHAKTI' with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over the next five years. The initiative aims to transform India into a global biopharmaceutical manufacturing hub by facilitating the domestic production of biologics and biosimilars. Key components include setting up three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) and strengthening the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to meet global standards. This move addresses the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and seeks to provide affordable, high-quality complex medicines.
- Biopharma SHAKTI has a five-year outlay of ₹10,000 crore for domestic biologics production.
- The focus is on complex medicines like biologics and biosimilars manufactured from living systems.
- Three new NIPERs will be established to boost research, education, and clinical trials.
In a strategic move to secure critical mineral supply chains, the Union Budget 2026 announced the establishment of 'Rare Earth Corridors.' These corridors will be set up in mineral-rich states, including Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The initiative aims to promote the mining, processing, research, and manufacturing of critical minerals essential for high-tech devices, electric vehicles, and defense applications. Currently, India depends heavily on China, which controls over 60% of global rare earth production and 92% of refining capacity. This move aligns with the goal of achieving self-reliance in strategic sectors.
- Rare earth corridors will be established in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
- The initiative targets self-reliance in critical minerals used in electronics, EVs, and defense.
- China currently dominates 92% of the global rare earth refining capacity and 60% of production.
India's ₹18,100 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) is struggling to meet its targets. Launched in 2021 to reduce reliance on Chinese imports, the scheme aimed for 50 GWh capacity by 2025, but only 1.4 GWh has been commissioned. Major bottlenecks include unrealistic two-year 'gestation periods' for building gigafactories, stringent Domestic Value Addition (DVA) requirements, and a lack of domestic mineral processing facilities for lithium and cobalt. Furthermore, delays in visa approvals for Chinese technical experts have hindered progress, as India currently lacks a skilled workforce for cell manufacturing.
- The ACC PLI scheme is 'technology agnostic,' supporting various chemistries like Lithium-ion and Sodium-ion.
- As of October 2025, only 2.8% of the targeted 50 GWh capacity has been realized.
- The scheme's evaluation criteria prioritized DVA over prior manufacturing experience, favoring novices over established players.
The Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents (PRIYA) trial has established a significant link between maternal Vitamin B12 levels and the long-term health of offspring. Research indicates that B12 acts as a 'regulator of regulators,' influencing gene expression through epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation. Deficiency during pregnancy is linked to neural tube defects and poor fetal growth. The study suggests that B12 supplementation in adolescents and pregnant women could prevent 'diabesity' (diabetes and obesity) in future generations. Experts recommend incorporating B12 into national health policies to improve nutritional status and human capital development.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency is widespread in the Indian population, particularly among vegetarians.
- The PRIYA trial found that B12 supplementation in adolescents improved birth outcomes for their future children.
- B12 influences enzymes called methylases, which add methyl groups to DNA to regulate gene expression.
The Department of Space faces a stagnant budget, with increasing operational costs eating into R&D and infrastructure funds. While the 2020 reforms aimed to 'unlock' the sector for private players like Skyroot and Agnikul, the transition is in a 'growing pains' phase. The government is leaning on NSIL, ISRO's commercial arm, to bridge the capital gap. Industry bodies like ISpA and SIA-India advocate for classifying the space sector as 'critical infrastructure' and moving towards a 'Department buying from industry' model, similar to NASA, to foster a robust private ecosystem and lower borrowing costs for startups.
- The Department of Space budget is increasingly consumed by operational costs rather than new infrastructure or R&D assets.
- NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is being positioned to replace tax-funded infrastructure with growth funded by commercial revenue.
- Industry bodies are requesting the space sector be classified as 'critical infrastructure' to lower borrowing costs for private players.
India's steel sector, accounting for 12% of the country's carbon emissions, is pivotal to meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). To reach a production capacity of 400 million tonnes by 2030, the industry must transition from coal-based methods to green hydrogen and renewable energy. The article advocates for a 'Green Steel Taxonomy,' a carbon credit trading scheme, and government support for infrastructure like hydrogen pipelines. Early adoption of low-carbon technologies is essential to remain competitive globally, especially with the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) coming into play.
- The steel sector is one of the hardest to decarbonize due to its heavy reliance on coal.
- India's steel production needs to more than triple from 125 million tonnes to 400 million tonnes by 2030.
- The Green Steel Taxonomy and National Green Hydrogen Mission are key policy drivers for the transition.
A legal case involving actor Salman Khan has brought 'personality rights' into focus, particularly against AI-driven platforms. The Delhi High Court issued a notice to a China-based AI voice generation platform for unauthorized use of the actor's persona. Personality rights recognize the economic value of an individual's identity, distinct from intellectual property. While the Supreme Court's K.S. Puttaswamy judgment recognized privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, personality rights also intersect with Article 19(1)(g) regarding the right to conduct business. The case highlights gaps in the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, regarding the AI sector and unauthorized commercial exploitation.
- Personality rights protect against unauthorized commercial exploitation of an individual's identity.
- The K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) judgment linked identity protection to the right to privacy under Article 21.
- AI-driven platforms pose new challenges for protecting the 'persona' of public figures.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 has identified digital addiction and screen-related mental health problems as major public health concerns, especially for children and adolescents. It recommends structured interventions, including cyber-safety education, mandatory physical activity in schools, and parental training. The Survey also suggests network-level safeguards like differentiated data plans for educational versus recreational use. On a positive note, the Survey highlights India's progress in maternal and infant health, with a 78% decline in the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) since 1990, surpassing the global average reduction and demonstrating significant public health improvements.
- Digital addiction is flagged as a major healthcare issue for children and adolescents.
- Recommendations include mobile network-level safeguards and age-appropriate digital access policies.
- India achieved a 78% decline in under-five mortality rate (U5MR) since 1990.
The Union government has amended the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, to replace mandatory licence requirements for non-commercial drug manufacture with a prior-intimation mechanism. This move aims to facilitate 'ease of doing business' and fast-track drug development by up to three months. Developers can now manufacture small quantities for research after notifying the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) via the SUGAM portal. While the industry welcomes the reduction in 'licence raj,' experts caution that the removal of regulations must not compromise quality control, citing recent fatal incidents involving substandard cough syrups as a warning against poor pharmaceutical oversight.
- Mandatory test licences for small-scale research drugs are replaced by a prior-intimation mechanism.
- The move aligns with the goal of improving ease of doing business in the pharmaceutical sector.
- Statutory processing time for high-risk psychotropic or narcotic drugs is reduced from 90 days to 45 days.
Voyager 2, launched in 1977, remains the only spacecraft to have visited all four gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). It utilized a rare geometric alignment of planets that occurs once every 176 years to perform gravity assists. In 2018, it entered interstellar space, where its instruments allowed it to measure the temperature and speed of interstellar plasma for the first time. It carries the 'Golden Record,' a 12-inch gold-plated copper phonograph containing sounds and images from Earth, designed to last over a billion years in vacuum.
- Voyager 2 is the only man-made object to have flown by Uranus (1986) and Neptune (1989).
- It entered interstellar space in November 2018, following its twin Voyager 1.
- The spacecraft carries a 'Golden Record' with greetings in 55 languages and 115 images.
As humanity moves toward permanent lunar bases and Mars missions, the territorial nature of patent law faces significant challenges. Currently, patent rights are granted within specific jurisdictions (territoriality). In space, the 'jurisdiction-by-registration' approach (Article VIII of the Outer Space Treaty) applies the law of the state where the space object is registered. However, this creates issues for multinational collaborations like the International Space Station (ISS). The article discusses the 'non-appropriation principle' and the need for specialized space-related IP rules to prevent 'de facto exclusion' in space resources and ensure freedom of exploration.
- Patent law is traditionally based on the principle of territoriality, which conflicts with the boundaryless nature of outer space.
- The Outer Space Treaty (Article VIII) links jurisdiction to the state of registration of the space object.
- Article 5 of the Paris Convention provides some protection for patented equipment in transit across borders.
India and the European Union have committed to promoting collaboration on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy through the India-Euratom agreement. This partnership focuses on research and development in nuclear science, technology, and safety. Key areas include fusion energy research via the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and non-power applications of atomic energy like radio-pharmaceuticals. The two sides also discussed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which remains a point of contention due to its impact on Indian iron and steel exports, with India seeking flexibility under the regulation.
- The collaboration falls under the research and development agreement signed with Euratom in July 2020.
- Focus areas include nuclear security, radiation safety, and the use of nuclear technology in health and agriculture.
- India and the EU are both partners in the ITER project, aimed at developing fusion energy.
India's ambition to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 relies heavily on Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. While downstream module assembly is progressing, critical upstream segments like polysilicon and wafer manufacturing remain bottlenecks, reaching only 14% and 10% of targets respectively. Similarly, battery cell manufacturing progress is sluggish, with only 2.8% of the targeted 50 GWh capacity commissioned by late 2025. The article argues that capital subsidies alone are insufficient; India needs deep technical expertise, workforce training, and a relook at PLI provisions to prioritize know-how over company net worth.
- PLI schemes for solar and batteries face significant implementation challenges in high-technology upstream segments.
- Stringent domestic value addition requirements (60% within five years) are difficult for manufacturers to meet.
- The lack of technical expertise and difficulties in obtaining visas for foreign experts hinder factory construction.
The India-EU Free Trade Agreement extends beyond trade to include deep technological collaboration. A 'Comprehensive Strategic Agenda' for 2030 focuses on joint R&D in advanced semiconductor 'heterogeneous integration' and chip design. It also links the European AI Office with India’s National AI Mission to develop safe, human-centric AI. The deal aims to create a 'common market' for AI, where Indian companies complying with EU standards can flow into the European market. This partnership seeks to secure strategic autonomy in critical technologies and reduce dependence on U.S.-based intellectual property.
- The agreement focuses on 'heterogeneous integration,' which combines different types of chips into a single package.
- India’s design talent will be linked with the EU’s physical fabrication infrastructure, such as IMEC in Belgium.
- The collaboration aims to align Indian AI policy with the EU's AI Act to facilitate market access.
The U.S. government has announced its withdrawal from 66 international organizations, including the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Headquartered in India and jointly led by India and France, the ISA aims to make solar power cheaper and more accessible. While the U.S. exit will not significantly harm the ISA financially—as its contribution was only 1% of total funds—it may impact investor confidence in poorer developing nations that rely on international cooperation. However, India's domestic solar industry remains robust, as it now manufactures a large share of its own solar components and is less dependent on U.S. funding.
- The ISA has over 120 member countries and focuses on solar adoption in Africa, Asia, and island nations.
- The U.S. withdrawal is part of a broader move to exit 66 international organizations deemed no longer serving American interests.
- India's solar module manufacturing capacity reached nearly 144 gigawatts by 2025, reducing import dependency.
The article argues that the biggest barrier to climate action in India is the use of technical jargon like 'Loss and Damage,' which lacks local context. While India has advanced district-level climate simulations, this data often fails to reach decision-makers and communities in a usable format. Effective communication requires translating global concepts into everyday consequences, such as school closures or crop loss. Trust in state-issued alerts, as seen in Odisha’s cyclone preparedness model, is as vital as physical infrastructure. Humanizing climate science through local languages and lived realities is essential for building community resilience.
- Loss and Damage refers to climate impacts that communities cannot adapt to, including loss of biodiversity and ancestral lands.
- Odisha's success in evacuation is attributed to building public confidence in state alerts over many years.
- Climate communication must be a core enabler of policy delivery, not just a 'soft' add-on to climate policy.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is encouraging the Indian government to use its 2026 BRICS chairmanship to promote Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) for cross-border payments. CBDCs are digital forms of legal tender issued by central banks, utilizing blockchain for transparent and immutable transactions. This move aims to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar-based SWIFT system, which has excluded countries like Russia and Iran. While offering benefits like reduced money laundering and programmable transactions, the proposal faces risks, including potential U.S. retaliatory tariffs and complex regulatory hurdles between member nations.
- CBDCs are digital versions of national currencies (e.g., India's e-rupee) held in wallets separate from bank accounts.
- The proposal aims to facilitate faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border settlements within the BRICS+ grouping.
- Blockchain technology ensures that transactions are permanent and can be programmed for specific uses (e.g., expiry dates).
'Pax Silica' is a U.S.-led chip supply chain alliance aimed at building a 'closed-loop' AI ecosystem, reducing dependence on Chinese manufacturing. Signed by nine countries, including Australia, Japan, and South Korea, the initiative seeks to map a new geography of computing power. It integrates Australia's mines, Singapore's logistics, and Japan's precision machinery with American technology. India faces a 'paradox' as it seeks to join this U.S.-led security architecture to secure its supply chain while simultaneously managing its economic ties and potential investments from China.
- Pax Silica aims to isolate AI development from Chinese influence by creating a self-contained supply chain.
- The initiative is a successor to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) but with a sharper focus on semiconductors.
- India is expected to join Pax Silica as early as February to bolster its industrial growth and security ties.
The 'sacred lotus' (Nelumbo nucifera), native to North and Central India, exhibits a rare biological phenomenon called thermogenesis. This process allows the plant to create its own body heat, maintaining an internal temperature of 30-35°C even when ambient temperatures drop to 10°C. Thermogenesis is triggered by an enzyme called alternative oxidase in the mitochondria, which turns energy from food directly into heat rather than ATP. This heat helps release attractive scents to lure pollinators like bees and beetles, providing them a warm chamber for the night and ensuring cross-pollination.
- Thermogenesis is the ability of living things to create their own body heat, common in mammals but rare in plants.
- The sacred lotus uses the enzyme alternative oxidase to generate heat within its mitochondria.
- Heat generation serves to disperse floral scents and provide a thermal reward for insect pollinators.
The government's ambitious Advanced Chemistry Cell Production Linked Incentive (ACC-PLI) scheme, launched in 2021 to catalyze domestic battery manufacturing, is facing significant delays. As of October 2025, only 1.4 GWh of battery cells have been commissioned against a planned capacity of 50 GWh. Challenges include delays in visa approvals for Chinese technical specialists, lack of critical technologies, and high entry barriers for traditional manufacturers. India currently lacks a mature cell manufacturing ecosystem, leaving the industry heavily dependent on imports from China for critical mineral refining and component production.
- The ACC-PLI scheme aims to reduce India's dependence on battery imports and accelerate EV adoption.
- Only 1.4 GWh of capacity has been commissioned out of the 50 GWh target.
- The scheme requires 25% local manufacturing within two years and 60% within five years.
The World Malaria Report 2025 indicates a mixed outlook for the Asia-Pacific region. While estimated cases in Southeast Asia have dropped from 9.6 million in 2023 to 8.9 million in 2024, challenges like drug resistance and funding gaps persist. India has set a target to achieve zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and complete elimination by 2030. The introduction of the RTS,S and R21 vaccines offers hope, particularly for high-burden areas. However, the emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion and a significant funding shortfall of $2.4 billion in 2024 threaten the 2030 goal.
- India aims for zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and total elimination by 2030.
- Five states in India's northeast account for nearly 80% of the country's malaria burden.
- The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has shown high efficacy in clinical trials and is being rolled out in Africa.
India's recent white paper, 'Democratising Access to AI Infrastructure,' argues that AI's future will be determined by who controls the underlying infrastructure—compute power, datasets, and model ecosystems. Currently, these resources are concentrated among a few global corporations. To ensure competitiveness and sovereignty, India must develop its own physical (data centres, GPUs) and digital (datasets, protocols) infrastructure. The paper emphasizes a 'Digital Public Infrastructure' (DPI) approach, using public-private partnerships (PPPs) to provide shared, standards-based access to AI resources for startups and public institutions.
- AI infrastructure is becoming a foundational economic asset, similar to roads or electricity, enabling modern innovation.
- India hosts nearly 20% of global data but only 3% of global data centre capacity, creating a significant strategic asymmetry.
- A sovereign AI infrastructure is necessary to prevent dependence on external entities and to protect domestic innovation.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recommended connecting the Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) of BRICS nations to the 2026 summit agenda. This initiative aims to streamline cross-border payments, which are currently plagued by high costs and transparency issues. CBDCs offer a sovereign-guaranteed, blockchain-based alternative to private cryptocurrencies. While this could bypass the SWIFT network and facilitate trade with sanctioned nations like Russia and Iran, it may also invite geopolitical friction, particularly with the U.S. regarding the global dominance of the dollar and potential retaliatory tariffs.
- CBDCs provide a transparent and immutable record of transactions, helping to curb money laundering and black money.
- India's UPI infrastructure is highly successful domestically, making CBDCs more relevant for international rather than domestic use.
- Linking CBDCs could allow for direct payments that do not rely on the dollar-denominated SWIFT system.
The commercial space industry is undergoing a revolution driven by reusable rocket technologies, which significantly lower launch costs and increase mission frequency. Companies like SpaceX have demonstrated the feasibility of reusing first-stage boosters, with some Falcon 9 rockets flying over 30 times. This shift from 'disposable' to 'transportation' models is expected to push the space industry's value to $1 trillion by 2030. India's ISRO is also developing its own Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) and exploring recovery methods like mid-air capture and vertical landing to remain competitive in the global market.
- Reusability reduces the cost of access to space by a factor of 5-20 compared to expendable rockets.
- SpaceX's 'vertical integration' and use of 3D printing have been key to its success in reducing costs.
- ISRO's RLV-LEX (Landing Experiment) is a critical step toward India's own reusable space shuttle.