India Invents featured in FeedSpot Top 90 Innovation Blogs (2026 Edition)

 Source-https://bloggers.feedspot.com/innovation_blogs/

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲: 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐫𝐚

 

https://www.tcs.com/content/dam/global-tcs/en/pdfs/what-we-do/services/Analytics-and-Insights/tcs-cii-ai-and-ip-report.pdf

 The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intellectual
Property (IP) represents one of the most profound shifts in the
modern technological and legal landscape. Since 2019, AI has
evolved from a niche research topic to a catalyst for
transformation across industries, fundamentally altering how
businesses innovate, compete, and protect their creations. This
report, jointly prepared by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and
the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), seeks to illuminate the multifaceted relationship between AI and IP within the context of the Indian industry, with a particular focus on the rapidly expanding role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs). 

 MSMEs face distinct IP challenges in AI and GenAI due to technical complexity, unclear IP ownership, and evolving legal standards. Issues include ambiguous ownership of models and outputs, uncertain patent and copyright eligibility, rapid tech
advancement making IP protection difficult, and data privacy concerns. Enforcement is tough and costly, especially with open-source and collaboration models blurring boundaries. Regulatory uncertainty adds to hesitation. MSMEs need clear
regulations, legal support, and practical IP strategies to safeguard innovation in this fast-changing field.

 AI patent filings in India surged significantly after 2018, with 83,059 patents filed between 2019 and 2025 as shown in Fig 3.1 compared to 3,931 from 2010 to 2018 as shown in Fig 3.2. • The top ten patent applicants were Samsung Electronic, Chandigarh University, Jain Deemed to be University, Qualcomm Inc, Galgotias University, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Lovely Professional University, Sanskriti University, Tata Consultancy Service Ltd, and Chandigarh Group of Colleges.
• Generative AI patents constitute 14.51% of recent filings, whereas AI Agent patents are still nascent with 498 applications. A steady increase has been observed in patent applications filed by domestic applicants, rising from 53% in 2019 to 82% in 2024.
• Currently, 13% of AI applications have been granted, with grant rates soaring from 0.7% in 2019 to 32% in 2024, signaling strong momentum in AI innovation and adoption.

Applications invited for Accredited Carbon Verification (ACV) Agencies

 

The Central Government has established the framework for Indian Carbon Market (ICM) through the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023.The clause (9) of the scheme states that Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Bureau) in its capacity as administrator shall publish the procedure including eligibility criteria for accreditation of any agency to function as an ACV agency.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is inviting applications from agencies interested in becoming Accredited Carbon Verification (ACV) Agencies for the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme of the Indian Carbon Market. The scheme defines two mechanism – Compliance and Offset Mechanism, where under the compliance mechanism of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) the verification of GHG emissions and GHG emissions intensity of the obligated entity during the compliance years is to be undertaken by an ACV agency as per the detailed procedure for compliance mechani m. 2.3. Where, under the offset mechanism, the validation and/or verification of the project activity by the non-obligated entity for registration of the projects and subsequent issuance of the carbon credit certificates is to be undertaken by an ACV agency as per the detailed procedure for offset mechanism.

Eligibility-An ACV agency shall have minimum one full time team lead/lead verifier (meeting the criteria in section 4.4) on the company’s pay rolls for each mechanism.  An ACV agency shall have minimum two full time team members as verifiers for each mechanism, they have applied for. The lead verifier must have the following certifications: a. Accredited Energy Auditor by the Bureau and b. Lead Verifier certification for ISO 14064 1/2/3 Competency Requirements: The lead verifier shall meet the competence requirements for verifiers (as per section 5.6 of this document) and shall have demonstrated competence to lead a verification team and carry out verification activities.The team members of the ACV agency shall have the following competencies: a) Ability to apply generic verification concepts (evidence gathering, risk management, auditing techniques, application of the level of assurance). b) Knowledge and experience of energy and GHG accounting and management techniques, GHG emission sources and associated technologies, development and auditing of GHG emission factors and calculation methodologies including energy / non-energy (process) GHG emissions where applicable, statistical uncertainty analysis of GHG emission calculations and technical expertise related to monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions. c) Knowledge of relevant rules, regulations and procedures including the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, Environment Protection Act, 1986 and Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023. d) Other business skills such as communication, analytical, statistical, and financial aspects. e) Collection of information through effective interviewing, listening, observing, and reviewing documents, records, and data. f) Knowledge on data, information, and system auditing techniques and methodologies. g) Risk assessment techniques and methodologies. h) Data and information sampling techniques and methodologies.

Link-https://beeindia.gov.in/application-form-accredited-carbon-verification-acv-agencies.php

Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet production- India attempts to catch up.

 

Neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) magnets have revolutionised the field of permanent magnets and become an indispensable component of modern technology. The strongest variety, “Sintered NdFeB magnets”, was developed by Japanese inventor and materials scientist Masato Sagawa. 

Before the 1980s, the preferred material for high-performance permanent magnets was an expensive combination of samarium and cobalt. Motivated by the lower cost of iron and its magnetic properties, Sagawa experimented with various elements to develop a new type of magnet. Using a sintering process that bonds the powdered components through a combination of heat and pressure, while keeping the fine microstructure, he eventually found the key by inserting boron into a neodymium and iron crystal lattice. This gave his magnets high coercivity, a resistance to demagnetisation, along with unparalleled strength. Nd-Fe-B magnets’ superior properties have led to their widespread adoption across industries, and they account for around 95% of all permanent magnets on the market today by value, with the sintered variety being the strongest among them. Sagawa developed an idea for Nd-Fe-B magnet in his spare time while working as a researcher at Fujitsu from 1972 to 1982. Recognising its potential, Sagawa resigned from his position, patented the magnet, and joined Sumitomo Metal Industries in 1982, where Nd-Fe-B magnet was commercialized. 

According to the different production processes, Neodymium Magnets can be divided into three types: sintered NdFeB magnets, bonded NdFeB magnets, and hot-pressed NdFeB magnets.Since the beginning of the 21st century, although the development of the sintered NdFeB industry in developed countries such as Japan, the United States, and Europe has slowed down, due to the extraordinary development of China's sintered NdFeB industry, the global rare earth permanent magnet industry has maintained a rapid growth trend. In 2017, China's output of sintered NdFeB finished products was 104,000 tons, an increase of 8.8% over the previous year; the global output was about 120,000 tons, and China accounted for 87% of the global share.

Mine to Magnet

AREPL aims to master the production process of "Mine to Magnet." The process can be understood in the following points:

Mining: This process is not done by AREPL, but raw materials are procured from IREL (Indian Rare Earths Limited). According to the Government of India, only selected companies have the license to mine these raw materials. IREL specialises in mining, separation and extraction of rare earths in the form of their oxides in a series of steps, ensuring a stable and high-quality supply of raw materials essential for start-up's production process.

Raw Material (Oxide or Fluoride Form) to NdPr Metal: The raw materials in the form of oxides are processed to extract NdPr (Neodymium-Praseodymium) metal through advanced techniques. This involves refining and purifying the raw materials to obtain high-purity NdPr metal, which is a crucial component for high-performance magnets. The process includes steps to ensure the removal of impurities and achieve the desired purity levels.

Metal to Alloy Powder (NdFeB Powders): The NdPr metal is then converted into NdFeB (Neodymium-Iron-Boron) alloy powder. This involves melting the NdPr metal along with iron and boron to form an alloy. The molten alloy is rapidly cooled to produce fine NdFeB powders. These powders are critical for producing magnets with high energy density and excellent magnetic properties. Advanced techniques like strip casting are used to produce uniform and high-quality alloy powders.

Alloy Powders to Magnet Blocks: The alloy powders are processed to form magnet blocks through a series of steps, including pressing and sintering. In the pressing stage, the alloy powders are compacted into the desired shape using presses. The compacted powders are then subjected to high-temperature sintering, which involves heating them in a controlled atmosphere to bond the particles together, resulting in dense and solid magnet blocks with superior magnetic properties.

Cutting Operations on Magnet Blocks for Manufacturing Sintered NdFeB Magnets:

The magnet blocks undergo precise cutting operations to manufacture sintered NdFeB magnets. This involves slicing, grinding and shaping the blocks into the required dimensions and geometries. Advanced machining techniques, such as wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) and precision grinding, are used to ensure the final magnets meet the stringent quality and performance standards required for high-tech applications.

Each stage involves various technologies and techniques to ensure efficiency and quality.

Though India produces Nd-Pr oxide required for the production of Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets, and the production facility for making magnets and the end-use market of windmills, EVs, etc., the intermediate supply chain of production of metal and alloy is absent. A tripartite agreement has been signed between IREL, BARC, and AREPL on 14th July 2021 for the development and production of Nd-Pr using Indian Rare Earth resources under incubation mode. 

Also read. https://www.energetica-india.net/articles/the-rare-earth-magnet-puzzle-from-disorder-to-direction

Notified of new biostimulants February 16, 2026.

 

Download the notification

Technology Diffusion in Agriculture

 Extract from WIPO report:

Precision agriculture technologies

PATs use sensors, satellite navigation, and data analytics to optimize farming operations. In general, there are three broad categories for PATs: (i) the data collection (sensors, satellite navigation), (ii) the data processing and/or analysis (yield monitoring, soil mapping), and (iii) the decision-making guidance (auto-steering tractors, variable-rate applications of fertilizers and pesticides). (23)

Farmers in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States lead in the adoption of PATs. (24)

The US pioneered PATs in the 1980s, with adoption accelerating once global positioning systems (GPS) became widely available after 1983. (25) Most of the technologies used were related to grid sampling, fertilizer mapping, and pH as well as yield measurement. Since the 2000s, American farmers have been adopting auto-guidance system and variable rate technologies (VRTs) to reduce the cost of managing their farms. (26)

However, the adoption of PATs remains gradual. Studies show that farmers typically adopt individual PAT components rather than a complete system. (27) This is partly due to the high upfront cost of purchasing PATs.

Less than one-third of US farmers use any PAT tools whatsoever and adoption occurs in modules rather than complete systems. (28) In Europe, for example, entry level PATs include automatic milking systems, digital field records and automatic steerage systems. (29)

In addition, the PATs predominantly adopted vary according to agricultural need. Water scarcity led to the adoption of micro-irrigation in India, for example, whereas farmers in the US and Australia focus more on adopting guidance systems for large-scale cropping.

digital technology diffusion

Extract from WIPO report. 

Digital technologies such as submarine cables, broadband networks, data-driven platforms and AI have become the backbone of modern economies. Yet, not all economies realize the promise of digital transformation. This chapter traces why connectivity and digital capabilities advance rapidly in some regions while others remain constrained by infrastructure gaps, affordability barriers, skills shortages, and regulatory hurdles. It shows that unlocking inclusive digital diffusion requires more than new technologies—it demands coordinated investments, balanced IP governance, and policies that ensure all countries and communities can participate in the opportunities of the digital age.

Many digital technologies are considered GPTs, (General Purpose Technologies) the internet being a classic example. The patent landscape for digital technologies is highly concentrated. Most DT patent applications come from five major jurisdictions; namely, China, the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the European Patent Office. Together, they account for most global filings. This concentration creates uneven diffusion patterns, as technology often follows the investment and licensing channels controlled by leading patent holders. At the same time, the growing market concentration of major digital platforms raises new policy challenges. A small number of global technology firms increasingly control key digital infrastructures, data resources and IP portfolios, shaping the direction and speed of diffusion. Ensuring dynamic competition therefore requires regulatory frameworks that prevent excessive market dominance, encourage interoperability and promote open innovation. Balancing the legitimate protection of IP rights with measures that safeguard competition and facilitate entry for smaller and local innovators remains a central policy priority for inclusive digital transformation.

What is R&D in AI

 

Talk of AI pervades the air in Delhi and all over media. As GOI has huge plans to pump R&D in private sector, there is need to understand R&D in AI.

FY2026 NITRD Program Component Areas (PCAs)

The FY2026 PCAs described on this page are those used by NITRD agencies in compiling the PCA budget information for the NITRD and NAIIO Supplement to the President’s FY2026 Budget.

• ACNS – Advanced Communication Networks and Systems
• AI – Artificial Intelligence
• CHuman – Computing-Enabled Human Interaction, Communication, and Augmentation
• CNPS – Computing-Enabled Networked Physical Systems
• CSP – Cyber Security and Privacy
• EdW – Education and Workforce
• ENIT – Electronics for Networking and Information Technology
• EHCS – Enabling R&D for High-Capability Computing Systems
• HCIA – High-Capability Computing Infrastructure and Applications
• IRAS – Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• LSDMA – Large-Scale Data Management and Analysis
• SPSQ – Software Productivity, Sustainability, and Quality

AI R&D will intersect with multiple PCAs. For example:

• R&D on general methods for machine vision would fall under AI, while R&D on robots, even if the robots employ machine vision, would fall under IRAS. Note that R&D on intelligent autonomous systems that exist only in cyberspace, with no physical embodiment, would be reported under AI.
• R&D on algorithms for computational linguistics would fall under AI, while R&D on the broad problem of human-machine interaction, even if it contains an element of natural language processing, would fall under CHuman.
• R&D on the cybersecurity challenges unique to AI, such as the ability to exploit flaws in an AI system’s goals would fall under AI, whereas AI supporting cybersecurity research would fall under CSP.
• R&D on special neuromorphic computing architectures or chips optimized for neural nets would fall under AI, whereas general research in neuromorphic computing would fall under EHCS.
• R&D that is primarily machine learning would fall under AI, while R&D on the larger data management and analysis ecosystem, even if it contains an element of machine learning, would fall under LSDMA.

Source-https://www.nitrd.gov/program-component-areas/nitrd-pcas-2026/#AI

Circular biorefineries for rural India: turning rice straw and bagasse into biofuels

 

India’s abundant rice straw and sugarcane bagasse remain underused and are often burned, worsening air pollution. This review examines how circular biorefineries can convert these lignocellulosic residues into biofuels, advancing energy security, rural incomes, and environmental goals. We interrogate the value chain, from feedstock aggregation and densification to conversion and deployment, comparing physico-chemical pretreatments (e.g., steam explosion and alkaline) with emerging green options and clarifying trade-offs among delignification, fermentable-sugar yield, and inhibitor formation. We evaluate biochemical (enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation) and thermochemical (gasification and pyrolysis) routes to a diversified product slate. Evidence favors decentralized, village-scale mini-biorefineries led by Farmer–Producer Organizations, contingent on affordable enzymes, robust microbial catalysts, supportive policy, innovative finance, and disciplined supply-chain governance, a pragmatic roadmap for India’s circular bioeconomy.

Paper-Yadav, Anurag, and Kusum Yadav. “Circular Biorefineries for Rural India: Turning Rice Straw and Bagasse into Biofuels.” Academia Green Energy, vol. 2, no. 4, Academia.edu Journals, 2025, doi:10.20935/AcadEnergy7949.

Hydrogen Industry Outlook 2026

 

• KAKINADA PROJECT WILL BE INDIA’S FIRST COMMERCIAL-SCALE GREEN AMMONIA & GREEN HYDROGEN FACILITY. AM Green has already secured a strong export-oriented offtake pipeline. This includes a binding offtake agreement with Uniper, Germany for upto 500 KTPA starting Q2 2028. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RWE for approximately 300 KTPA is already in place. Further, 100 KTPA for BASF, 100 KTPA for Keppel, and a host of other players are in the offing.
• PANIPAT GREEN HYDROGEN UNIT ON TRACK FOR DECEMBER 2027 COMPLETION.
• VOC PORT TARGETS 2029 FOR FIRST PHASE OF GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION.
• ELCOGEN AND THE CASE FOR SOLID OXIDE TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA’S HYDROGEN FUTURE.
• 2.4 KTPA GREEN HYDROGEN PLANT SET FOR Q2 FY 26-27 COMMISSIONING.
• GOPALPUR PROJECT FIRST PHASE ON TRACK FOR LATE 2028/EARLY 2029 COMMISSIONING.
• VIJAIPUR PLANT UTILIZES 10 MW PEM ELECTROLYSER TO PRODUCE 4.3 TPD OF HYDROGEN WITH 99.99% PURITY

Download report-https://www.indianchemicalnews.com/assets/img/H2IO-1.pdf

CII Industry–Academia Partnership Report December 2025

 

India stands at a pivotal moment in its journey toward
becoming a globally competitive, innovation-driven
economy. The country’s rapidly expanding STEM talent
base, rising research output and growing deep-tech
entrepreneurship reflect strong foundational momentum.
Yet, unlocking India’s full potential will require more than
incremental improvements—it demands coordinated
action, forward-looking reforms, and a deliberate shift toward a high-trust, high-productivity research and innovation ecosystem.

This report underscores the critical levers needed to accelerate that transition: strengthening institutional autonomy, unlocking flexible and diversified funding, and
embedding targeted incentives that reward quality, collaboration and translational impact. Equally essential are deeper industry–academia partnerships, globally
benchmarked governance models, and mission-driven research consortia that can mobilize talent and resources around national priorities. 

Report- https://cii-industryacademia.in/images/pdf/Final-CII-EYP-IAP-Report_2.12.25.pdf

 

Sample chapter -Top 100 Indian Innovations (2025)

Download Sample Chapter of Top 100 Indian Innovations (2025) 

Concept note on PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DESIGNS ACT, 2000

 Key proposals for amendment to the Act, which are to be fleshed out further, are presented in broad outline in this concept note for the purpose of consultation with stakeholders with a view to receive their inputs on the core concepts.

1. Virtual Designs Protection

Last few years have seen rapid advancements in technology transforming the way consumers interact with products and services. Graphical user interfaces (“GUIs”), icons, animated characters, and immersive virtual environments are nowadays a core part of consumer experience across sectors like technology, fintech, gaming, e-commerce, healthcare, and digital services. These visual elements embody significant aesthetic value. Stakeholders have also advocated the ideas of providing protection to GUIs and other virtual designs under Designs Act, in consultations with DPIIT.

To address this gap, it is proposed to clarify and modernise the definitions of “design” and “article” to expressly enable protection of virtual designs, independent of any physical carrier. The definition of “design” may be expanded by broadening the scope as well as meaning of “industrial process” and by expressly including animation, movement, and transition, thereby clarifying that design protection extends beyond static visual features to dynamic visual effects that are central to contemporary digital and screen-based designs.

In parallel, the definition of “article” may be revised to expressly cover items in physical or non-physical form, including GUIs, icons, graphic symbols, typefaces, augmented reality graphical user interfaces, and other virtual products provided under Locarno classification, clarifying that a design may subsist regardless of whether it is embodied in a tangible object or materialises in a purely digital or virtual environment. These amendments would help explicitly decoupling design protection from the requirement of physical embodiment, enabling protection for designs in virtual, augmented, and immersive digital environments. Corresponding amendments can be considered to be made to other provisions of the Design Act, including the infringement related provision, to give effect to protection of virtual designs.

Download- https://www.dpiit.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/01/791a71ebde47d93b67560f7394be2fec.pdf

note on micro data centres prepared by people+ai, EkStep Foundation

 India is on the path to becoming a global leader in AI, but realising this vision requires a robust and scalable infrastructure. A distributed network of micro data centres (MDCs), designed to handle critical CPU and GPU workloads while occupying significantly less space and demanding lower upfront investments, represents the future of accessible, scalable, and cost-effective AI infrastructure in India.

This paper delves into the key components and requirements for establishing micro data centres, drawing on our research to define their scope and functionality. We categorise a micro data centre as one with a capacity of 25-300 kW, typically occupying around 800 to 3000 square feet. These data centres are crucial for expanding AI capabilities to the edge, enabling sustainable development through the integration of renewable energy. The flexible CPU-GPU ratio allows MDCs to scale efficiently, providing resilient and self-sufficient compute power necessary for India's growing AI use cases.

Currently, India hosts fewer than 10 micro data centres. Although MDCs lack a standardised definition or size, they are emerging as a critical segment in the hosting infrastructure landscape. Existing MDCs in India serve both domestic and international clients, but there is a pressing need to expand beyond mega data centres to include more micro facilities. The paper explores their use cases in sectors such as healthcare, banking, financial services, insurance (BFSI), and large-scale government operations. The increasing demand at the edge, driven by population growth in Tier II and Tier III cities and the rise of engineering universities focused on deep learning, highlights the importance of these centres.

The paper also examines the capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) models associated with micro data centres. Our analysis suggests that building green MDCs can enhance cost-effectiveness, providing a compelling economic model. We predict that an investment of INR 60 crores in a MDC could yield a return of up to 3 times that of a larger data centre. Financing strategies and the potential impact on overall economic growth are also discussed.

Finally, we review the current policies in India that support the development and deployment of micro data centres. Major costs associated with software licenses and certifications (e.g., Uptime and TIA-942) need to be addressed through standardization and improved policy frameworks. Government initiatives, similar to the Udaan scheme, are necessary to foster the growth of smaller players in the MDC market.

This endeavour requires collaboration across various stakeholders, including compute users in both the private and public sectors, government ministries and states responsible for policy creation and enforcement, and investors. The concept of Open Cloud Compute suggests that if hundreds of smaller players can operate collectively like a large cloud provider, a network of micro players can function like a mega network, driving the next phase of AI infrastructure development in India.

Read the paper-https://docs.google.com/document/d/19dcYkBIV84u1JvCmxwy15nFzWEkx4KJ_3hwNyagvO-k/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0

https://youtu.be/-uqR8JA6GPk?si=BDyfpVwaivy0r28Z

Draft National Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Assessment Framework- India

 

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India invites inputs and comments from the public, research institutions, industry stakeholders, and academia on the draft "National Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Assessment Framework."

As India’s R&D ecosystem expands through initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), there is a critical need for a unified, transparent, and data-driven standard to measure technology maturity. Currently, various organizations use modified versions of TRL definitions, leading to inconsistencies in assessing research translation.

To address this, a comprehensive TRL Assessment Tool and Framework has been developed in consultation with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and a multidisciplinary team of experts from industry, academia, and research labs.

The TRA process needs to be integrated with the process of funded research between the funding organization and research institute. In absence of comprehensive information of the existing processes, we are recommending some generic guidelines which can be tuned based on the specific processes for a specific organization. Typically, when a project is funded, there is an initial TRL and the final desired TRL for the project which is documented along with the project proposal. Subsequently, the project goes through intermittent time based (e.g. quarterly, or half yearly) or toll gate based (T1, T2, etc.) reviews. Either way, the project plan is well documented in terms of requirements of progress within a specific period of time / specific tollgate. To be able to adhere to and accurately measure TRL progression, we propose that the TRL progression timeline should also be proposed at the time of project proposal and approved during fund approval along with project plan. There is no specific guideline on how long movement from TRLn to TRL(n+1) should take, as that depends on multiple factors like funding level, technology domain, project plan, etc. – however, the plan should be laid out and followed from then on. During the subsequent reviews, we propose that the TRL progression should be one of the review parameters, along with other technical and financial reviews.

Draft here:

 https://psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/default/files/publication/National%20Technology%20Readiness%20Assessment%20Framework_Final.pdf

Sea Cage farming India

 

Sea cage culture involves growing fishes in the sea while being enclosed in a net cage which allows free flow of water. It is a production system comprising of a floating frame of varying dimensions and shape, net materials and mooring system, to hold and culture a large number of fishes.

Advantages of Sea Cage Farming

• 
  Cage farming can be undertaken in open seas, sheltered bays or lagoons having suitable water quality and with prior permission from concerned government authorities. Thus, the vast unutilized areas in the sea can be brought under mariculture practices.
• Production per unit (m³) in cage culture is 50 times more than shore based systems.
• Recurring expenditure associated with development and maintenance of infrastructure are lower in cage farming compared to shore based farming practices.
• Stock monitoring is simple in cage farming, facilitating regular observation of behavior, feeding and growth that are critical in avoiding problems related to stress and disease outbreak.
• Harvesting is easy and can be planned as per the demand, offering better quality product at higher price.

Quality of fish seed is of vital importance for the success of grow-out culture in cages. Uniform size seeds appropriate for the mesh size of the fish net cage should be stocked to prevent their escape. This will also help in selecting the correct sized feed for fishes, avoid wastage of feed and reduce cannibalism. Seeds should be healthy, free from diseases and deformities.

The most vital issue for the expansion of the sea cage farming in India is the shortage of fish seeds. Presently seed of Cobia, Pompano, Seabass and Groupers are being produced in a few hatcheries in the country. Apart from these species, seeds of fishes like Mullets, Snappers, Milkfish, etc. collected from the wild can also be used for cage farming. To meet the growing demand from farmers, there is an urgent need to produce sufficient quantity of seed either through commercial hatchery production or by importing till we achieve self-sufficiency in seed production.

List of Marine Fish Hatcheries

• CMFRI, Mandapam, Tamil Nadu  - Cobia, Pompano
• CMFRI, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh - Grouper, Pompano
• RGCA (MPEDA), Pozhiyoor, Kerala - Seabass, Cobia, Pompano
• CIBA, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - Seabass  

 Document-https://en.vikaspedia.in/viewcontent/agriculture/fisheries/marine-fisheries/culture-fisheries/guidelines-for-sea-cage-farming-in-india#section4

Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) Progress report

 

The Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) was conceptualized in 2003-04 by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India and formally established in 2004. RuTAG functions as a demand-driven mechanism with a focus on identifying grass-root needs through field-level engagement, and on the development and dissemination of appropriate technologies that are locally relevant, affordable, and sustainable.

The Fine Madurkathi grass mat weaving sector faces persistent issues of low productivity, physical strain, and limited design flexibility due to manual weaving practices. To address these challenges, RuTAG IIT Madras is developing an Electronic Jacquard Handloom (EJH) - a semi-automated, ergonomically designed loom that enables digital pattern control and improved working posture to support traditional weavers, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth in the craft sector.

Manual planting of rhizomes such as ginger and turmeric is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to uneven spacing, affecting crop yield and overall productivity. RuTAG IIT Guwahati is developing a compact, low-cost rhizome planter suited for small and hilly farms of the northeastern region. Designed for power tiller or power weeder operation, the machine aims to improve planting uniformity, reduce drudgery, and increase mechanization among small and marginal farmers.

Pottery clusters in Rajasthan, particularly Poonchhari village near Bharatpur, rely on traditional manual methods for producing earthen tawas (griddles). Artisans shape and sun-dry the tawas before firing them using layers of mustard husk and dung cakes- a slow and physically demanding process. The Manual Press for Earthen Tawa Making, developed by RuTAG IIT Delhi, aims to assist these artisans by enabling uniform shaping, improving productivity, and enhancing the quality of the finished tawas.

Millets such as finger millet, foxtail millet, and barnyard millet are staple crops among small and marginal farmers in India, especially in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. However, traditional de-husking practices using hand tools like Okhli are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and yield inconsistent quality. To address these challenges, RuTAG IIT Roorkee has designed and developed a low-cost, compact multi-millet de-husking machine aimed at improving efficiency, reducing drudgery, and enhancing the livelihood of rural millet growers and processors.
The Solar Hydro Distiller (SHD) developed by RuTAG IIT Bombay is an innovative solar-thermal technology designed to convert perishable agricultural and floral waste into valuable natural products such as rose water and herbal hydrosols. 

From NAARM-The ColdEasy system is an affordable, energyefficient cold storage solution designed to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables in rural and semiurban areas. It converts any regular room into a cold room, ensuring better preservation, reduced wastage, and enhanced farmer income while consuming minimal power.

Report-https://psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/default/files/publication/RuTAG%20Annual%20Progress%20Report_2024-25.pdf

Niti Aayog report for "Transforming India into a Quantum-Powered Economy"

 

On Thursday Dec 4, Niti Aayog unveiled their roadmap report for "Transforming India into a Quantum-Powered Economy" as part of their Frontier Tech Hub initiative. The report identifies five ambitious 2035 endpoints for the 10 year roadmap for India:

• Incubating at least 10 globally competitive quantum startups, each surpassing USD 100 million in revenue,
• Capturing over 50% of the value in the global quantum software and services market by harnessing our software and engineering strength,
• Achieving meaningful, scaled deployment of quantum technologies—home-grown and global—in strategic sectors3 across India,
• Commanding critical positions in the global quantum supply chain for both hardware and software, creating strategic dependencies and value, and
• Becoming a source of foundational scientific breakthroughs, with world-class research.
• Report-https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-11/Roadmap_for_Transforming_India_into_a_Leading_Quantum_Powered_Economy.pdf

Key developments of breeding tools and techniques over time (EC Report)

 In order to develop new varieties which for example respond to changing biotic and abiotic pressures, or have a commercial value such as improved nutritious values or new colours, the tools breeders use developed over time: 

• Traditionally, breeding is based on the principle of crossing and selecting the naturally existing diversity of plants. Since the rediscovery of Mendel’s rules around 1900, breeders experimented with intentional crossing between selected parent plants to obtain desirable traits. If offspring had a highly beneficial trait, it was preserved and propagated for further breeding over generations. 

• Tissue culture is among the earliest techniques used for growing plant cells (Haberlandt 1902). Further developments led to the application of tissue culture to five broad areas, namely, cell behaviour, plant modification and improvement, pathogen-free plants angermplasm storage, clonal propagation, and product formation, starting in the mid-1960s.

• In the mid 20th century, the development of hybrid varieties led to dramatic increases in yield in maize, followed by a range of crops. A hybrid variety is comprised of a population originating from a cross and is directly used as the commercial variety to be cultivated. Hybrids present enhanced performance and uniformity compared to either parent. Due to their hybrid nature, their offspring will segregate and result in a heterogenous population that will not perform as well as the hybrid parents. 

• Internationally coordinated mutation breeding became popular in the 1960s, mainly radiation and the use of chemicals created genetic variation. It led to numerous new cultivated varieties of many species such as broccoli, nectarines, or rapeseed. 

• The discovery of molecular markers since the early 1980s enabled breeders to track traits at the genetic level without waiting for the plant to mature. This marker assisted selection (MAS) technique made selection faster, cheaper and more precise. 

• Genetic engineering tools were developed in the 1980s and 1990s. The decision in the U.S. to allow patents on genetically modified microorganisms (Chakrabarty vs Diamond 1980) and the patent on the rDNA technology (Stanford University and the University of California System) led to an uptake of genetic engineering. The available technique allows introducing transgenes into crops to obtain traits such as herbicide tolerance or insect resistance. Bt maize and Bt cotton, which are resistant to certain pests, are primary examples. In 1987, the U.S. start-up Calgene obtained a patent in the U.S. on a tomato with a trait for longer shelf life.

• The genomic sequencing of crop genomes provides understanding complex traits. The first full genome sequencing of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana in the year 2000, is hailed as the turning point for the modern plant breeding research. Since then, hundreds of plant species, including all major agronomically relevant crops (such as rice (2002/2005), maize (2009), soybean (2010), millet (2017), wheat (2018), and oat (2022)), root crops (potato (2011)), vegetables (chickpea (2013), brassica (2014), cassava (2016), pea (2019)), or fruits (papaya (2005), apple (2010), peach (2013)), have been sequenced.

• Since around 2010, CRISPR/Cas and other genome editing technologies allow breeders to target modifications without introducing foreign genes. In particular CRISPR/Cas9 has been in the focus and is a key patented technology with applications in plants since 2014. The system has been continuously developed since its discovery and a broader range of tools are available such as base editing or prime editing. These use different tools such as Cpf1 (now called Cas12a). 

• Speed breeding – combination of techniques used under controlled environments to accelerate the plant growth cycle while machine learning and genomic data analysis provides breeders with tools to optimise breeding decisions (precision breeding). Various companies – in particular in the U.S. - offer platforms to develop the envisaged plant as service providers (e.g. GreenVenus, Pairwise). 

• Integrated approaches for ‘next-generation plant breeding’ – increasingly breeders can use integrated pipelines (platforms) that offer convergence of multiple advanced methods to optimise the development of improved plant varieties. Genomic selection, speed breeding, genome editing and pangenomics, high-throughput phenotyping are combined with machine learning and the integration of -omics – to name currently available tools. • Other tools including high-throughput phenotyping and genotyping expanded the array of tools and enabled the rapid analysis of large numbers of plants and their genomes.

(https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/circabc-ewpp/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/e374dbb4-9cf9-4799-8d18-98a459a08c34/download)

European Commission publishes study on IP and agricultural biotechnology

 

European Commission published its "NGT patent study" . In 2023, the Commission requested an evidence-based analysis of how patents related to new genomic techniques (NGTs) affect innovation in plant breeding, as well as breeders' access to genetic material and availability of seeds to farmers. 

This study examines how the current intellectual property (IP) framework affects breeders, farmers, and plant biotechnology actors, with a particular focus on the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in developing new plants. The analysis combines legal, economic, and market perspectives using a multi-method approach, allowing the study to offer both quantitative indicators and qualitative insights reflecting stakeholders’ practical experiences. The report emphasises the interplay between IP rules and market realities, and highlights how this interaction shapes opportunities and constraints in the sector. The European plant breeding sector is technologically sophisticated yet structurally diverse, with many SMEs operating alongside a small number of large international firms. Breeding is highly research-intensive. The study identifies potential legal and economic impacts arising from patents on NGT plants. The increasing complexity of the patent landscape may pose challenges for smaller breeders to access plant genetic material in terms of licensing costs and freedom-to-operate constraints. The study highlights multiple opportunities to strengthen transparency, support SMEs, and facilitate licensing. Overall, the study concludes that a balanced, coherent, and transparent IP system remains essential for ensuring that the benefits of NGTs are realised across Europe’s plant breeding and farming sectors while maintaining diversity, competition, and long-term resilience.

Report-https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/circabc-ewpp/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/e374dbb4-9cf9-4799-8d18-98a459a08c34/download

ipkat analysis-https://groups.google.com/g/ipkat_readers/c/KFTacG976GE/m/ZSAbQ0urCQAJ?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer