Addendum - PMO Science Innovation

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Copyright by PSA Office | 2023
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Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations 5
About the Addendum to Anthology of Science and Technology Activities 7
Theme 1: Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council 8
1.1 National One Health Mission 9
1.2 National Deep Tech Startup Policy 11
1.3 Mission: Science & Technology for Sustainable Livelihood System 15
1.5 Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations 17
1.6 Innovation Challenge for Development of Machine-Aided Translation Systems 24
1.7 National Quantum Mission 25
Theme 2: Empowered Technology Group 26
Theme 3: City Science and Technology Clusters 28
Theme 4: Indian Science, Technology, and Engineering Facilities Map 35
Theme 5: Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System 38
Theme 6: Mega Science Vision 42
Theme 7: Rural Technology Action Group 44
Theme 8: Techno-Economics 47
8.1 Evaluation of Innovation Excellence Indicators of Public-Funded R&D Organisations 48
8.2 State Government R&D Budget 49
Theme 9: Science and Technology Capacity Building 51
Theme 10: Important Initiatives 54
10.1 One Nation One Subscription 55
10.2 Consultative Group on e-Mobility 56
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Table of Contents
Theme 11: International Engagements 59
11.1 G20-Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable 60
11.2 Quantum 72
11.4 India-European Union Trade and Technology Council 74
Theme 12: Synergy Projects 78
12.1 Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Vehicle Propulsion Technologies for India 79
12.2 Hub for Livestock Disease Surveillance and Modelling in India 81
12.3 Indigenous Development and Manufacturing of Seamless Tubes 83
Theme 14: Outreach 86
14. Manthan 87
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A G
ACBP: Annual Capacity Building Plan G20-CSAR: G20-Chief Science Advisers' Roundtable
AGNIi: Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations GIAN: Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network
AI: Artificial Intelligence GSCoE: Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence
APC: Article Processing Charges I
B IBR: Indian Boiler Regulation
BeST: Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster ICE: Internal Combustion Engine
BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle iCET: Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies
BTRA: Bombay Textile Research Association ICMATS: Innovation Challenge for the Development of
C Machine-Aided Translation Systems
CBC: Capacity Building Commission ICTS: International Centre for Theoretical Sciences
C-DAC: Centre for Development of Advanced IEC: Information, Education, and Communication
Computing IGCAR: Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
CGeM: Consultative Group on e-Mobility IHR: Indian Himalayan Region
CII: Confederation of Indian Industry IISc: Indian Institute of Science
CoE: Centre of Excellence ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation
CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility I-STEM: Indian Science, Technology, and Engineering
D Facilities Map
DAHD: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying J
DBT: Department of Biotechnology JCKIF: Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation
DHSA: Dynamic Hyper-Local Source Apportionment Foundation
DPIIT: Department for Promotion of Industry and L
Internal Trade LCA: Life-cycle Assessment
DRDO: Defence Research & Development Organisation M
DRIIV: Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation MANAS: Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation
DST: Department of Science and Technology System
E MeitY: Ministry of Electronics and Information
ETG: Empowered Technology Group Technology
EU: European Union MIDC: Modified Indian Drive Cycle
F ML: Machine Learning
FCET: Fuel Cell Electric Truck MoES: Ministry of Earth Sciences
FMD: Foot and Mouth Disease
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N U
NCERT: National Council of Educational Research and UCOST: Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology
Training UGV: Unmanned Ground Vehicles
NDTSP: National Deep Tech Startup Policy W
NFC: Nuclear Fuel Complex WMTC: World Motorcycle Test Cycle
NOHM: National One Health Mission WTT: Well-to-Tank
NQM: National Quantum Mission WTW: Well-to-Wheels
O Z
OAG: One Health Action Group ZETs: Zero-Emission Trucks
ONOS: One Nation One Subscription
PKC: Pune Knowledge Cluster
PM-STIAC: Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and
Innovation Advisory Council
PRMC: Project Review and Monitoring Committee
QIST: Quantum Information Science and Technology
QED-C: Quantum Economic Development Consortium
Quad CoE-QIS: Quad Centre of Excellence on
Quantum Information Sciences
R&D: Research and Development
RICH: Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad
RuTAG: Rural Technology Action Group
S&T: Science and Technology
SFC: Standing Finance Committee
SKA: Square Kilometre Array
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
TANs: Technology Advisory Notes
TCS: Tata Consultancy Services
TTC: Trade and Technology Council
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About the Addendum to Anthology of
Science and Technology Activities
Set up by the Government of India in 1999, the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (Office
of PSA) aims to provide pragmatic and objective advice to the Prime Minister and the
cabinet in matters of Science and Technology (S&T), and plays an important role in
shaping the S&T fundamentals with applied research; enabling future preparedness in
emerging domains of S&T, formulating and coordinating major S&T missions; providing
an enabling ecosystem for technology-led innovations and entrepreneurship; driving
innovation and technology delivery for sustainable growth, fostering effective public-
private linkages.
The Office of PSA released a comprehensive report titled ‘Anthology of Science and
Technology Activities’ in August 2023 which encompasses all the missions, activities, and
key initiatives undertaken by the Office of PSA in the domain of science, technology and
innovation.
Since then, there have been significant progress on some of the missions, initiatives, and
activities spearheaded by the Office of PSA. This Addendum to the Anthology of Science
and Technology Activities provides an update on the thematic sections discussed in the
Anthology.
The Anthology of Science and Technology Activities and its Addendum cover the time
period from January 2021 to December 2023.
The Anthology of Science and Technology Activities can be accessed here.
For more information, please scan the QR Code
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Theme 1
Prime Minister’s Science,

Technology, and Innovation
Advisory Council
(PM-STIAC)
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PM-STIAC
National One Health Mission
National One Health
Mission
1.1 NATIONAL ONE HEALTH MISSION

National One Health Mission (NOHM), approved in the 21st meeting of PM-STIAC, aims to
build integrated disease surveillance, joint outbreak response, and pandemic
preparedness (for both human and animal pandemics) in India. The mission, through
cross-ministerial effort, aims to coordinate, support, and integrate all the existing One
Health activities in the country and bridge gaps where it is appropriate.
Milestones
Some of the Milestones in NOHM post July 2023:
1. Convenings of the One Health Committees

Apex Steering committee
• Fourth meeting of the Apex Steering Committee on One Health was held on
August 4, 2023. The meeting, chaired by Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the
Government of India Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, discussed several critical
components of the mission including handling disease outbreaks jointly by
utilising the high-risk pathogen laboratories and employing better surveillance
systems.
• The Apex Steering Committee recommended the creation of an expert
committee to oversee the network of High-risk pathogen labs (BSL 3/4 labs).
• Fifth meeting of the Apex Steering committee on One Health took place on
November 24, 2023 (Figure 1) and discussed the updates on-
o Cabinet approval process of the mission,
o Expert committee meetings on the network of High-risk pathogen labs
o Implementation plan of Pandemic preparedness fund by Department of
Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
Expert Committee on BSL3/4 labs
• As per the recommendation of the Apex Steering Committee, the expert
committee was constituted, with Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar (retd.), Vice
Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and member of
PM-STIAC, as chair.
• The expert committee has met twice since its constitution. The first meeting
was held on September 25, 2023 which recommended that a questionnaire
survey of the labs in the network should be conducted to understand the
current capabilities of labs in disease outbreak investigation.
• The second meeting was held on November 10, 2023. It was a joint meeting
where the lab-in charges were also invited to discuss on the responses
submitted by them including the challenges faced in outbreak investigation.
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PM-STIAC
National One Health Mission
National One Health
Mission
Figure 1: PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood chairs 5th Apex Steering Committee Meeting
2. Cabinet approval process of the National One Health Mission

• It was unanimously decided by the Steering Committee that the Standing
Finance Committee (SFC) for the NOHM will be organised by the Department of
Health Research on behalf of all stakeholder departments. The note for this
meeting was prepared in close consultation with all the stakeholder
departments. The SFC meeting was conducted on October 8, 2023.
• The SFC minutes for NOHM has been approved by Hon’ble Minister of Health
and Family Welfare.
• The cabinet note for NOHM has been circulated for Inter-ministerial
consultation.
3. Environmental surveillance workshop

• The second workshop on Environmental surveillance is scheduled to happen
on January 16, 2024. The first workshop in this series was organised jointly by
the Office of PSA and ARTPARK-Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
• The second workshop will be organised jointly by the Office of PSA and
Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre which is an autonomous institute
under Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat.
• This workshop will bring together administration, practitioners and leading
researchers from key national programs across human, animal, wildlife and
environment sectors to explore viable frameworks for environmental
surveillance.
• This workshop will create a network of practitioners to articulate key
question, identify priorities and facilitate meaningful collaborations.
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PM-STIAC
National Deep Tech Startup Policy
1.2 NATIONAL DEEP TECH STARTUP POLICY (NDTSP)

The National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) aims to serve as a comprehensive
framework for addressing the challenges faced by deep tech startups and providing
definitive policy interventions to improve the ecosystem. In response to the 21st meeting
of PM-STIAC's recommendation, NDSTP Consortium and a Working Group were
established to develop a comprehensive policy framework catering to the requirements
of the deep tech start-up community. The Office of PSA took the lead in drafting the
NDTSP in consultation with many stakeholders including Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Defence Research & Development
Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) among others.
Milestones
Some Milestones under NDTSP post July 2023 are:
During the public consultation period, which lasted from July 31 to September 22,
2023, a significant number of valuable inputs were received in response to the
draft version v.3.0 of the National Deep Tech Start-up Policy – 2023. This feedback
was obtained through diverse channels, including 70 submissions through the
Office of PSA’s website portal form (Figure 2), 34 via email, 15 derived from
interactive public-private events, conferences, and roundtable consultations, and
48 originating from digital and print media sources.
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PM-STIAC
Figure 2: NDTSP webpage on the Office of PSA website
The Office of PSA took the lead in orchestrating the consultation and
enhancement process for the Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy. The Office
was instrumental in facilitating both expert and public consultations. Throughout
the public consultation phase, specialized sessions were convened to gather
specific feedback concerning the priorities outlined in NDTSP v3.0.
During the public consultation timeframe, dedicated sessions were convened to

solicit feedback on the key focus areas of NDTSP v3.0. These sessions
encompassed topics such as catalyzing private investments in deep tech
startups, fostering private-led fundamental and applied research (Figure 3),
promoting science-based entrepreneurship and corporate-driven innovation
(including incubators and accelerators), as well as regional consultations
centered on Tier II/III cities (Figure 4). Furthermore, stakeholder-driven sessions
were conducted to garner insights on the draft policy document. Multiple
channels, including the policy website's submission form, email correspondence,
public and private events, conferences, roundtable discussions, as well as digital
and print media, were actively employed to gather invaluable insights and
suggestions.
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PM-STIAC
Figure 3: Consultation Session with CII chaired by - Ms Manmeet K Nanda, Joint

Secretary, DPIIT & Managing Director & CEO, Invest India
The Office of PSA diligently incorporated all the feedback received from experts
and the public into the development of NDTSP draft v4.0. Some pivotal policy
components deliberated during the public consultation were further discussed
with DPIIT and MeitY to incorporate their insights. The feedback received through
these different channels was incorporated into the subsequent version of the
NDTSP, now referred to as draft version v5.0.
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PM-STIAC
Figure 4: Consultation session at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and

Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand
Subsequently, on October 20, 2023, the Office of PSA shared the revised version,
along with the following documents, with DPIIT to advance the policy's process:
• NDTSP draft version v5.0, dated October 20, 2023, encompasses all
feedback received after the public consultation period and internal
review.
• Office of PSA's inputs on Draft Cabinet Note prepared by DPIIT.
• A consolidated summary of public and stakeholder input received up to
September 22, 2023.
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PM-STIAC
Mission S&T For Sustainable Livelihood
1.3 MISSION: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (S&T) FOR

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD SYSTEM
The first Inter-Ministerial Meeting of the Mission: Science and Technology for Sustainable
Livelihood System, chaired by PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, was held on November 9, 2023
at the Office of PSA, Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi (Figure 5).
The representatives from various Ministries/Departments, including DST, Ministry of Rural

Development, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare,
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry and Dairying, National Institute of Rural Development, IIT Bombay and
IIT Delhi attended the meeting.
In alignment with PM-STIAC recommendations, the mission is designed with the

objectives to bring sustainability in the livelihood system through Science and Technology
interventions, and to strengthen the technology delivery mechanism for livelihood and
quality of life. The Office of PSA will coordinate the multilateral collaborations along with
DST for implementing, planning, and budgetary procedures for addressing of specific
needs and priorities in the mission with support from the participating
Ministries/Departments. The mission aims to pilot its initiatives across 120 sites, including
PMAGY (Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana) villages. The envisioned deliverables
include the integration of livelihood and local knowledge systems; the development of a
comprehensive database and portal for efficient information access; technology
requirement analysis with feasibility assessments; successful implementation of
technologies; and the creation of coordination mechanisms; all underpinned by robust
capacity-building measures.
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PM-STIAC
Mission S&T For Sustainable Livelihood
Figure 5: PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, chairs the first Inter-Ministerial Meeting on
Mission: Science and Technology for Sustainable Livelihood System at the
Office of PSA
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PM-STIAC
AGNIi
1.5 ACCELERATING GROWTH OF NEW INDIA’S

INNOVATIONS (AGNIi)
The AGNIi Mission is a programme of the Office of PSA, under PM-STIAC, and is executed
in partnership with Invest India. The mission has been instituted to engage with the Indian
STI ecosystem to align with major national priorities and scouting solutions to persistent
challenges through Indian technological innovations.
AGNIi establishes technology advisory partnerships with pioneering Union and state
government departments/agencies on themes like climate change, counterinsurgency,
disaster response, and human and rural development. The AGNIi team interacts with
partner agency and follow a standard systematic process flow of; problem identification,
pain points centralisation, defining problem statement in a solvable manner, doing an on-
ground assessment, identification of technology array, arranging field showcases, and
finally creating Technology Advisory Notes (TANs) for further implementations.
Some recent updates under TANs are:

1.5.1 INNOVATIONS FOR HANDICRAFTS AND
HANDLOOM
Background
The Office of PSA’s AGNIi Mission partnered with the Directorate of Handicrafts and
Handloom, Kashmir, to advance the overarching goals of revitalizing and preserving
India's rich crafts heritage, boosting productivity, and elevating product quality.
Objectives
The objective was to identify how technology and innovation – capabilities of which exist
in India – can help strengthen and transform India’s handloom and handicrafts sector and
reduce the vulnerability of dependent artisan communities from the threat of machine-
made products, improve artisan productivity, enhance product quality, and preserve the
skills of master artisans to ensure the inter-generational continuance of the crafts.
Technology can be an effective enabler that can equip artisans to compete better in
global markets.
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PM-STIAC
AGNIi
Pain points surfaced via field visits to craft clusters in Kashmir:

1. Counterfeiting of handmade products both handicraft and handloom
2. Diminishing inter-generational transfer of artistry skills resulting in ‘languishing crafts’
3. Outdated machinery and processes limit the ability of the crafts to compete in global
markets.
4. Ensuring product and process sustainability is a challenge.
Milestones
Field Visits
Pain points afflicting the Kashmiri Pashmina and carpet industry were surfaced
by AGNIi Mission during the field visit to Srinagar. The Mission team interacted
both with artisans and officials from the Directorate of Handicrafts and
Handloom, Kashmir, and its allied agencies. These include interactions with – The
School of Design, Craft Development Institute, Pashmina Testing Facility, and
artisans in the craft clusters of Narwara, Kathidarwaza, Zadibal, Bagh Ali Mardan
Khanin Srinagar (Figures 6 and 7).
Field Technology Showcase and Immersion Workshop

AGNIi conducted virtual technology showcase followed by field immersion
workshop to understand the problems of the artisans and field technology
showcase in Srinagar, Kashmir demonstrating nine startups, three textile research
institutes and three IIT-RuTAG Centres.
The event featured a diverse array of technologies spanning multiple domains,
encompassing emerging and cost-effective innovations, such as Mixed Reality
solutions, IoT-based sensors, QR Codes employing Physically Unclonable
Functions, Machine Vision for digitizing Taleems, the mechanization of Namda art
processes, and the utilization of low-cost organic dyes to bolster sustainability
efforts.
Output
The learnings from the technology showcase and immersion workshop translated into a
comprehensive Technology Advisory Note, which was handed over to Sh. Vikramjit Singh,
Commissioner/Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Govt. Jammu & Kashmir and
Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir in the presence of local artisan
communities on September 14, 2023.
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PM-STIAC
AGNIi
Next Steps
1. The Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, seeks to procure Namda
rollers from RuTAG IIT Roorkee.
2. In addition, the Directorate is actively pursuing collaboration with an Indian
innovator to develop a computer vision-enabled machine learning algorithm for the
digitization of Taleems (traditional ancient codes used in designs).
3. The Directorate plans to procure natural dyes from the Bombay Textile Research
Association (BTRA) and engage in a collaborative effort with BTRA to develop natural
dyes sourced from Kashmiri flora.
Collaborating Agencies
• Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir
• Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Jammu & Kashmir
Figure 6: Innovators, J&K Administration Figure 7: M.A Shah, Director

& AGNIi team at the Field Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir
Technology Showcase during Field Technology Showcase
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PM-STIAC
AGNIi
1.5.2 ADAPTING LIVELIHOODS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION
Background
The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) faces significant challenges due to climate change. To
drive technological interventions towards climate adaptation, the Office of PSA’s AGNIi
Mission partnered with the Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST). For
ensuring on-ground relevance, a testbed was set up in the Champawat district, which
then aims to provide a model for the entire IHR. The first phase of projects focused on
Climate Adaptive Agriculture and Water Management, closely coordinated with
Uttarakhand's Chief Minister’s Office, culminated in the TAN handover in June 2023. The
second phase focuses on Climate Adaptive Livelihoods and Forest Management.
Objectives
The project targets pain-points in various livelihood sectors:
• Agro-Forestry: Addressing the lack of value capture mechanisms in the supply
chain.
• Dairy: Improving cattle insemination success rates, vaccine procurement, disease
detection, milk supply, processing, storage, and market linkages.
• Fisheries: Adapting to rising temperatures, water contamination, and improving
infrastructure and market linkages.
• Apiary Management: Enhancing disease detection, training, insurance, and
packaging quality.
• Horticulture: Mitigating wildlife crop damage, pest infestations, and improving
packaging and storage.
Milestones
Field Visits:
Stakeholder engagement, rigorous fieldwork, and expert consultations identified
specific challenges in climate adaptive forest management and livelihoods in
Champawat.
Expert Consultations:
Held at UCOST in September 2023, these validations involved experts from
various prestigious organizations.
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PM-STIAC
AGNIi
Showcase
A field showcase in Champawat demonstrated how relevant technologies could be
leveraged to drive impact. It included participants from various sectors and showcased
key technologies like machine vision for apiary management, Pashu Aadhar for cattle
health monitoring, portable heating and cooling systems, digital platforms for market
linkages amongst others (Figure 8 and 9).
Output
The learnings from the stakeholder interactions and the technology showcase have been
compiled into a comprehensive Technology Advisory Note, which has been handed over
to the Government of Uttarakhand on November 30, 2023 for driving technology uptake
in Champawat district and subsequently across Uttarakhand.
Next Steps
1. UCOST to enable incorporation of technology uptake in the Champawat District plan
and subsequently in the plans of other Districts of Uttarakhand.
2. Initiation of technology procurement by concerned District administration.
3. Scale-up of Technology advisory and interventions across Uttarakhand and
subsequently to the larger Indian Himalayan Region.
• Chief Minister’s Office, Government of Uttarakhand
• Uttarakhand Council for Science and Technology (UCOST)
• District Administration, Champawat
Figure 8: Field visit to Fishery setup in Shukhi Figure 9: Deployment of Machine

Dhang & Consultation with District Fishery Vision Enabled Cameras for Apiary
Officials, Champawat Management
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PM-STIAC
AGNIi
1.5.3 CLIMATE ADAPTIVE FORESTS

Background
The Office of PSA’s AGNIi Mission in its partnership with UCOST, aimed to address critical
forest-related issues such as untimely detection of forest fires, manual ground truthing,
and reforestation. The forest areas of Champawat district were used as testbeds to
showcase technologies in these domains.
Objectives
The project's primary goal was to identify key challenges in forest management through
field visits and discussions with various stakeholders. Identified pain points include:
• Inability to detect forest fires.
• Lack of readily deployable fire-fighting methods and tools for hilly terrain.
• Time-consuming manual ground truthing in inaccessible areas.
• Challenges in seed planting and monitoring reforestation in difficult terrains.
Milestones
Field Visits:
An extensive process of stakeholder engagement, fieldwork, and expert
consultations led to the identification of specific challenges in forest management
and livelihoods in Champawat, IHR. Field visits were conducted in Sukhidhang,
Manar, Almora, and Sitlakhet.
Expert Consultations:
Held at UCOST in September 2023, these consultations involved over 12 experts
from various prestigious organizations, validating technology stacks and functional
requirements.
Showcase
A field showcase was organised in Champawat to demonstrate how technologies could be
leveraged to address some of these issues, with participation from innovators, research
labs, district administration, and over 300 community members (Figure 10). Technologies
showcased included land digitization, thermal and visible light sensors for fire detection,
Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), drones for reforestation, and pelletizers for pine
needles.
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PM-STIAC
AGNIi
Output
The learnings from the stakeholder interactions and the technology showcase have been
compiled into a comprehensive TAN, which has been handed over to the Government of
Uttarakhand on November 30, 2023 for driving technology uptake in Champawat district
and subsequently across Uttarakhand.
Next Steps
1. UCOST to enable incorporation of technology uptake in the Champawat District plan
and subsequently in the plans of other Districts of Uttarakhand.
2. Initiation of technology procurement by concerned District administration.
3. Scale-up of Technology advisory and interventions across Uttarakhand and
subsequently to the larger IHR.
• Uttarakhand Council for Science and Technology (UCOST)
• Office of PSA
• District Administration, Champawat
Figure 10: Field Technology Showcase in Champawat, Demonstration of UGV
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PM-STIAC
ICMATS
1.6 INNOVATION CHALLENGE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF

MACHINE-AIDED TRANSLATION SYSTEMS (ICMATS)
The Innovation Challenge for Development of Machine-Aided Translation Systems
(ICMATS), a pilot project of the Office of PSA, is targeted at involving industry/startups to
get machine-aided translation systems developed using open-source translation tools and
text corpus available in the public domain including those available through the language
technology platform, Bhashini built by MeitY, and help the User Agencies in domain-
specific translation.
Milestones
Major Milestones since July 2023 under ICMATS are:
Post successful completion of Stage 1 (Ideation Stage) and Stage 2 (Prototype

Stage), two startups are selected as finalists for Stage 3 (Solution Building Stage) –
krtrimaIQ Cognitive & First Language Technologies.
The two startups will be working on building solutions in language pairs of

English to following of these languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Bangla, for the
user agencies National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) &
Vigyan Prasar in domain specific translation area.
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PM-STIAC
National Quantum Mission
1.7 NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION

National Quantum Mission (NQM) is one of the missions being driven by the PM-STIAC to
leverage cutting-edge scientific research for India’s sustainable development. Being led by
the Department of Science and Technology (DST), NQM aims to build the national
quantum technology ecosystem to foster research, development, and deployment of
quantum infrastructure for practical use.
Following its approval by the Union Cabinet on April 19, 2023, several steps have been
taken in recent months to lay the foundations of the Mission.
Milestones
Those steps are briefly mentioned below:
1
In close coordination with the Office of PSA, DST organized four National State-
of-the-Art Meetings on Quantum Computing Hardware (July 11, 2023), Quantum
Communication (July 12, 2023), Quantum Computing Software Ecosystem (July
25, 2023), and Quantum Sensing and Metrology (August 25, 2023). In each of
these meetings, four or five structured presentations were made by leading
scientists and engineers on the national status of R&D in these domains, the gap
areas, and ideas about bridging those gaps to realize the aims of NQM. These
presentations were prepared after seeking inputs from all the active groups in
the country. Over 250 researchers joined these meetings in online mode and
provided additional inputs.
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Theme 2
Empowered Technology Group
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Empowered Technology Group
2. EMPOWERED TECHNOLOGY GROUP

The Empowered Technology Group (ETG) was constituted by the Cabinet as an
institutionalised structure to proactively lay down, coordinate, and oversee national-level
policies relating to procurement and induction, and research and development in
technologies that require large outlays in resources both financial and human and to
render sound and timely advice for determining direction and trajectory of Government's
R&D and Technology Development Programmes. The PSA is the Chair, and his Office
serves as the ETG Secretariat. The ETG comprises of the following Members:
• Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission

• Chairman, Space Commission
• Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation
• Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
• Secretary, Department of Telecommunication
• Secretary, Department of Science and Technology
Milestones
The ETG meets regularly for the evaluation of Cabinet/Expenditure Finance

Committee notes and policy documents which are sent by various ministries and
departments.
The ETG Secretariat undertakes evaluation of these notes in the form of expert
consultations and discussions on these proposals with stakeholders, prior to the
ETG meetings.
Since April 2023, eight meetings of ETG have been held so far with the 53rd
meeting taking place on October 30, 2023. During these meetings, 27 Cabinet
proposals and other documents have been considered. These include proposals
for the mega science project i.e., Square Kilometre Array, Taxnet 2.0 (for Income
Tax Department), e-courts Phase III, proposals related to the semiconductor
mission, scheme and policy for promotion of Research & Development and
Innovation in the Pharma- Med Tech Sector, etc.
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Theme 3
City Science and Technology (S&T)
Clusters
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City S&T Clusters
3. CITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (S&T) CLUSTERS

Launched in 2020, the City Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters is a flagship initiative of
the Office of PSA, established on the recommendation of PM-STIAC. This initiative aims to
tackle local challenges through S&T interventions by bringing together academia, R&D
institutions, industries, startups, and local governments.
Currently, there are seven S&T Clusters operating in Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Delhi,
Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Pune, and the recently established Northern Region Cluster in
Chandigarh, all working to find solutions to regional issues through collaborative efforts.
Milestones
Major Milestones in the year 2023, to date, are:
3.1 PROJECT REVIEW AND MONITORING COMMITTEE

(PRMC) MEETINGS
The activities of the S&T Cluster are periodically reviewed by the current PRMC
constituted by the Office of PSA, with members from academia, research institutions, and
industry. The emphasis is placed on the clusters undertaking end-user-based, impact-
driven, and collaborative R&D projects.
3.1.1 Seventh PRMC Meeting to Review the Bengaluru Science and

Technology (BeST) Cluster
The seventh PRMC Meeting to review the Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster
(BeST) was held at IISc Bengaluru on July 10, 2023.
Key Takeaways
• The meeting focussed on the review of funded themes of BeST including – One
Health, Health and Wellness - Digital Podiatry Kiosk, Precision Agriculture, and non-
funded themes of Quantum Technology, Urban Mobility, Jet Engines.
• Other themes that were briefly discussed were Karnataka Hydrogen Valley
Consortium, Active Matter and micro-robotics.
29
City S&T Clusters
3.1.2 Eighth PRMC Meeting to review Delhi Research Implementation

and Innovation (Delhi S&T Cluster)
The eighth PRMC Meeting to review the Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation
(DRIIV) – Delhi S&T Cluster was held at IIT Delhi on September 29, 2023 (Figure 11).
Key Takeaways
• The themes having interdisciplinary and inter-institutional potential were reviewed
by the PRMC, which included - air pollution management in Delhi, e-mobility,
Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) in healthcare, effective education,
water security, and solid waste management.
Figure 11: Dr. Swati Basu, Former Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA, chairs the PRMC
Meeting along with other PRMC Members and participants
30
City S&T Clusters
3.1.3 Ninth PRMC Meeting to Review Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC)

The ninth PRMC Meeting to review the Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC) – Pune S&T Cluster
was held at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune on October
18, 2023 (Figure 12).
Key Takeaways
• The meeting focussed on the review of themes - sustainability and environment,
health, big data & AI, mobility, capacity building and education.
• Programs anchored by PKC, such as - Teach with Tech program supported by Lenovo
India; and the platform for Gamified Learning in Chemistry supported by Badische
Anilin- & Sodafabrik, Germany, are helping create increased curiosity towards
learning STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects.
Figure 12: Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA along with PRMC
reviewing the progress of PKC’s verticals
3.1.4 Tenth PRMC Meeting to review Research and Innovation Circle of

Hyderabad (RICH)
The tenth PRMC Meeting to review the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad
(RICH) – Hyderabad S&T Cluster was held at T-Hub Phase-2, Hyderabad on November 24,
2023.
Key Takeaways
The meeting focussed on a review of themes- food & agriculture, life sciences, and
sustainability.
31
City S&T Clusters
3.2 FIRST JOINT MEET OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

CLUSTERS HELD IN JODHPUR
The first-ever joint S&T clusters’ meet, held on October 26-27, 2023, was organized by the
Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Foundation (JCKIF) and hosted by IIT Jodhpur in
Jodhpur. The meet saw active participation from all S&T clusters, including the Bengaluru
Science & Technology Cluster (BeST), Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster
(BCKIC) Foundation, Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation (DRIIV), Research and
Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH), Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation
Foundation (JCKIF), Northern Region S&T Cluster, and Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC). This
joint meeting aimed to foster exchange and collaboration among diverse regional clusters
in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.
Key Takeaways
• PSA Prof. Ajay K. Sood highlighted that the S&T clusters are a unique initiative of the
Office of PSA, focusing on the translational aspects of research (Figure 13). He also
emphasized the need for the clusters’ sustainability in the long run.
• Referring to the recently announced draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy, Prof.
Sood suggested that clusters could collaborate effectively with Deep Tech startups
operating under this policy framework.
• Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA, highlighted the S&T clusters’
role as shared ecosystems and regional solution providers, while promoting
competitiveness on both national and global scales. Dr. Maini emphasised the
prominent role S&T clusters can play in boosting India’s Global Innovation Index and
contributing to the global economy.
• The two-day meet witnessed in-depth discussions on identified themes and
opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration among clusters. The themes
included: Healthcare, Energy and Environment, Agritech and Nutrition, STEM
Education, Livelihood through S&T, and NorthEast Impact & Industry 4.0.
• PSA inaugurated an exhibition titled ‘Kalaanubhav’ featuring an innovation gallery
and livelihood support initiatives (Figure 14).
• Students at IIT Jodhpur also presented cutting-edge technologies and research in the
field of medical technology.
• PSA launched a healthcare compendium focusing on deployable technologies (Figure
15).
32
City S&T Clusters
Figure 13: PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood chaired the meeting with participation of
representatives from 7 Clusters – BCKIC, BeST, DRIIV, JCKIF, PKC, RICH, and
Northern Region S&T Cluster
Figure 14: PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood along with Prof. Santanu Chaudhury, Director,
IIT Jodhpur at the exhibition interacting with demonstrators
33
City S&T Clusters
Figure 15: PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood launching healthcare compendium focusing
on deployable technologies
34
Theme 4
Indian Science, Technology, And
Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM)
35
4. INDIAN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND
ENGINEERING FACILITIES MAP (I-STEM)
The I-STEM Web Portal, supported by the Office of PSA, is the gateway for researchers to
locate the specific facility(ies) they need for their R&D work and identify the one that is
either located closest to them or available the soonest. Figure 16 represents the latest
statistics on the I-STEM portal.
Figure 16: Latest statistics on I-STEM Portal, since its inception
Milestones
Major milestones in the year 2023 are:
A new Chief Operating Officer was appointed.
In June 2023, the I-STEM team created a wireframe and implemented the UI
(User Interface) for the startups section of the I-STEM portal. Startups have
begun registrations.
36
Events featured ‘I-STEM demonstrations’ were held to provide information to
over 40 research-based startups about the available facilities and modules.
A webinar series was launched to provide an online platform to the private

organizations and the government ministries for organising ‘competitions’ and
‘challenges’ for researchers.
A mobile app with a user-friendly interface for equipment booking is under

development.
37
Theme 5
Mental Health and Normalcy
Augmentation System (MANAS)
38
MANAS
5. MENTAL HEALTH AND NORMALCY

AUGMENTATION SYSTEM PROLIFERATION AND
WELLNESS CONNECTIVITY (MANAS WeCONNECT)
The MANAS App was developed with support and funding from the Office of PSA. It
offered scientifically validated indigenous content to strengthen overall mental well-being
through self-analysis.
Recent Developments
Some recent developments under MANAS since June 2023 are:
A brainstorming session was organized on June 6, 2023, to bring together innovative

ideas, techniques, and solutions for the organization of ‘MANAS Codethon 2023’. The
meeting was attended by members from the Office of PSA, technical experts from Centre
for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), SETS India, and experts from research
and educational institutions nominated as core members.
The MANAS Codeathon and Symposium, held from October 6-7, 2023, was organized by
C-DAC Bengaluru with the following primary objectives:
• To sensitize young individuals to mental well-being, fostering collaborative

innovation in designing engaging solutions, games, and content.
• To collaborate with participants from diverse backgrounds to create new ideas,
interactive digital and gamified content, and other digitized information, education,
and communication (IEC) materials or aids for mental wellness.
• To provide exciting opportunities for teams to join forces and demonstrate their
skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities within a competitive and collaborative
environment.
Milestones
On October 6, 2023, out of the 588 participants who formed 223 teams for the
MANAS Codeathon, 27 finalist teams were selected and invited to demonstrate
their innovative solutions, interactive content, games, applications, and
algorithms related to mental well-being to the Jury Committee (Figure 17).
39
MANAS
Figure 17: Dignitaries, winners and Runners of MANAS Codeathon 2023
In the MANAS Symposium held on October 7, 2023, the inaugural address was delivered
by Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA in the presence of Smt. Sunita
Verma, Scientist G, MeitY, GoI, and Shri. Magesh Ethirajan, Director General, C-DAC, along
with other dignitaries. During the MANAS Symposium on ‘Mental Health and Wellness’,
experts engaged in insightful discussions, sharing their knowledge and perspectives on
the critical subject matter (Figure 18). Lt Gen Dr. Madhuri Kanitkar (Retd), Vice Chancellor
of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, delivered the valedictory address online,
and participants in each track of the Codeathon were awarded grand prizes.
40
MANAS
Figure 18: Expert discussion during the MANAS Symposium on

“Mental Health and Wellness”.
Key Outcomes
The Codeathon yielded a diverse array of outcomes aimed at enhancing mental well-
being. These included interactive content designed to engage and inform individuals on
the subjects, such as IEC materials, mobile applications dedicated to offering convenient
tools, and algorithms designed to address and provide solutions for mental health
challenges. These outcomes collectively contribute to a more comprehensive and
accessible approach to mental well-being and support.
41
.
Theme 6
Mega Science Vision
42
Mega Science Vision
6. MEGA SCIENCE VISION

The periodic national consultative Mega Science Vision Exercise to lay down a roadmap
for participating in mega science projects elsewhere in the world or establishing some
such projects on Indian soil ─ viz. the Mega Science Vision (MSV)-2035 Exercise ─, is being
facilitated by the Office of PSA this time. It is currently underway in six disciplines, viz.
Nuclear Physics, High Energy Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Accelerator Science &
Technology and Applications, Climate Research, and Ecology and Environmental Science.
Milestones
Important milestones achieved in recent months are mentioned below:
The MSV-2035-Nuclear Physics Report was completed by the national Nuclear

Physics community under the leadership of Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research, Mumbai, and was submitted to the Office of PSA. It was uploaded on
the Office of PSA website and further steps were initiated to disseminate it
widely.
Discussions were held with the Drafting and Working Groups working on the
MSV-2035-Reports on Astronomy & Astrophysics, Accelerator S&T, and
Applications and Climate Research for further modifications in the drafts.
43
Theme 7
Rural Technology Action Group
(RuTAG)
44
RuTAG
7. RURAL TECHNOLOGY ACTION GROUP (RuTAG)

The Office of PSA launched RuTAG 2.0 in April 2023 with the objectives of connecting with
stakeholders, to identify grassroots innovations, developing demand-driven technologies,
validating prototypes, and commercializing technologies for national and global markets.
The Office of PSA has allocated funding support to five project implementing agencies for
a period of 36 months.
In this phase, RuTAG 2.0 is currently in progress with the following five
institutions:
i) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
ii) ICAR – National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad
iii) Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu and
Kashmir
iv) Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, and
v) Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Figure 19: Geographical Spread of

Proposed Dissemination Locations for
RuTAG 2.0 Technologies
45
RuTAG
These project-implementing agencies have proposed an impressive total of 75

technologies across a wide range of sectors, encompassing agriculture, textiles,
energy, livelihood, post-harvest and food processing, water conservation, animal
husbandry, aquaculture, dairy, environmental conservation, healthcare, and
more. The anticipated dissemination of these innovative technologies’ spans over
25 states and two Union Territories, ensuring widespread impact as depicted in
Figure 19.
Initiating RuTAG 2.0 project activities, ICAR-NAARM conducted an accelerator

mentorship program for selected innovators from November 22-24, 2023 at
ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad.
Further, RuTAG, IIT Roorkee organized a two-day training programme "Wool

Processing-Raw Wool to Fabric," on December 20-21, 2023, at IIT Roorkee. The
workshop aimed to empower artisans, especially women, in the wool sector
through small-scale wool processing. Practical sessions, demonstrations, and
discussions were also conducted, aligning with the commitment to rural socio-
economic development and sustainable technologies.
46
Theme 8
Techno-Economics
47
Techno-Economics
8.1 EVALUATION OF INNOVATION EXCELLENCE

INDICATORS OF PUBLIC-FUNDED R&D
ORGANISATIONS
In 2019, the Office of PSA initiated a study to capture and assess innovation indicators
within publicly funded Research and Development (R&D) labs. The goal was to
comprehensively and quantitatively understand the contributions of these institutions,
building upon the initial framework developed by NITI Aayog. This initiative aimed to
evaluate the absolute and relative strengths and weaknesses of these labs, enabling them
to re-evaluate their mission and research output in accordance with the current national
requirements and goals. The first round of the study concluded in March 2022.
Milestones
In October 2023, the second round of the study was duly approved by the
competent authority featuring an expanded scope that encompasses about 394
publicly funded R&D laboratories, as against 193 laboratories covered in the first
round.
On November 3, 2023, the Techno-Economic unit convened the kick-off meeting

for the second round and considered the implementation plan presented by the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) which has been re-engaged as the
knowledge partner for this round. In accordance with this plan, the framework for
the evaluation and assessment of the participating laboratories is under revision.
This inter-alia covers 62 indicators that were used in the first round.
The contact details of the labs that are going to be surveyed are being collated and
the survey instrument for data collection (online portal) is also under updation.
• Office of PSA
• Stakeholder Ministries/Departments in GoI
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
48
Techno-Economics
8.2 STATE GOVERNMENT R&D BUDGET

The role of the State Governments is crucial in boosting the Gross Domestic Expenditure
on Research and Development (GERD). It serves as an integral component in the National
Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem. The primary goal of R&D Budgeting by
States is to institutionalize a mechanism to capture and disclose the R&D expenditure of
the concerned state/UT department/subject-wise, a practice that is currently not in vogue.
Milestones
The Office of the PSA took up the initiative and approached the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) to collect, collate and publish R&D expenditure data of different
States/UTs drawing from their respective state budgets.
In response to this initiative of the Office of the PSA, RBI in its latest flagship
publication titled “State Finances: A Study of Budgets 2023-24” published on
December 11, 2023 (Figure 20) included a dedicated section on States’ Expenditure
on R&D under Chapter II: Fiscal Position of the State Governments.
In this section, R&D expenditure data of 10 States and UTs is covered. They are
Bihar, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan,
Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
The analysis of the data of these 10 states/UTs indicates an enhancement in the

overall quality of expenditure by the States during the post-pandemic period.
Notably, there has been an increase in the proportion of spending on health-
related R&D, while expenditure on agricultural research has seen a decline.
The data obtained from the participating states has also highlighted that the states
primarily allocate expenditures in the areas of medical services, health, family
welfare, sanitation, and agricultural research.
• Office of PSA
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• State Governments
49
Techno-Economics
Figure 20: State Finances: A Study of Budgets 2023-24
The report can be accessed here:
For more information, please scan the QR Code
50
Theme 9
Science and Technology
Capacity Building
51
Capacity Building
9. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION (STI)

CAPACITY BUILDING
The STI-CB Cell, a collaborative initiative between the Office of PSA and the Capacity
Building Commission (CBC), is playing a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of India's
scientific workforce. The cell's focus on upskilling and future training, as well as its tailored
interventions for junior and senior-level scientists, is essential to ensuring that India's
scientific community remains at the forefront of global innovation. The curated Annual
Capacity Building Plan (ACBP) provides a comprehensive and data-driven roadmap for
building the capacity of scientists at all levels, across a wide range of S&T disciplines. The
ACBP's calendarized structure and focus on both training and non-training interventions
make it a valuable resource for both scientists and S&T institutions.
Milestones
Between August 2023 and December 2023, STI-CB cell has been part of:
ACBP launch of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) by Honourable Minister of

Earth Sciences Shri Kiren Rijiju and Secretary of MoES Dr. Ravichandran on
September 14, 2023 at Prithvi Bhavan, as seen in Figure 21.
Figure 21: Launch of MoES Annual Capacity Building Plan
52
Capacity Building
STI-CB Cell visited the GSI office, Hyderabad to present and brief about the ACBP
process and capacity building exercises to the Director General and Senior staff
members of the Geological Survey of India. Also, a compendium of iGOT courses
by GSI was launched.
STI-CB Cell coordinated an “Emerging Technology for Digital Transformation”

online workshop for all government staff with the Wadhwani Institute of
Technology and Policy that highlighted the usage of regenerative AI in the
government. The details of the workshops are mentioned below:
Date Department Workshop Title

5 June 2023 & Emerging Technologies Workshop at ISRO
ISRO
7 June 2023 Headquarters
7 Aug 2023 & Emerging Technologies Workshop at NRSC,
ISRO
8 Aug 2023 Hyderabad
12 Sept 2023 & Emerging Technologies Workshop at Space
ISRO
13th Sept 2023 Application Centre
6th Nov 2023 & AI for digital transformation
MoES
7th Nov 2023 (as seen in Figure 22)
8th Nov 2023 &
MoES Data Driven Decision Making
9th Nov 2023
Figure 22: AI workshop at ISRO
53
Theme 10
Important Initiatives
54
ONOS
10.1 ONE NATION ONE SUBSCRIPTION

The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative is aimed at providing access to
scholarly research content to all individuals in the country. ONOS intends to acquire
national licenses for e-journal/database subscriptions from most of the prominent STEM
and social sciences publishers and database providers by combining multiple institutional
and consortia-based subscriptions. Concessions on Article Processing Charges (APCs) for
open access publications is also envisioned as part of ONOS. Implementation of ONOS,
which is expected to benefit all academic and R&D institutions including universities,
colleges, research organisations in the country, will be done in a phased manner.
Milestones
The negotiations for commencement of ONOS from January 1, 2024 were held
on October 11-12, 2023 and on October 25, 2023.
Negotiations were held with 41 publishers (journals, citation databases and

standards) who are commonly subscribed by the 10 library consortia in the
country. These include prominent STEM and social sciences publishers like
Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, etc.
All concerned ministries and departments will be notified about further steps to
be taken regarding their library subscriptions with the selected publishers by end
of the year.
• Department of Higher Education
• Department of Science & Technology
• INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar
55
CGeM
10.2 CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON E-MOBILITY (CGeM)

The logistics sector, vital for efficient goods movement, faces significant expansion, with a
projected fourfold increase in freight volume by 2050, 70% of which is attributed to
trucking. To meet this demand and reduce environmental impact, there's an urgent shift
towards zero-emission trucks (ZETs), such as battery electric trucks, hydrogen fuel cell
electric trucks, and hydrogen internal combustion engine trucks as they promise
improved efficiency, lower costs, and environmental benefits.
After releasing the Technology Roadmap for ZET in March 2023, the office has constituted
a committee to study the Delhi-Jaipur corridor for a pilot and scaled ZET deployment.
Rocky Mountain Institute is collaborating on groundwork and modelling for the study.
The Delhi-Jaipur corridor is chosen as a model corridor to assess various ZET
technologies' cost, viability, and operability. The report evaluates seven infrastructure
technologies viz Fast Charging, Ultra-Fast Charging, Battery Swapping, Catenary, Induction
Charging, Hydrogen (H2) Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and H2 Fuel Cell Electric Truck
(FCET). The two deployment phases considered are (i) a pilot with 100 trucks by 2025 and
(ii) a scaled operation of 5,500 trucks by 2030. The analysis encapsulates costs,
advantages, challenges, and optimal use scenarios, ensuring stakeholders are well-
equipped to navigate the sustainable freight transport future.
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways from the report are:
1. Fast charging stands out for its manageable charging schedules and high technology
readiness level, but it comes with a trade-off of reduced payload capacity due to
large batteries and extended charging downtime. This technology is best suited for
fleets with overnight depots, well-defined routes with set start and end points, and
readily available downtime for charging. It is ideal for volume-constrained loads such
as white goods and auto parts.
2. Ultra-fast charging offers quicker refuelling time but introduces high peak demand
and associated grid costs. It is best deployed along highly travelled trucking corridors
where infrastructure can have high utilization and ample upstream power
availability, catering to volume-constrained loads like white goods and e-commerce.
3. Battery Swapping offers rapid refuelling, but it comes with the drawback of high
spare battery costs and the need for battery standardization. It is suitable for fleets
conducting frequent trips under closed-loop systems and with limited downtime for
charging, serving volume-constrained loads such as white goods, e-commerce, and
auto parts.
56
CGeM
4. Catenary and induction technologies limit downtime due to en-route charging, use
smaller battery packs, and charge batteries in motion, but they face uncertainties
regarding infrastructure costs, technology lock-in, and lower technology readiness
levels. Catenary is best for fleets deployed along short, closed-loop corridors near
infrastructure catering to heavy loads like construction aggregates. Meanwhile,
induction technology caters to fleets along short, closed-loop corridors near
infrastructure catering to heavy loads like construction aggregates but has limited
real-world demonstrations.
5. Hydrogen-based solutions, including H2 ICE and H2 FCET, offer minimal payload
penalties for applications like bulk goods and rapid refuelling time, but they come
with drawbacks such as high fuel costs, emissions of NOx, and limited
demonstrations. These technologies are suitable for fleets traveling long distances
requiring minimal downtime and serving heavy bulk loads like construction
aggregates, blue metal, and cement.
It can be said carefully that the choice of technology for freight transportation depends on
specific use cases and trade-offs between each technology must be examined in the
context of its application and operational needs.
Milestones
The report was shared with Shri Nitin Gadkari, the

Honourable Minister of Road Transport and Highways (Figure
23). A meeting was held under his chairmanship to discuss
the recommendations outlined in the report. The meeting
was attended by representatives from the Office of PSA, For more
MNRE, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and domain information,
please scan the
experts. The report was subsequently published by the Office QR Code
of PSA and can be accessed here.
This report is an addendum to the document titled ‘Technical Roadmap for

Deployment of Zero-Emission Trucking in India Technology Roadmap’ published
in March 2023 by the Office of PSA.
57
CGeM
Figure 23: H’nble Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari takes review meeting to discuss
recommendations on report
58
Theme 11
International Engagements
59
G20-Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable
11.1 G20-CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISERS’ ROUNDTABLE

India's G20 Presidency successfully achieved another milestone with the introduction of
the G20-Chief Science Advisers' Roundtable (G20-CSAR). The initiative was introduced as a
new addition under the G20 framework during India’s Presidency and was led by the
Office of PSA. This historic endeavour marked the first time that the Government Chief
Science Advisers and nominated equivalents were convened under the G20 framework to
deliberate on the need for an inclusive science advice mechanism for evidence-informed
policymaking globally.
G20-CSAR began with its planning meeting in January 2023. Under the initiative, a series
of four intersessional meetings, nine side events, and multiple bilateral and plurilateral
discussions were organized leading to the second meeting of G20-CSAR in August 2023.
The second convening of G20-CSAR took place from August 27-29, 2023 at Mahatma
Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat (Figure 24) bringing together Chief
Science Advisers and their counterparts from G20 and invitee countries. The meeting also
had participation from two international organisations - WHO and UNESCO. Delegates
around the table delved into the four agenda items and discussed the draft Outcome
Document. Expressing their vision for the initiative, the discussions were centered around
the four agenda topics: (i) Opportunities in One Health for better disease prevention,
control, and pandemic preparedness (ii) Synergising global efforts to expand access to
scholarly scientific knowledge (iii) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in
Science and Technology Ecosystem (iv) Creating an inclusive, continuous, and action-
oriented Global Science Advice mechanism. Following the comprehensive discussions, the
G20 and invitee country delegates adopted the Outcome Document and Chair’s
Summary.
Figure 24: Second Meeting of G20-CSAR in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
60
The summit began with the G20-CSAR delegation visiting the majestic Modhera Sun
Temple in Gujarat’s Mehsana district where a cultural event featured a light and sound
show and a cultural performance celebrating India's Chandrayaan-3 mission. Following
this, delegates were received at the gala dinner hosted by the Honourable Chief Minister
of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, as seen in Figure 25.
Figure 25: State cultural event at Modhera Sun Temple hosted by Honourable Chief
Minister of Gujarat
On the day of the meeting, G20-CSAR delegates experienced traditional bazaar set up by
artisans and weavers from Gujarat at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre (meeting
venue), as seen in Figure 26. Later in the evening, they explored Dandi Kutir, India's
largest museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi's life and teachings.
Figure 26: Traditional Bazaar at the meeting venue in Gandhinagar for Second
G20-CSAR meeting
61
In a baton passing ceremony (Figure 27), the initiative was passed on to Brazil. Now, as
the leadership baton passes from India to Brazil, the aim is to foster ongoing
deliberations and provide a platform where members and international organizations can
come together to address multidisciplinary issues. The collective vision is to offer
synergistic science advice and employ Science Diplomacy to promote collaboration
among various stakeholders.
Figure 27: G20-CSAR Chair and PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood passing the Baton of
G20-CSAR to Prof. Marcia Barbosa Vice Minister, MCTI, Brazil
Milestones
The CSAR Secretariat organized four intersessional meetings in August 2023 to

converge on the Outcome Document leading up to the second meeting of G20-
CSAR. These four meetings held on August 3rd, 9th, 18th, and 27th respectively,
played a crucial role in driving inputs and deliberations that shaped the Outcome
Document.
G20-CSAR held nine side events across the country to engage a wider community
in discussions related to its agendas. Six of these side events were hosted by S&T
Clusters in Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, and Jodhpur. Two
events in Delhi were hosted by the Office of PSA- led G20-CSAR Secretariat and
the Netherlands Innovation Network India to further the conversation on
Inclusive Global Science Advice.
62
The nine side events are listed below:

1. CII Global Science, Research and Innovation Summit
The Confederation of Indian Industry, in partnership with the Office of PSA, NITI Aayog,
CSIR, TIFAC, IGSTC, DRDO, and IIT Delhi organised the ‘CII Global Science, Innovation, and
Research Summit’ on May 2, 2023. The event was organized as part of the CII National
Technology Mission, aimed at fostering investment in R&D, promoting Industry-Academia-
Research-startup collaborations, and encouraging Women in STEM fields. One of the
noteworthy aspects was a special panel on 'Nurturing Future-Ready Skilled Workforce.
2. Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster

Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster (BCKIC) Foundation, in collaboration
with DBT-Institute of Life Sciences (DBT-ILS), Bhubaneswar, convened a roundtable on
June 29, 2023, addressing key issues on the theme ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Accessibility in Science and Technology’ (Figure 28). This event attracted approximately
100 attendees, including representatives from the State S&T Ministry, scientists,
researchers, administrators, and students, all contributing their perspectives to the
discourse. The deliberations focussed on integrating diverse fields for inclusiveness and
accessibility, this included ‘Women in STEM’, ‘Grassroot Innovators’, ‘Innovations for better
Health’, ‘Women Entrepreneurship’ as well as understanding the ground requirements
from field.
Figure 28: G20-CSAR Side Event on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in
Science & Technology (S&T) in progress at DBT ILBS, Bhubaneswar
63
3. Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad

Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) organized a workshop titled
'Synergizing Global Efforts to Expand Access to Scholarly Scientific Knowledge Roundtable'
under the umbrella of G20–CSAR. The workshop took place on July 5, 2023, at the
International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad and was attended by 42
distinguished scientists, representing 27 research institutions across various fields. With a
primary objective of enhancing collaboration and knowledge exchange among industry
professionals, the workshop provided a platform for in-depth sub-thematic deliberations,
enabling participants to engage in extensive discussions and formulate action plans.
These efforts aimed at coordinating actions to achieve open access to scholarly
knowledge generated through publicly funded research (Figure 29).
Figure 29: Newspaper Coverage on the G20 Side Event by RICH, Hyderabad
64
4. Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India

A dialogue on 'Institutionalising Global Science Advice' was organized under the aegis of
G20-CSAR on July 6, 2023 by the Office of PSA at Vigyan Bhavan Annexe, New Delhi. The
central focus of the dialogue was the imperative of 'Strengthening and Institutionalising
Science Advice for Global Policy.' The dialogue witnessed participation of stakeholders
and representatives from pertinent government departments, foreign missions in India,
academia, and policy institutions. Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA
delineated India’s Science Advice mechanism and its institutional framework. Following
the talks, a fishbowl-style discussion ensued, where the invited experts articulated their
perspectives on institutionalizing the science advice mechanism and delineated the
pivotal role of G20-CSAR.
5. Pune Knowledge Cluster

Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC) organised a G20-CSAR side event focusing on One Health,
Disease Surveillance, and Pandemic Preparedness on July 10, 2023, at IISER Pune. The
event was attended by 94 participants from 43 diverse organizations including hospitals,
research institutions, civic bodies, foundations, startups, and industries. In the event, the
importance of building and scaling up the Wastewater Surveillance frameworks for variety
of diseases was discussed. The role of foundations in aiding the Government of India
initiatives to enable successful implementation of disease surveillance programs, building
communication tools for handling crises, standardised data collection methods, intelligent
data sharing were also deliberated (Figure 30).
Figure 30: Dr. Priya Nagaraj, CEO, PKC with the distinguished speaker panel at the
G20-CSAR Side event
65
6. Bengaluru Science & Technology Cluster

Bengaluru Science & Technology (BeST) cluster organized a roundtable discussion on July
21, 2023 on the topic 'An Institutional Mechanism for Inclusive, Continuous, and Action-
Oriented Global Science & Technology Policy Dialogue'. Approximately 22 attendees
including experts from diverse backgrounds, and delegates from Switzerland, France,
Netherlands, and Israel converged for a focused discussion on urban mobility and
quantum technology. The key challenges in S&T policy that were identified are: difficulties
in conducting data-informed science; ‘language’ barriers between scientists and non-
scientists; limited workforce in cutting-edge S&T; and navigating intellectual property
rights and country-specific regulations.
7. Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation

Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation (DRIIV) organized a G20-CSAR side event
on August 8, 2023 on the topic 'Role of Open Access in Equitable Climate and Health
Action: Prevention, Response, and Financing,' under the aegis of G20-CSAR. The
conference emerged as a vital platform for fostering global dialogues and collaborations
concerning the intricate synergy between climate and health. This event highlighted the
indispensable role that open access to data, research, and resources plays in crafting
equitable solutions to climate change mitigation challenges. Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific
Secretary, Office of PSA, graced the event with a keynote address, illuminating the core
objectives of the conference and emphasizing the imperative for collective action in the
face of these pressing challenges (Figure 31).
Figure 31: Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA launched the
DRIIV Handbook at the event
66
8. Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Foundation

Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Foundation (JCKIF) and IIT Jodhpur organized two-
day G20-CSAR side events on ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Science &
Technology (S&T), with a focus on Plan and Policy for S&T Powered Global Action’ and
‘One Health for Well-being of All' on August 19 and 20, 2023 respectively. The event on
Day 1 included an engaging Panel Discussion on Social Inclusion and Diversity, as well as
Livelihood, Regional Diversity, and Science & Technology. These sessions, led by experts,
facilitated profound discussions, enhancing attendees' understanding of these critical
topics and encouraging collaborative dialogue among participants. The objective of the
Day 2 event was to convene prominent experts, researchers, policymakers, and
practitioners from across the nation to collectively address issues concerning One Health
for the Well-being of All.
9. Netherlands Embassy in partnership with the Office of PSA

A seminar on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Science & Technology was
jointly organized by the Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy in India and the Office of PSA
on August 30, 2023. This event served as a follow-up to the G20-CSAR emphasizing the
ongoing collaboration between the Netherlands and India in shaping a diverse, inclusive,
and accessible scientific landscape. Hosted by Ambassador Marisa Gerards, the event
featured enlightening keynotes from prominent figures, including Scientific Secretary Dr.
Parvinder Maini, Director General of TERI Vibha Dhawan, and Professor Wiebe Bijker from
NWO in the Netherlands. The seminar delved into the significance of epistemic justice, the
diversity of people and knowledge, and global cooperation in the realm of Science and
Technology.
67
11.1.1 Dialogue 2023: Expanding Science and Technology Horizon

The Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Indian IISc,
Bengaluru jointly hosted Dialogue 2023: Expanding Science and Technology Horizon Summit
Bengaluru on November 18, 2023. The inaugural session featured a keynote address by
PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood speaking on the theme 'Expanding S&T Horizon: Within and
Beyond’. He spoke about India’s key technological missions and their convergence toward
socio-economic progress. Prof. G. Rangarajan, Director, and Prof. T.A. Abinandanan, Head
of Policy Units at IISc Bengaluru, also joined the inaugural session (Figure 32).
Figure 32: PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood delivers keynote address at Dialogue 2023
The forenoon sessions were focused on the theme of ‘Shaping Technological Futures'
featuring discussions on the topics, 'Ethics of Disruptive Technologies' and 'Charting
Global Technology Competitiveness'. The afternoon sessions were focused on the theme,
‘Science, Technology and Society’ featuring a workshop on ‘Diversity of Knowledge: People
and Practice’ and a popular talk on ‘Perception of Science’.
68
The first session in a dialogue format hosted a conversation between two experts in the
broader technology space; Dr. Sharad Sharma, Co-Founder of iSPIRT who brought the
technology development angle, and Prof. Nimmi Rangaswamy who brought the ethical
angle of technology’s impact on society. The two speakers spoke about technological
advancement, ethical principles, and anticipatory governance when looking at disruptive
technologies. Both speakers, while focusing on some of the key emerging technologies,
touched on the technology life cycle and how ethical and governance deliberations form
a critical layer (Figure 33).
Figure 33: Panel discussion on first session ‘Ethics of Disruptive Technologies'
The second session featured a special address by Shri Abhishek Singh, IAS, President &
CEO of the National e-Governance Division and MD & CEO of Digital India Corporation,
followed by a panel discussion. Mr. Singh spoke about India’s success with initiatives
during the G20 Presidency and India’s assuming Chair for Global Partnership on AI. While
speaking on the Digital Public Infrastructure Initiative and India’s pitch for taking DPIs
globally, he added focus on India’s tech competitiveness globally and shaped the tone for
a panel discussion that followed this address. The panel hosted eminent speakers
including H.E. Alex Ellis, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India;
69
Ms. Nivedita Mehra, Managing Director, US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF);
and Ms. Wiebke Doerfler, Managing Director, The Bavarian-Indian Centre for Business and
University Cooperation. Speaking on various technological advancements, the panelists
added on various strategies countries use to strengthen technological competitiveness.
They deliberated on the key principles of trust and dependency which shape most global
cooperation on technology. The panel concluded with panelists speaking about India’s
tech partnerships with various countries that they represented.
The workshop on Diversity of Knowledge had two segments of lightning talks from
eminent speakers followed by an open panel discussion where speakers and participants
engaged in a free-flowing exchange of thoughts (Figure 34). In the first segment, Prof.
Wiebe Bijker, Professor Emeritus of Maastricht University, challenged the conventional
view of knowledge as a hierarchical scale by presenting various examples and
perspectives from practitioners. This segment also featured presentations by Dr.
Annapurna Mamidipudi of the Technical University of Berlin, and Ms. Uzramma, Co-
founder of Handloom Futures Trust, Hyderabad, capturing the plurality of knowledge
from both academic and practitioner viewpoints. In the second segment, Prof. Anil K.
Gupta, Founder of Honey Bee Network, SRISTI, and GIAN, as well as Visiting Faculty at IIM-
Ahmedabad & IIT-Bombay, shared a narrative of 'from sink to source,' highlighting the
importance of treating local knowledge holders as valuable sources of knowledge in our
policies. This segment also featured talks by Dr. Viswajanani Sattigeri, Head of CSIR-
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, on policy perspective on integrating traditional
knowledge systems; and by Dr. Anamika Dey, CEO of Grassroots Innovations
Augmentation Network, on viewing the diversity of knowledge through a gender lens.
Figure 34: Workshop on Diversity of Knowledge
70
The summit concluded with a closing plenary session through a popular talk on ‘Public
Perception of Science’ delivered by Prof. Shubha Tole, Senior Scientist and Dean at Tata
Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai (Figure 35). The session was chaired by Prof.
Navakanta Bhat, Dean, Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences, IISc Bengaluru. In her talk,
Prof. Tole shared insights and recommendations on strengthening public understanding
of science, highlighting the importance of science outreach and the need for building
suitable capacity in academic institutions.
Figure 35: Prof. Shubha Tole delivers closing plenary session talk
‘Dialogue 2023’ provided a platform for in-depth discussions on some of the

contemporary science and technology policy issues with an extended stakeholder base.
The sessions throughout the summit featured experts from various fields and highlighted
the importance of themes ranging from ethical considerations to global competitiveness
and the diversity of knowledge in shaping the future of science and technology. The
summit culminated in an engaging open discussion, providing participants with the
opportunity to share their thoughts and insights.
71
Quantum
11.2 QUANTUM
11.2.1 The Indo-US Quantum Coordination Mechanism under US-India
Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET)
In 2022, the US and India initiated the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technologies (iCET) and established a joint Indo-US Quantum Coordination Mechanism
led by PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood and Dr. Charles Tahan. Subsequently, the first US-India
Dialogue on Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) was held in May 2023,
discussing potential areas of collaboration and cooperation, with plans for future
workshops. President Biden and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the initiative in a joint
statement, highlighting as important follow-up steps India's participation in the Quantum
Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) and the Quantum Entanglement Exchange,
as well as the development of an Indo-US Quantum Cooperation Agreement.
Milestones
Notable progress has been made on the above items in recent months as
mentioned below:
In September 2023, the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, an
autonomous R&D institution under DST, became a member of QED-C. In
September 2023, India also joined the Quantum Entanglement Exchange. DST
also readied an advanced version of the Indo-US Quantum Science and
Technology Agreement in close consultation with the Office of PSA for further
discussion.
72
Quantum
11.2.2 Quad Centre of Excellence on Quantum Information Sciences

(Quad CoE-QIS)
During the third Quad Summit at Hiroshima on 20th May 2023, the Quad Centre of
Excellence on Quantum Information Sciences (Quad CoE-QIS) was established. The Quad
CoE-QIS, or Quantum CoE in short, was launched with its Inaugural Meeting at Melbourne
on July 9, 2023. In this inaugural meeting, it was decided that the CoE should have four co-
chairs, one from each of the four Quad nations. It was also decided that four Task Forces
on Computing, Communications, Sensors, and Ecosystem and Workforce Development,
one led by each Quad nation, would be formed as technical think-tanks to assist the CoE
in its work.
Milestones
Considerable progress has been made in the CoE-related work in recent months as
mentioned below:
Japan and the US have now completed the process of nominating their co-chairs.
Accordingly, Dr. Hiroaki Aihara, Executive Vice President, University of Tokyo, and Dr. Celia
Merzbacher, Executive Director, QED-C, have now joined the two originally appointed co-
chairs ─ Dr. Cathy Foley, Chief Scientist-Australia and PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood ─as CoE
co-chairs.
The four nations also made their choices about the TFs that they would lead. They
decided as follows – Ecosystem and Workforce Development (Australia), Communications
(India), Computing (Japan), and Sensors (US). They also nominated their leads for the Task
Forces ─ Ecosystem and Workforce Development (Dr. Cathy Foley, Chief Scientist,
Australia), Communications (Prof. Anil Prabhakar, IIT Madras, India), Computing (Dr.
Hiroaki Aihara, EVP-University of Tokyo-Japan) and Sensors (Dr. Celia Merzbacher, ED-
QED-C-USA). The members of Task Forces from various nations were also nominated.
Next, the Task Forces were launched in a meeting with co-Chairs on November 7, 2023
(IST). The goals and a first list of Key Performance Indicators for the CoE and TFs were
discussed. As a near-term goal, each Task Force will prepare a short White Paper
identifying the opportunities for Quad nations to achieve a global leadership position in
Quantum Science and Technology, and ways and means of achieving that position. Some
important aspects of the contents of the White Papers were also discussed.
73
India-EU TTC
11.4 INDIA-EUROPEAN UNION TRADE AND

TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
11.4.1 International Workshop on Green and Clean Energy Technologies
Under the India-European Union (EU) Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a two-day
International Workshop on Green and Clean Energy Technologies was organized on
October 10-11, 2023, with an objective to exchange the key insights on policy and
regulatory frameworks, identify partners for leapfrogging, identifying cutting-edge green
technologies and convergence on collaboration opportunities (Figure 36).
Figure 36: PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Scientific Secretary Dr. Parvinder Maini at
India-EU TTC WG2 workshop
The international workshop comprised four sessions with the following key
takeaways:
Session 1: Waste to Green Hydrogen

The session emphasised the possible avenues of collaboration between India and EU on
Hydrogen Storage, transportation, Safety Standards, and regulatory framework.
Technologies and solutions including the development of new tools and methodologies
for hydrogen leakage detection sensors, and solutions furthering the opportunities to
convert Waste into Green Hydrogen were also the focused areas of this session.
Session 2: Marine Plastic litter and Wastewater

As part of an ongoing dialogue, gap analysis to address and to tackle litter/pollution,
monitoring of micro and nano-plastics, was presented. The session also underlined the
strategies to mitigate marine plastic pollution and wastewater treatment and urban water
challenge.
74
India-EU TTC
Session 3: E-mobility, Circulatory Aspects of Batteries and

Interoperability of charging infrastructures
In this session, the knowledge on circularity and interoperability aspects of batteries was
shared. The session also focussed upon the strategies for recovery of important raw
materials. The possibility of co-developing charging infrastructure technologies and EV
battery recycling sector were also discussed.
Session 4: Standards
Intense discussions were observed during the session regarding the importance of
harnessing data and scientific insights for interoperable standards and cost-effective
solutions for facilitation of global trade in technology.
These collaborative efforts between India and the European Union, involving the
exchange of policy insights, identification of cutting-edge green technologies, fostering
technology co-development, and creating institutional collaborations, will accelerate the
growth of green and clean energy technologies. This partnership will enable both regions
to access advanced solutions, bridge collaboration gaps, and work towards a shared
vision of a sustainable future by leading the way in addressing environmental challenges
and reducing carbon emissions.
In early 2024, the co-chairs will meet again in India to review the progress achieved and
determine the next steps.
Collaborating Agencies:
• Ministry of External Affairs
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Bureau of Indian Standards
• Ministry of Power
• Ministry of Heavy Industries
• Ministry of Earth Sciences
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• Department of Science & Technology
75
India-EU TTC
11.4.2 Second Ministerial Meeting of the India-EU Trade & Technology

Council
The second Ministerial Meeting of the India-EU Trade & Technology Council (TTC) Working
Group-2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies organized by the Ministry of External
Affairs was convened on November 24, 2023 at GS Bajpai Committee, South Block in
hybrid mode. During the virtual meeting, both the Indian and EU delegations presented
future roadmaps for Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies (Figure
37). They expressed mutual appreciation for each other's efforts in identifying
technological gaps within clean energy technologies, leading to the formulation of
substantial work plans for collaborative scientific and technological endeavours in the
future.
PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Chair of Working Group 2, delivered remarks on the group's
presentation, underscoring the imperative of achieving tangible deliverables ahead of the
India-EU TTC Summit. PSA Prof. Sood highlighted the significance of translating
interactions into cooperation on concrete activities and deliverables that go beyond
discussions focused solely on research and development. This commitment was
exemplified through the initiation of specific projects, including the development of green
hydrogen pilot initiatives and the establishment of related standards.
Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA provided insights on the
presentation and endorsed the collaborative endeavours undertaken by both parties in
agreeing on future roadmaps and identifying potential areas for collaboration. Dr. Maini
reiterated that the EU-TTC collaboration will significantly enhance research and
development in clean technologies, creating economic opportunities that facilitate trade
and technology through the establishment of a competitive market.
The meeting facilitated discussions focused on expediting the development of solutions

to critical issues associated with clean energy technologies like waste-to-green hydrogen,
battery recycling, marine plastic litter, and wastewater management. Furthermore, the
meeting explored the possibility of organizing a matchmaking event between Indian and
European start-ups. This initiative aims to unleash the potential of start-ups in the areas
of battery recycling, covering the entire spectrum from waste collection to valuable
material extraction. There was a focus on establishing targeted collaborations, particularly
in the areas of decentralized waste-to-energy facilities as this approach offers a
sustainable and community-oriented approach to waste management, environmental
protection, resource recovery, and generation of clean energy at the local level.
76
India-EU TTC
Figure 37: The 2nd Ministerial Meeting of the India-EU Trade & Technology Council
Working Group-2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies
77
Theme 12
Synergy Projects
78
Synergy Projects
Well-to-Wheels Analysis
12.1 WELL-TO-WHEELS ANALYSIS OF VEHICLE

PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES FOR INDIA
This project titled ‘Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) of Vehicle Propulsion Technologies for
India, Phase-1: Well-to-Wheels Analysis’ was sanctioned in August 2020 to the IISc
Bengaluru.
Milestones
The study was completed and a project report was submitted by IISc Bengaluru
in September 2021. The project was formally closed in May 2022.
The report was recently shared with four stakeholder ministries/departments i.e.,
Ministry of Power, MoRTH, MNRE, and Department of Heavy Industries for their
comments and for taking appropriate actions in the implementation of their
programmes/schemes in light of the findings and recommendations of the study.
Salient Features of the Study

• The aim of the study was to assess potential future fuel and propulsion systems by
analyzing the complete cycle of the fuel from production to use in the propulsion
system, also termed as a Well-to-Wheels (WTW) analysis.
• This study essentially consisted of three parts, the Well-to-Tank (WTT) analysis, Tank-
to-Wheel (TTW) analysis and the combined WTW analysis.
o The WTT part computes the energy use and emissions generated during the
fuel production stage,
o The TTW stage concerns the energy use and CO2 emissions associated with
vehicle operation over a typical Indian drive cycle.
o Both the WTT and TTW results are integrated to provide the final WTW
estimates of energy use and CO2 emissions.
• The WTW energy use, efficiency & CO2 emissions were evaluated for 12 vehicle/fuel
configurations for a passenger sedan in the Indian context.
• The WTW analysis covered gasoline, diesel and CNG powered conventional vehicles,
series hybrids and plug-in series hybrids. In addition, hydrogen fuel cell-powered
series hybrid and its plug-in version, along with a battery electric vehicle are also
studied.
• In addition to the above-mentioned variants of a passenger sedan, in the two-
wheeler category, a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle and a battery electric
version are simulated.
79
Synergy Projects
Well-to-Wheels Analysis
• The four wheelers are simulated over the Modified Indian Drive Cycle (MIDC),
whereas the two-wheelers are simulated over the World Motorcycle Test Cycle
(WMTC).
• Finally, the WTW analysis is repeated for a couple of scenarios for the year 2030 to
forecast future trends.
Key Findings
• For two-wheelers:
o A battery electric vehicle (BEV) offers higher WTW efficiency than the conventional
gasoline-powered vehicle, even with the current electricity mix.
o This is because the advantage of high TTW efficiency of the battery outweighs the
disadvantage of low WTT efficiency associated with electricity generation.
o For two-wheelers, the BEV is also associated with lower WTW CO2 emissions as
compared to the conventional vehicle.
• For four-wheelers:
o Simulations of the aggressive shift to renewables scenario for the year 2030 show
that the plug-in series hybrids show the highest WTW efficiencies, with the diesel-
powered plug-in hybrid showing the highest efficiency.
o This scenario assumes that India betters the NDC targets of 40% of cumulative
power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
• Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
80
Synergy Projects
Livestock Disease Surveillance
12.2 HUB FOR LIVESTOCK DISEASE SURVEILLANCE

AND MODELLING IN INDIA
This project titled ‘Hub for livestock disease surveillance and modelling in India’ was
sanctioned in September 2023, jointly to IISc Bengaluru, International Centre for
Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bengaluru and ARTPARK, Bengaluru.
Milestones
The project was sanctioned jointly to three PIs, in IISc, ICTS and ARTPARK in
September 2023.
The PRMC for the project will be constituted soon with subject matter experts.
Major Objectives
• Informing the effective utilisation of modelling across different susceptible species.
• Training of field and disease control staff on methods of surveillance, data collection,
validation, sample collection, transport etc.
• Guiding the FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) elimination strategy over the so that the
FMD control programs are driven in a scientific and data-informed manner.
• Define environmental sampling protocols for FMD and incorporate them into the
National Surveillance program.
• Build capacity in India for disease modelling and using tools such as environmental
surveillance for various national programs (Across human, animal and wildlife
health).
Project Deliverables
Workstream 1: Establish Livestock Disease Modelling Capacity
• To establish local expertise through capacity building in collaboration with Indian
and international disease modelling groups.
• Enable relevant Govt. agencies to implement science and data-informed disease
surveillance and control strategies under the guidance of the Empowered
Committee for Animal Health.
• Work with the relevant Government agencies to develop capacity and inform
effective utilisation of modelling across different susceptible species.
• Development of data models to evaluate and inform FMD control strategies.
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Synergy Projects
Livestock Disease Surveillance
• The Models will be extended to other priority diseases and will inform the design
and implementation of the disease control programs and strategies.
Workstream 2: Establish and Pilot Environmental Sampling Strategies to Augment

the Current Surveillance Programs for Animal Diseases
• Establish methodologies for environmental surveillance.
• Facilitate data collection, management, and visualisation tools to optimise ongoing
disease surveillance efforts. Data from environmental surveillance will be channelled
into the data modelling efforts.
• Work with the relevant Government agencies for capacity building and leverage
environmental surveillance for disease control programs (across animal, wildlife, and
human health).
• IISc Bengaluru
• International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bengaluru
• ARTPARK, Bengaluru
82
Synergy Projects
Development and Manufacturing of Seamless Tubes
12.3 INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT AND

MANUFACTURING OF SEAMLESS TUBES OF ASTM
B983 FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE/PRESSURE
APPLICATIONS
The project was sanctioned in October 2020 and is being implemented by Indira Gandhi
Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam (Lead agency), Nuclear Fuel Complex
(NFC), Hyderabad and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), Hyderabad.
Objectives & Deliverables

1. To develop an India-specific composition for Ni-base super alloy conforming to ASTM
B983 (ASME Code Case: 2702).
2. Indigenous development and manufacturing of seamless tubes of Ni-base super
alloy conforming to ASTM 8983 (ASME Code Case: 2702).
3. Development of an optimal process sheet for the tube making process starting from
melting stage through the final tube-making heat treatment stage, followed by
demonstration of the process sheet by repeat manufacturing.
4. Deliverables
• India-specific alloy specification, conforming to the chemical composition range
provided in the ASME Code Case: 2702.
• Indian Boiler Regulation (IBR)-certified seamless tubes with dimensions of 52mm
OD x 9.6 mm wall thickness 7000mm (min.) length, amounting to a total of 100m.
Milestones
The experimental phase of the project has been completed which involved the
development of process sheet for the seamless tube making process starting
from melting stage through final tube making heat treatment stage.
This is a first-of-its-kind industrial effort to develop the India-specific

specification, which involved the optimization of the melting, homogenization
and billet forging processes. It was undertaken through collaboration between
IGCAR and MIDHANI.
Through industrial scale-experiments, the alloy, hereafter 'Indian advanced High

Temperature Alloy (IHTA)', was successfully produced at MIDHANI, Hyderabad, in
the form of ten billets. The billets were subsequently converted into tubes (IBR
certified) at NFC, Hyderabad.
83
Synergy Projects
The produced tubes were dispatched from NFC (to be sent to IGCAR) on 21st
November 2023 in a flagging off ceremony which took place at NFC Hyderabad
(Figure 38 and Figure 39).
The process sheet developed in the experimental phase will subsequently be

demonstrated through repeat manufacturing.
The project is expected to be completed by August 2024 with the production of

total 100m of tubes of Ni-base super alloy conforming to ASTM 8983 (ASME Code
Case: 2702) tubes.
Implementing Agencies
• Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam (Lead agency)
• Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad
• Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), Hyderabad
Figure 38: Flagging off ceremony held at NFC, Hyderabad on 21st November 2023 for
the first batch of indigenously manufactured tubes of Ni-base super alloy
conforming to ASTM 8983 (ASME Code Case: 2702) for High Temperature/Pressure
applications. The ceremony was attended virtually by the members of the Project
Review and Monitoring Committee chaired by Shri S. C. Chetal, Ex-Mission Director,
AUSC (Advanced Ultra Super Critical) Mission.
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Synergy Projects
Figure 39 From left: Dr. Divakar R., Outstanding Scientist and Director, Metallurgy
and Materials Group (MMG), IGCAR; Dr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, C&MD, MIDHANI and Dr.
Komal Kapoor, Chairman and Chief Executive, NFC releasing the Quality Documents
for the manufactured tubes during the flagging off ceremony.
85
Theme 14
Outreach
86
Outreach
Manthan
14. MANTHAN
14.1 OVERVIEW OF MANTHAN

Manthan is a digital platform for promoting collaboration between various stakeholders
and the scientific research and development ecosystem to help meet India’s national
targets and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sharing Industry or
philanthropic challenges or opportunities for partnerships on emerging technologies,
other scientific interventions, as well as those with a social impact. Manthan benefits a
wide-range of stakeholders, including industry, embassies/ other governments,
coalitions/consortiums, philanthropists, multilaterals, public sector units and co-
operatives, MSME Sector, Government—State and central line ministries, entrepreneurial
support organisations, research institutes, incubators and their startups, Startups and
SMEs S&T clusters, and Centres of Excellence (CoEs). A snapshot of the overview of
Manthan has been shared below (Figure 40):
Overview of Manthan
Total Number Number of Demand

of Side Stakeholder
Opportunities Engaged
387 286
Total Budget Number of

of Academic Institutes/
Opportunities Startups Supported
3062.76 Cr 350
Central Government Industries International
Total Number Number of Total Number Number of Total Number Number of

of Central Ministries of Industries of Industries
Opportunities Engaged Opportunities Engaged Opportunities Engaged
41 25 190 118 71 46
Total Budget Number of Proposals Total Budget Number of Academic Total Budget Number of Academic
of received from of Institutes/ Startups of Institutes/ Startups
Opportunities Institutes/ Startups Opportunities Supported Opportunities Supported
35.12 Cr 447 272.85 Cr 147 2417.64 Cr 30
87
Outreach
Manthan
Centre of Excellence Science Communication
Thematic Areas Number Total Budget – 30.11 Cr

1. Air Pollution of
2. Water Sanitisation & Hygiene
3. Affordable and Clean Energy CoEs
11
4. Water Management
5. Climate Change
6. Education
7. Artificial Intelligence
Total Number of Academic

Budget Institutes/ Startups
Supported
121.52 Cr 19
The platform also supported 1000+ scholarships, 224 R&D/early-Stage Innovations, 49 Market Ready Innovations, 36 In-
kind/Social Impact Projects and 31 Implementation projects creating a societal impact. It has supported research problem
statements shared by various stakeholders on issues of national importance aligning to SDGs and Emerging
Technologies.
Budget No. of
Top Partner Organisations Top SDGs Supported
(Cr) Challenges
LEGO Foundation 1017.00 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 68
XPRIZE Foundation 840.20 Good Health and Well Being 40
USAID 407.27 Affordable and Clean Energy 38
Reliance Foundation 128.00 Climate Action 33
Department of Science and Technology 90.00 Zero Hunger 27
Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet 82.45 Clean Water and Sanitation 23
U.P. Electronics Corporation Limited (UPLC) 50.00 Decent Work and Economic Growth 22
Caspian Debt 50.00 Quality Education 22
Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission 40.00 Responsible Consumption and Production 16
Rockefeller Foundation 30.00 Gender Equality 14
Top Emerging No. of No. of

Top Thematic Areas Supported
Technology Supported Challenges Challenges
AI, ML, NLP 12 Industry innovations 54
Future Telecommunication (5G and beyond) 13 Health 26
Quantum Technology, Addictive and Agricultural Technologies 22
11
Subtractive Manufacturing Energy Efficiency & Decarbonisation 21
Big Data, Cyber Physical Systems, Cyber STEM Education 17
8
Security, IoT WASH 16
Future Mobility, Electronics and Livelihood 11
7
Semiconductor Disease Management 10
Green Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, Diversity & Inclusion 10
10
Space Technology Green Cities Projects 10
Life Sciences, Medical Devices 4 Renewable Energy 9
Product Design, AR, VR 4
Figure 40: Overview of Manthan
88
Outreach
Manthan
Since April 2023, over Rs 360 crores worth of opportunities were posted on the platform
engaging more than 80 demand side stakeholders, supporting more than 160 startups
and academic institutes across India as shown in Figure 41. The platform also supported
over 600 scholarships, 44 R&D/early-Stage Innovations, 26 Market Ready Innovations, 16
In-kind/Social Impact Projects and 8 Implementation projects creating a societal impact.
Funded Opportunities
Total Total Startups & Academic
Segments provided on Manthan
Opportunities Institutes Supported
(in Crores)
International 25 216.90 29
Industries 60 134.05 109
Government 25 10.12 24
Total 110 361.07 162
Total Users – 34024; Demand Side - 2642; Supply Side – 31382
Figure 41: Opportunities in Manthan (Since April 2023 – September 2023)
The top opportunity providers are - Reliance Foundation, XPRIZE Foundation, Global
Energy Alliance for People and Planet, WRI India, HCL Foundation, European Union, Israel
Innovation Authority, Sequoia Climate Foundation, SIDBI Swavalamban Challenge Fund 3,
iHub AWaDH TIF IIT Ropar and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing,
Bangalore (Figure 42).
Central
Global Partners Industry Partners
Ministry
Figure 42: Opportunity Providers on Manthan Platform
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14.2 CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

The Office of PSA envisions the creation of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) as innovation and
research hubs for sustainable technologies. These CoEs will focus on transforming
sustainable technological theories into market-ready products and practical
implementations, thus cultivating new business models and promoting economic growth
that meets global environmental and societal goals.
The key pillars of a Centre of Excellence are (Figure 43): -
1 2
Technology screening from

National and Global Ecosystem
3 4
Figure 43: CoE Model and its Benefits
Key Highlights
Total no. of Centres of
10
Excellence established
Air Pollution, Water Sanitation & Hygiene, Affordable & Clean
Thematic Areas Energy, Waste Management, Climate Change, Education,
Artificial Intelligence
Total Budget 121.52 crore
No. Of Industry Donors 22
No. Of Technologies supported: 28
Academia & Startups Supported 24
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14.2.1 Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence - IIT Palakkad

GSCoE accelerates water and sanitation innovations, incubating 50 startups with 5
reaching INR 50 Cr p.a. sales, generating 10k jobs. Focus: sanitation, water efficiency, cost
reduction, and user-friendly tech.
Industry Partners: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, HDFC Bank, Eram Scientific, IAPMO,
Toilet Board Coalition, Keystone Foundation
Budget: ₹68.20 Cr
National Mission: Swachh Bharat Mission
Theme: Sustainability
Milestones
Seven WASH tech startups onboarded, four in process. Achievements include

innovative products like Nirgandh, EcoEnso, Munnarivan, IND Classic, SRMT,
Kakoos, Cresa, Suzhiyam, Hygienity Solutions, Biofilm Engineers, and Cosmovend
Automations.
Notable outcomes: 10,000L/day water saved, BOD reduced to 10 mg/L, coliforms

decreased from 300 to 7 MPN/L.
14.2.2 Global Centre of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy-IIT

Dhadwad
GCoE-ACE develops affordable, renewable energy solutions for underprivileged
communities. It promotes sustainable livelihoods, mentors local and global innovations,
and enhances on-grid appliance efficiency with a holistic approach.
Industry Partners: Honeywell, Infineon, Selco Foundation, Lowe’s

Budget: ₹12.05 Cr
National Mission: National Action Plan on Climate Change
Milestones
Three key GCoE-ACE initiatives:

• Modernizing Garag village with clean energy (Supported by Honeywell).
• Upskilling and Outreach Programs (Supported Lowe's India Pvt. Ltd).
• Tech Innovation Challenges (Supported Honeywell, SELCO).
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Achievements
• Solar power assistance to 12 families and key village locations.
• 17 funded innovations.
• 10 Upskilling programs and 20 TREES talk series sessions to build skills and
awareness, reaching 800 students (44% girls) from diverse backgrounds, including
SDGs and leadership topics.
• Project: Upskilling and Awareness Programs (Industry Partner: Lowe's)
14.2.3 Centre of Excellence on Advanced Pollution Monitoring

Technologies - IIT Kanpur
The ATMAN team has identified three key innovation and development verticals to
provide non-incremental scientific breakthroughs, cost effectiveness and direct
integration with state and central government policies and action plans. These three
research verticals (RV) in the CoE are - i) Next Gen Atma-Nirbhar PM sensors; ii) Use of Air
Quality sensors for Real-Time Source Attribution and iii) AI/ML for nation-wide AQ
monitoring networks.
Industry Partners: Bloomberg Philanthropy, Clean Air Fund, Open Philanthropy

Overall Budget: ₹29.60 Cr
National Mission: National Clean Air Programme
Project: Dynamic Hyper-local source apportionment for real-time policy action

Milestones
The project introduced a cost-effective Dynamic Hyper-local Source
Apportionment (DHSA) method for real-time source tracking using data from
various air quality sensors and machine learning. This scalable approach has
enabled cities like Lucknow and Kanpur to take data-driven actions towards air
quality management. By the project's conclusion, UP authorities were using
DHSA data for informed air quality planning.
Project: Ambient Air Quality Monitoring of Rural areas using Indigenous Technology
Milestones
A network of portable sensors has been deployed with 540 units across various
rural areas in Bihar and 826 in Uttar Pradesh to monitor environmental
parameters. Additionally, a real-time dashboard has been developed to enable
data visualization, facilitating immediate access to the insights gathered from
these sensors.
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14.2.4 Centre of Excellence on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (Wash) - IIT

Madras
NBCC (India) Limited, a Navaratna CPSE, funded the establishment of a 1018 sq. meter
laboratory at IIT Madras's Discovery campus, enhancing the institute's research
capabilities. This development is set to address the expanding infrastructural needs and
foster research with wide-reaching national and global impacts.
Industry Partners: NBCC

Budget: ₹2.50 Cr
National Mission: Swachh Bharat Mission
Project: Construction of Pre-Engineered Structure for lab space for Centre of

Excellence on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene at IIT Madras Thaiyyur campus.
Milestones
The final phase of Electrical/water /sewer connections, Commissioning is
ongoing. The centre got inaugurated at IIT Madras discovery Campus on
November 17, 2023.
14.2.5 Centre of Excellence on Air Pollution - IIT Delhi (Arun Duggal

Centre of Excellence for Research in Climate Change and Air Pollution)
CERCA, hosted at IIT Delhi, will serve as a think-tank and Action Centre, leveraging the
institute's research expertise and collaborating with government, academia, and industry
to devise sustainable clean air solutions for Delhi and beyond. It has established a system
to fund research proposals from IIT Delhi's faculty aimed at societal benefits and
informed policymaking.
Industry Partners: Clean Air Fund, World Bank, Aerogram

Budget: ₹3.75 Cr
National Mission: National Clean Air Programme
Milestones
The Air Quality Action Forum successfully held its Annual Conference for 2023
in a hybrid format over two days, on February 27-28, 2023. During this event,
experts conducted various on-ground studies which have contributed to
research-based recommendations that are crucial for the formulation of air
quality policies.
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Manthan
14.2.6 Centre of Excellence on Managing Organic Waste and Sludge:

Scaling up ‘Waste to Value’ Technologies – TERI
The Udaipur Municipal Corporation partnered with TERI to manage a two TPD biogas
plant, aiming for sustainable waste management and reduced landfill use. This initiative
supports the SDGs and NDCs by cutting GHG emissions and demands active participation
from ULBs and waste producers.
Industry Partners: ICICI Securities

Budget: ₹0.84 CR
National Mission: Waste-to-Wealth Mission
Theme: Circular Economy
Milestones
In Udaipur, Rajasthan, an innovative project converts approximately 600 kg of

daily organic waste and STP sludge from over 1,000 households into 40 m3 of
biogas, yielding about 100 units of electricity each day. This sustainable initiative
partially powers the local fire station. Following an impact assessment survey
around 1,200 households, the necessary arrangements for waste and sludge
supply have been established. The existing biogas plant, initially
re-commissioned using cattle dung, now co-digests this waste with STP sludge,
with ongoing optimizations of its operational parameters. The electricity
generated is supplied to the Madri Fire Station, showcasing a model for waste-
to-energy conversion.
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14.2.7 Centre of Excellence on Wastewater Management, AquaMap - IIT

Madras
The Aqua MAP Centre for Water Management and Policy at IIT Madras, initiated by the
Office of PSA, aims to improve water management nationwide, with a focus on arid and
rural regions. It is overseen by a board with IIT Madras's director and water sector
experts, collaborating with institutes like Sutram, ICCW, and PCoE on Water and
Sustainability. The centre is also setting up a hydro-informatics lab and fostering a model
for alumni and community engagement.
Industry Partners: IBM

Budget: ₹0.70 CR
National Mission: Waste-to-Wealth Mission
Milestones
AquaMap spearheaded the technical solutions and project coordination, while
CUBE executed the tasks efficiently in tandem. Gram Antara engaged with key
stakeholders on the ground, ensuring smooth implementation. The local
government scrutinized parts of the project report on water management,
contributing to the Mallur Gram Panchayat's funding under the Jal Jeevan
Mission. Additionally, AquaMap orchestrated the Deshpande Foundation's
donation of Earth Moving Equipment to the Panchayat for lake desilting efforts.
14.2.8 Centre of Excellence on STEM Education - Pune Cluster

The Centre of Excellence on STEM Education, prompted by climate concerns and digital
literacy needs highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, aims to align add-on STEM curricula
with India's NEP 2020. It plans to establish Cluster STEM labs, sustainability clubs, and
provide advanced pedagogical training for teachers, fostering hands-on learning and
industry collaboration to invigorate education with an entrepreneurial edge.
Industry Partners: BASF, Infosys, IITMAA

Budget: ₹2.55 CR
Theme: Education
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Milestones
Two teacher training workshops were conducted, benefiting 97 educators, while

the Gamification in Chemistry project saw the development of 32 educational
games, with a validation workshop engaging 240 students in schools.
Additionally, awareness sessions for the WEnyan scholarship were held across
14 colleges in Maharashtra, resulting in 459 applications for the program's
second round.
14.2.9 Centre of Excellence on Artificial Intelligence - NIT Patna

The Centre of Excellence at NIT Patna, a CSR initiative by the Telecom Sector Skill Council
and an IT firm, provides new-age tech training in AI/ML, IoT, 5G, and related skills to boost
employment. It aims to enhance practical skills and employability in advanced
technologies. Smt. Kavita Bhatia, Scientist 'G', is a nominated member of the CoE
Governing Body from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology,
Government of India.
Industry Partners: IT Firm

Budget: ₹1.00 Cr
National Mission: Artificial Intelligence (AI) mission
Theme: Education
Milestones
400 trainees were trained, 252 passed their assessments, and 138 secured jobs
in various roles such as Telecom Customer Care Executives, Handset Repair
Engineers, IoT specialists, Optical Fiber Technicians, and CCTV Installation
Technicians. These placements span across call Centres, relationship Centres,
and technical fields within the telecom industry.
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14.3 Science Communication

Showcasing Innovation and Research/Technology in Parliament
through Sansad TV
The objective is to highlight and promote the innovations and technological
advancements emerging from India. Sansad TV collaborated with Office of PSA for
showcasing the winners of challenges posted on Manthan where they recorded snippets
of these groundbreaking achievements to broadcast them during parliament session
breaks. These informative clips are also prominently displayed on LED screens in the
corridors of the Parliament and streamed live on their YouTube channel, ensuring that
the nation's leaders are consistently in the loop about India's progress in the fields of
research and technology.
The intent behind this initiative is to keep the Members of Parliament and Members of
Legislative Assemblies informed and updated about the latest Indian research,
development, and innovations, thereby incorporating these innovations in different states
and constituencies for wider societal impact.
In the first phase, one start-up funded by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Trestle Labs
which manufactures a device “Kibo XS” that enables people to listen, translate, and digitize
hard copies of printed and handwritten documents, in real time, was selected to be
showcased. Kibo XS uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to scan
printed content and make it available in various formats for the visually impaired, in
about 60 global languages. Launched in July 2019, the device is available across seven
countries; the mobile application empowers over 45,000 visually impaired individuals,
across 15 countries. Readers can access over 22 million pages of content; 40 million
minutes of reading time have been collectively spent on the app.
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Copyright by PSA Ofﬁce | 2023

About the Addendum to Anthology of Science and Technology Activities 7

Theme 1: Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council 8

1.1 National One Health Mission 9

1.2 National Deep Tech Startup Policy 11

1.3 Mission: Science & Technology for Sustainable Livelihood System 15

1.5 Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations 17

1.6 Innovation Challenge for Development of Machine-Aided Translation Systems 24

1.7 National Quantum Mission 25

Theme 2: Empowered Technology Group 26

Theme 3: City Science and Technology Clusters 28

Theme 4: Indian Science, Technology, and Engineering Facilities Map 35

Theme 5: Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System 38

Theme 6: Mega Science Vision 42

Theme 7: Rural Technology Action Group 44

8.1 Evaluation of Innovation Excellence Indicators of Public-Funded R&D Organisations 48

8.2 State Government R&D Budget 49

Theme 9: Science and Technology Capacity Building 51

Theme 10: Important Initiatives 54

10.1 One Nation One Subscription 55

10.2 Consultative Group on e-Mobility 56

11.1 G20-Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable 60

11.4 India-European Union Trade and Technology Council 74

Theme 12: Synergy Projects 78

12.1 Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Vehicle Propulsion Technologies for India 79

12.2 Hub for Livestock Disease Surveillance and Modelling in India 81

12.3 Indigenous Development and Manufacturing of Seamless Tubes 83

Theme 14: Outreach 86

PKC: Pune Knowledge Cluster

PM-STIAC: Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and

Innovation Advisory Council

PRMC: Project Review and Monitoring Committee

QIST: Quantum Information Science and Technology

QED-C: Quantum Economic Development Consortium

Quad CoE-QIS: Quad Centre of Excellence on

Quantum Information Sciences

R&D: Research and Development

RICH: Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad

RuTAG: Rural Technology Action Group

S&T: Science and Technology

SFC: Standing Finance Committee

SKA: Square Kilometre Array

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

TANs: Technology Advisory Notes

TCS: Tata Consultancy Services

TTC: Trade and Technology Council

The Anthology of Science and Technology Activities can be accessed here.

For more information, please scan the QR Code

Prime Minister’s Science,

1.1 NATIONAL ONE HEALTH MISSION

1. Convenings of the One Health Committees

2. Cabinet approval process of the National One Health Mission

3. Environmental surveillance workshop

1.2 NATIONAL DEEP TECH STARTUP POLICY (NDTSP)

Figure 2: NDTSP webpage on the Oﬃce of PSA website

During the public consultation timeframe, dedicated sessions were convened to

Figure 3: Consultation Session with CII chaired by - Ms Manmeet K Nanda, Joint

Figure 4: Consultation session at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and