CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VINOY KRISHNA

VAJIRAM & RAVI Page 1

CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

VINOY KRISHNA-LECTURE NUMBER 2

TOPIC 1- ENTRY OF PRIVATE PLAYERS IN INDIAN SPACE PROGRAMME

WHY THE NEED?

- The global space market is valued at around 380 billion dollars, with India competing

for just about one fifth of the potential. The limitation lies primarily in the launching

capacity of ISRO’s launch vehicles( SpaceX’s LV capable of launching almost over 6

times the launching capacity of India’s most powerful LV i.e. GSLV- MIII.

- The space market is getting rapidly diversified with the demand for small satellites,

small satellites launch vehicles, space tourism, outer space mining, earth observation

applications etc,rising rapidly, thereby creating a huge demand for the space sector.

According to an estimate ISRO has to magnify itself ten times to even meet the needs of

the nation. For example capacity expansion in 4G and the implementation of 5G

technology would involve rapid upscaling of space assets.

- Many new nations are starting their space programme thereby needing to buy and take

for rent various products and services. Only through the sufficient number of players in

the Indian market can we capitalise on such opportunities.

- ISRO with its decades old presence in the space sector needs to concentrate more on

R&D to address the new age challenges like increasing the carrying capacity of launch

vehicles, reusable vehicles, high resolution sensors, better propellants, green

propellants etc. All this would require some load of routine activities like satellite and

launch vehicle making , launching and operation to be delegated to the private sector

for them to capitalise the market for the same both within and outside the country.


Why the sector wasn’t opened till date and and the private sector was not more

than vendors for the components?

- Space as a strategic sector requires proper safeguards to neutralise any possibility of

hazards originating from the same. The government rather played safe before recently

deciding to open up for the private sector as well.

What are the main initiatives taken in the direction of a higher private sector

participation?

- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% is allowed in satellites-establishment

and operation, subject to the sectoral guidelines of the Department of Space/ISRO,

under the government route.

- IN-SPACe is to be established as a single window nodal agency, with its own cadre,

which will permit and oversee the following activities of NGPEs.

1)Space activities including building of launch vehicles and satellites and providing space

based services as per the definition of space activities.

2)Sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of ISRO with due

considerations to on-going activities.

3)Establishment of temporary facilities within premises under ISRO control based on

safety norms and feasibility assessment

4)Establishment of new space infrastructure and facilities, by NGPEs, in pursuance of

space activities based on safety norms and other statutory guidelines and necessary

clearances.


5)Initiation of launch campaign and launch, based on readiness of launch vehicle and

spacecraft systems, ground and user segment.

6)Building, operation and control of spacecraft for registration as Indian Satellite by

NGPEs and all the associated infrastructure for the same.

7)Usage of spacecraft data and rolling out of space based services and all the associated

infrastructure for the same.

IN-SPACe will draw up an integrated launch manifest considering the requirements

for ISRO, NSIL and NGPEs based on priorities and readiness level.

IN-SPACe will work out a suitable mechanism for promotion & hand holding, sharing

of technology and expertise to encourage participation of NGPEs in space activities.

In order to carry out the space activities, capital-intensive, high technology facilities

will be required by NGPEs. These facilities, spread across various ISRO Centres,

shall be permitted for use by NGPEs.

IN-SPACe will work out a suitable mechanism to offer sharing of technology,

expertise and facilities on free of cost wherever feasible or at reasonable cost basis to

promote NGPEs.

IN-SPACe will act as an autonomous body, under DOS, as a single window nodal

agency for enabling and regulating space activities and usage of ISRO facilities by

NGPEs.

IN-SPACe will also permit establishment of facilities, within ISRO premises, based

on safety norms and feasibility assessment.

The marketing, sharing and dissemination of remote sensing data shall be governed

by Remote sensing policy. Each application requiring examination as per new policy

will be examined and permitted by IN-SPACE factoring legal and security aspects.

The decision of IN-SPACe shall be final and binding on all stakeholders including

ISRO. NGPEs will not be required to seek separate permission from ISRO.

A multi-disciplinary review and assessment mechanism comprising of four

Directorates for Technical, Legal, Safety & Security, Monitoring & Promotion and

will assist IN-SPACe in carrying out its functions.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), incorporated on 6 March 2019 (under the

Companies Act, 2013) as a wholly owned Government of India company, under the


administrative control of Department of Space (DOS). NSIL is the commercial arm

of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the primary responsibility of

enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities and is

also responsible for promotion and commercial exploitation of the products and

services emanating from the Indian space programme. To satisfy the needs of its

customers, NSIL draws upon the proven heritage of the Indian Space Program and

ISRO’s vast experience in diverse branches of Space Technology.

The major business areas of NSIL include:

1)Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch

Vehicle (SSLV) through industry;

2)Production and marketing of space-based services, including launch services and

space-based applications like transponder leasing, remote sensing and mission support

services;

3)Building of Satellites (both Communication and Earth Observation) as per user

requirements.

4)Transfer of technology developed by ISRO centres/ units and constituent institutions of

Dept. of Space;

5)Marketing spin off technologies and products/ services emanating out of ISRO

activities

6) Consultancy services

Few more developments in the direction.

-Qualcomm Technologies Inc. in collaboration with ISRO developed and tested a

chipset platform across their portfolio which can support the Indian Regional

Navigation satellite system, NavIC.

-New Space India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru was incorporated on 6 March 2019.

The business activities of NSIL is mainly driven towards enabling Indian industries to


Productionise(the process of turning a prototype of a design into a version that can be

more easily mass-produced.)space systems and to exploit the commercial

opportunities emanating from the Indian space programme.

-ISRO transferred Li-ion battery technology to 10 industries, which could be a good

help towards promoting electric vehicle technology.

-Space Technology Cells (STCs) have been established at IIT Guwahati and IIT Delhi

to take space technology research and applications to newer heights.

-Space Technology Incubation Centres (S-TIC) were established at NIT, Trichy and

NIT,Jalandhar, NIT Agartala. for developing concepts related to Space Science and

technology in line with the National policy of ‘Start-up India’.

-Regional Academic Centre for Space (RAC-S) was established at NIT, Kurukshetra

to develop Academia-Industry ecosystem for Space technology.

-A special programme for School Children called “YuvaVIgyaniKAryakram

(YUVIKA)” was organized to impart basic knowledge on space technology, space

science and space application.

-ISRO launched ‘Samwad with Students’ wherein youngsters across India had an

opportunity to interact with K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO.

Name few growing start ups in the space sector in India.

Agnikul Industries,

HAL Aerospace,

Bharti Mittal has acquired 45% stake in the European Company OneWebb which aims

to start satellite based internet service in the country and world. It would help

facilitating the Government’s Digital India programme.

Skyroot industry

Alpha technology


What are the presently available regulations and under preparation ones if any to

regulate the space related activities in India?

-Remote Sensing Data Policy 2011. The policy has concentrated the power and

function of aggregating and distributing all EO data in the hands of the National

Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

and for high-resolution satellite images, specififically the High Resolution

Image Committee (HRIC). The mechanism suffffers from a lack of

transparency and avoids providing a measure of predictability on the

success of obtaining EO data from NRSC and HRIC.

-SATCOM Policy 1997-

As the initial SATCOM Policy did not specify the manner in which the policy can be

implemented, the Department of Space, in the year 2000, formulated the norms,

guidelines and procedures for implementing the framework of SATCOM Policy. The

norms and guidelines issued by the Department of Space focused on the use and

development of the INSAT network, preferential treatment to Indian satellites,

allocation of capacity for use of Indian satellites by private market players etc.

However, both the SATCOM Policy and the subsequent guidelines, after their initial

hype, failed to generate private participation due to due lack of transparency and

government interference including from the Indian Space Research Organisation

(“ISRO”).


In the process of formulation-

- Navigation Policy- To regulate the operation and services of navigation satellites.

- Space Activities Bill- To provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all the

space based activities.

TOPIC 2-SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY 2020

Science and Technology was accorded a reasonable importance right after the

independence by the visionary leadership of the time. The promotion of scientific

temper, science education and research and development has been guided by the

chronologically evolving comprehensive Science and Technology policy of the

country.

The earlier such policies include:

Scientific Policy resolution 1958-

laid the foundation of scientific enterprise and scientific temper in

India.SPR1958 was primarily a science policy document. Technology development

was given secondary importance as it was assumed then that technological

development could only stem through the study of science and its applications.

SPR1958 was able to lay a strong foundation in R&D and higher education as it

resulted in emergence of several scientific institutions and research labs in the

country.


Technology Policy Statement (TPS 1983)

TPS1983, focused primarily on meeting people’s aspiration through technological

development. Adoption of indigenous technology would reduce vulnerabilities in

critical areas and would help maximise the utilisation of local (human and material)

resources. TPS1983 recognised that there should be efficient adoption of imported

technologies but not at the cost of national interest. TPS1983 stressed on

strengthening the technology base especially in new sectors at that time—information,

electronics, and biotechnology through an increase in R&D investments and

collaboration amongst governmental organisations, educational institutions and

industries. To bolster indigenous technology development, the Technology

Development Fund (TDB) was established to provide financial assistance to Indian

industries.TPS1983 highlighted the need for continuous and systematic prediction of

how useful emerging and current technologies are going to be in the future

(technology forecasting) and assessment studies especially in ministries with large

investments and/or production value.

With this in mind, technology information forecasting and assessment council

(TIFAC) was established.

However, post-1991, economic liberalisation paved the way for large foreign

investment in several sectors. Thus, technological self-reliance and adoption of

indigenous technologies were at odds with economic policies in several

socio-economic sectors where there was a large dependence on foreign investment.

Science and Technology Policy (STP 2003)

Science was becoming more multidisciplinary, spanning difffferent sectors and

difffferent countries. Thus, it required the development of clusters of institutions and

multinational collaboration. High investments in R&D were required even in areas of

basic research. With rapid advancement in information and communication


technologies and the democratisation of the internet, exchange of knowledge and

information was occurring at a previously unseen rate. Science and

technology started having an unprecedented impact on economic growth and social

development.

New issues related to cybersecurity and ethics, such as privacy consideration and

inequity came to the fore. In order to keep pace with science and technology, to stay

competitive in an increasingly globalised world, and to meet our primary goal of

equitable and sustainable development, STP2003 was enacted by the Government of

India.

STP2003 called for cross-pollination of industry and scientific

research, and the establishment of intellectual rights regimes to protect and

incentivise inventors. It also encouraged research in management and

mitigation of natural hazards. This policy document laid special emphasis on

science diplomacy, especially on international science and technological

cooperation between developing countries located in the global south.

Post-2003, there was a significant rise in overall R&D investment (raise in both

public as well as private investment). At the end of the 10 year period after the

adoption of the mandate of STP2003, even though R&D investment did not

reach 2% of national GDP as was called for by the mandate, it was at a

globally benchmarked figure of 0.7 % of GDP. India made a significant jump in

publication rankings. There was also a steady increase in human capacity. We


started churning out many more PhD students, more patents were fifiled, and

more startups incubated.

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2013)

The decade of 2010 to 2020 was declared as a decade of innovation by the then Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh.

As the name suggests, a critical new element in this policy document was the term

“innovation”. Promoting a science and technology-led innovation ecosystem in the

country and broadly linking science, technology and innovation to socio-economic

priorities were some of the key aspects of STIP 2013.

It paved the way for promoting science and technology-led innovation in the country

by attracting privatesector contributions into the R & D ecosystem. It laid emphasis

on directing scientific discoveries and outputs of science and technology activities

towards developmental priorities in key areas (agriculture, manufacturing, water,

health, environment and infrastructure).

This policy also resulted in India’s increased participation in global mega-science

initiatives such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO),

the Large Hadron Collider (LHC—CERN), the International Thermonuclear

Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), among others.


SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY 2020

The fifth S&T policy of India is being formulated at a crucial juncture

when India and the world are tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

The STIP 2020 formulation process has been organised into 4 highly

interlinked tracks:

Track I involves an extensive public and expert consultation process

through Science Policy Forum - a dedicated platform for soliciting

inputs from larger public and expert pools during and after the policy

drafting process.

Track II comprises experts-driven thematic consultations to feed

evidence- informed recommendations into the policy drafting

process. 21 focused thematic groups have been constituted for this

purpose.

Track III involves consultations with Ministries and States.

Track IV constitutes apex level multi-stakeholder consultation.

The STI Policy for the new India will also integrate the lessons of

Covid-19 including building of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self- reliance)

through ST&I by leveraging our strengths in R&D, Design, S&T

workforce and institutions, huge markets, demographic dividend,

diversity and data.


What are the new factors pushing for the Policy Revision?

The new challenges are being led by the present ongoing pandemic that has brought the

entire world to its knees. More investment in health R&D along with other associated

technologies is the need of the hour. Further other issues like Artificial Intelligence and

Machine learning, Antimicrobial resistance, e-Vehicles, Clean Energy etc deserve

prime priority and requires concerted policy driven approach.

The need for increased women participation in science, rich synergistic collaboration

between Academicians, Industries and the government, too are being prioritised by this

policy.

All this would ultimately drive the country towards an Aatmnirbhar Bharat.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VINOY KRISHNA