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- The Union Minister of State for Science & Technology inaugurated India’s first publicly funded DST-ICGEB ‘Bio-Foundry’ during the 31st ICGEB Board of Governors meeting. This state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone in India’s life sciences research infrastructure.
- The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), established in 1983, is a leading intergovernmental organization with 69 member countries, including India, a founding member. ICGEB focuses on cutting-edge research in life sciences and operates through three major centres located in New Delhi (India), Trieste (Italy), and Cape Town (South Africa).
- The organization’s research priorities span infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, medical biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, and plant biotechnology. The newly launched Bio-Foundry aims to accelerate research and innovation in these areas by providing advanced tools and collaborative opportunities for scientists across member countries.
- India’s sixth semiconductor manufacturing unit is set to be established near Jewar Airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region.
- This project is a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn and will focus on producing display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, and automotive applications. It marks a significant step forward under the India Semiconductor Mission.
- India's semiconductor ecosystem is rapidly expanding. The domestic market is projected to grow from $22 billion in 2019 to $110 billion by 2030, accounting for 10% of global consumption.
- Local sourcing of semiconductor components is expected to rise from 9% in 2021 to 17% by 2026. With 20% of the world’s semiconductor design engineers, India designs over 3,000 ICs annually.
- Investing in semiconductors helps reduce trade deficits and import dependence—India imported ₹1.71 lakh crore in chips in 2024.
- The sector also drives job creation, high-tech innovation, and strengthens supply chain resilience.
- India has successfully conducted a test firing of Bhargavastra, an indigenously developed anti-drone system.
- About Bhargavastra:
- Bhargavastra is an affordable, ‘hard kill’ solution designed specifically to counter threats posed by drone swarms. It has been developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).
- Key Features:
- Dual-layer defense: The first layer employs unguided micro-rockets with an effective radius of 20 meters to target multiple drones simultaneously. The second layer consists of guided micro-missiles for precise elimination of high-value targets.
- Detection capabilities: The system can detect drones up to 2.5 km away, while its radar tracks aerial threats within a 6–10 km range.
- High-altitude operation: Effective at elevations above 5,000 meters.
- Modular architecture: Supports the addition of soft kill techniques such as electronic jamming and spoofing.
- C4I-enabled command center: Facilitates seamless integration into network-centric warfare environments.