Current Affairs for 25 September 2026

Commercial Launch of PLA-Based Biodegradable Plastic under BioE3

Why in News?

• The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology launched the commercial use of bio-based biodegradable plastic based on Polylactic Acid (PLA) under BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment). 
• The initiative is an important step towards promoting bio-based materials, sustainable manufacturing, and the bioeconomy in India. 
• The project is being advanced by Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML). For this, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has provided a grant of ₹75 crore. 

What is the BioE3 Initiative?

• BioE3 stands for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment. 
• Its objective is to move biotechnology beyond laboratory research and connect it with industry, sustainable manufacturing, employment, and economic growth. 
• The initiative focuses on promoting biomanufacturing in India, developing innovative bio-based products, and accelerating the transition from research to commercial production. 

What is Polylactic Acid (PLA)-Based Biodegradable Plastic?

• Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a bio-based polymer that can be produced by processing sugars obtained from renewable biological resources. 
• The project focuses on converting sugars obtained from agricultural resources such as sugarcane into sustainable materials. 
• PLA can be used to manufacture various types of bio-based plastics and high-value products. 

Key Features of the Project

• Under the project, a 100-tonnes-per-year (TPA) pilot-scale research and development facility will be established at the integrated manufacturing complex of Balrampur Chini Mills in Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh. 
• The facility will focus on: 
  • Developing specialized PLA grades. 
  • Developing advanced PLA co-polymers. 
  • Generating data related to technical and economic feasibility. 
  • Developing practical knowledge of production processes. 
  • Testing products and conducting customer validation. 
  • Promoting the development of indigenous technology. 
  • Preparing the technology for large-scale commercial production. 
  • Strengthening collaboration among industry, academic institutions, and research institutions. 

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

• BIRAC, which functions under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), is providing a ₹75 crore grant for the project. 
• The financial support will help in the research, development, and scale-up of PLA and co-polymer technologies at the pilot level. 
• The objective is to prepare technologies developed in laboratories for industrial and commercial applications. 

The ‘Waste to Wealth’ Concept

• Different regions of India have access to diverse types of biological resources and waste. 
• Biotechnology can be used to convert these resources into useful and value-added products. 
• This can contribute to: 
  • Better utilization of agricultural and biological waste. 
  • Development of new industries. 
  • Employment generation. 
  • Regional economic development. 
  • Environmental sustainability. 

From Sugarcane to Plastic: A New Value Chain

• A key feature of this initiative is the conversion of agricultural resources into non-food and high-value products. 
• Instead of limiting sugar obtained from sugarcane to food or conventional industrial applications, it can be used to produce lactic acid and subsequently PLA-based biopolymers. 
• This can create a new value chain connecting agriculture with the biomanufacturing industry. 

Importance for India’s Bioeconomy

• India’s bioeconomy has grown from around US$10 billion in 2014 to around US$195 billion. 
• Initiatives such as the PLA project aim to take this growth to the next stage by connecting India’s research and scientific capabilities with commercial products and large-scale manufacturing. 

Significance for India

1. Promoting Sustainable Manufacturing: The development of bio-based materials can help expand alternatives to conventional fossil-based materials.
2. Development of Indigenous Technology: The project will promote the indigenous development of PLA and advanced biopolymer technologies in India.
3. Employment Opportunities:  Pilot facilities, research, production, and skill development can generate new employment opportunities.
4. Linkage between Agriculture and Industry: Converting agricultural resources such as sugarcane into high-value bio-based products can strengthen the linkage between the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
5. Expansion of the Bioeconomy: The initiative can contribute to strengthening India’s biomanufacturing capabilities and developing new bio-based value chains.
6. Link with ‘Vocal for Local and Global’: The initiative aims to develop indigenous technologies and production capabilities that can serve both domestic and global markets.

Way Forward

• India needs to strengthen the entire research-to-commercialization pipeline to promote bio-based manufacturing. 
• This requires greater focus on pilot plants, technology validation, skilled human resources, industry-academia collaboration, and large-scale production capabilities. 
• The PLA project demonstrates how biotechnology + agricultural resources + industry + research can be integrated to develop sustainable materials and create new economic value chains. 

FAQs

DRDO Partners with Zero mK India to Develop Indigenous Dilution Refrigerator

Why in News?

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement with a start-up, partnering with Zero mK India Private Limited to develop an indigenous dilution refrigerator for quantum applications.
• The agreement has been signed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) and marks the first project supported by the ₹500-crore corpus approved for deep-tech and cutting-edge technologies.

What is the Project?

• Under the agreement, DRDO and Zero mK India will jointly develop a 20 millikelvin (mK)-class dilution refrigerator.
• A dilution refrigerator is a specialised cryogenic system used to achieve extremely low temperatures in the millikelvin range.
• Such ultra-low temperatures are essential for the operation and testing of:
  • Quantum computers 
  • Quantum processors 
  • Quantum sensors 
  • Other advanced quantum technologies 

The project will help develop indigenous expertise in advanced cryogenics and quantum technology.

What is a Dilution Refrigerator?

• A dilution refrigerator is a cooling system designed to reach temperatures extremely close to absolute zero.
• It uses the properties of helium-3 and helium-4 to achieve very low temperatures.
• These systems are particularly important for quantum computing because many quantum devices require an ultra-cold environment to operate reliably.

Significance of the Project

1. Strengthening Quantum Technology

The project will support India's efforts to develop indigenous capabilities in quantum computing and related technologies.

2. Reducing Import Dependence

Developing the system domestically can reduce India's dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure and equipment.

3. Supporting Advanced Cryogenics

The project will strengthen India's capabilities in specialised cryogenic technologies required for quantum research.

4. Promoting Deep-Tech Start-ups

The agreement creates an opportunity for Indian start-ups to work with DRDO on cutting-edge strategic technologies.

5. Supporting Strategic Technologies

Quantum technologies have potential applications in areas such as defence, communication, sensing, computing and cybersecurity.

Link with National Quantum Mission

• The project is aligned with India's National Quantum Mission (NQM), which aims to develop a strong ecosystem for quantum science and technology.
• The indigenous dilution refrigerator can contribute to the development of the infrastructure required for India's growing quantum technology ecosystem.

Role of Technology Development Fund

• The Technology Development Fund (TDF) is a DRDO initiative that supports Indian industries, particularly MSMEs and start-ups, in developing defence technologies and products.
• The new deep-tech funding support is aimed at encouraging the development of emerging and cutting-edge technologies within India.

DRDO–Industry Collaboration

• The project will be monitored and mentored by the Director of DRDO's Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) and his team.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the collaboration and said that such projects could create a model for future partnerships between DRDO and industry in emerging technology areas.
• DRDO Chairman and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams involved in the project.

Conclusion

The DRDO–Zero mK India partnership marks an important step towards developing indigenous cryogenic infrastructure for quantum technologies. It can strengthen India's technological capabilities, reduce import dependence and encourage greater industry participation in deep-tech innovation.

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Kalpasar Project: India-Netherlands Cooperation for Climate-Resilient Water Management

Why in News?

• India and the Netherlands signed two tripartite Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on 24 September 2026 for technical cooperation and capacity building related to the Kalpasar Project in Gujarat.
• The agreements were signed between the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Kalpasar Department of the Government of Gujarat, and Dutch knowledge institutions Deltares and TU Delft.

What is the Kalpasar Project?

• The Kalpasar Project is a proposed large-scale water-resource and coastal infrastructure project in Gujarat.
• It envisages the creation of a freshwater reservoir by utilising runoff from the Sabarmati, Mahi and Dhadhar rivers, supplemented by water conveyed from the Narmada River.
• The project is linked to Gujarat's efforts to strengthen long-term water availability and improve integrated water-resource management.

What is the India-Netherlands Cooperation?

The latest MoUs aim to bring Dutch technical expertise into the planning, design and implementation of the Kalpasar Project.

The cooperation with Deltares will cover:

• Technical review
• Hydraulic and hydrological modelling
• Coastal and structural engineering
• Climate resilience
• Capacity building
• Knowledge transfer
• Digital applications

TU Delft will contribute to technical knowledge and capacity-building activities.

Why is Dutch Expertise Important?

• The Netherlands has extensive experience in flood protection, coastal engineering and water management because of its geographical vulnerability to flooding and its long history of managing water.
• During an Indian delegation's visit to the Netherlands in July 2026, officials studied Dutch experience in flood protection, coastal infrastructure, hydraulic modelling, sluice and pumping systems, dyke technologies and ecological solutions.
• The Netherlands' Afsluitdijk is particularly relevant as an example of large-scale water and coastal engineering.

Significance of the Kalpasar Project

• Water Security: The project seeks to improve the availability and management of freshwater resources in Gujarat, particularly by integrating multiple river-water sources.
• Integrated Water Management: Kalpasar represents an approach in which river flows, freshwater storage, coastal processes and infrastructure are considered together rather than treating them as isolated water-management issues.
• Climate Resilience: Hydraulic and hydrological modelling can help assess the impacts of changing rainfall patterns, floods, sea-level rise and other climate-related risks.
• International Technical Cooperation: The India-Netherlands partnership demonstrates the role of international knowledge-sharing in developing technically complex water and coastal infrastructure.
• Infrastructure and Regional Development: Improved water availability can have implications for agriculture, industrial activity and broader regional development, subject to the project's environmental and technical feasibility.

Challenges

1. Complex Coastal Dynamics

The Gulf of Khambhat has strong tidal currents and complex coastal processes. Any major intervention requires detailed modelling of tidal behaviour, sediment movement and hydrological changes.

2. Ecological Concerns

Large coastal infrastructure may affect marine ecosystems, fisheries, estuarine habitats and local livelihoods. Comprehensive environmental assessment is therefore essential.

3. Sedimentation

The rivers feeding the proposed system carry sediments that could affect reservoir capacity and the long-term functioning of associated infrastructure.

4. Climate Change

Changes in precipitation, extreme rainfall, sea-level rise and coastal hazards may influence the project's long-term performance.

5. Technical and Financial Complexity

A project of this scale requires advanced engineering, substantial investment, long-term maintenance and continuous monitoring.

Way Forward

The Kalpasar Project should be supported by evidence-based planning, advanced modelling and comprehensive environmental assessment.

Priority areas should include:

• Detailed hydraulic and hydrological modelling
• Long-term sedimentation studies
• Climate-risk assessment
• Coastal ecosystem assessment
• Nature-based solutions
• Modern pumping and sluice technologies
• Digital monitoring systems
• Stakeholder consultation with coastal communities and fishing groups

The India-Netherlands partnership can strengthen the project's technical foundation while ensuring that water-security objectives remain aligned with environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

India International Water Week 2026

• The MoUs were signed during the 9th India International Water Week 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 22 to 26 September 2026.
• The theme of the 2026 edition is “Climate Resilient Water Management.”
• The event focuses on water security, climate change, technology, water governance and international cooperation.

Conclusion

The India-Netherlands cooperation on the Kalpasar Project combines India's water-security requirements with Dutch expertise in coastal and water engineering. Its long-term relevance will depend on scientific assessment, environmental safeguards, climate resilience and technically sound implementation.

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12 Years of Make in India: India’s Journey Towards a Global Manufacturing Hub

Why in News?

• The Make in India initiative completed 12 years on September 25, 2026. Launched in 2014, the initiative aimed to make India a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation.
• Over the past 12 years, India’s manufacturing capabilities have expanded across electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, steel, railways and defence. The focus has also shifted towards developing domestic capabilities in components, machinery, strategic materials and advanced technologies.

What is Make in India?

• Make in India was launched on September 25, 2014, to promote manufacturing, attract investment, encourage innovation and develop world-class infrastructure in India.
• The initiative was guided by the principle of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and focused on simplifying government processes and improving the business environment.
• It was later expanded under Make in India 2.0, which currently covers 27 sectors:
  • 15 manufacturing sectors
  • 12 services sectors
• The broader objective is to increase domestic manufacturing, create employment, strengthen supply chains and improve India’s competitiveness in global markets.

India’s Manufacturing Growth

• India’s manufacturing sector has recorded significant growth in recent years.
• Manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) at constant prices recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.88% between 2022-23 and 2025-26 under the revised national accounts series.
• The manufacturing component of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) also increased by 7% during April-July 2026 compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
• This growth has been supported by rising production in several key industries.

Electronics and Mobile Manufacturing

• Electronics has emerged as one of the major areas of India's manufacturing expansion.
• Electronics production increased from around ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014-15 to around ₹13.11 lakh crore in 2025-26, an increase of nearly seven times.
• Mobile phone production increased from around ₹18,000 crore to ₹6.27 lakh crore during the same period, representing an approximately 33-fold increase.
• India is now the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer by volume.
• Overall electronics production grew by 15.8% in 2025-26 compared with the previous year.

Automobile Manufacturing

• India’s automobile industry has also expanded significantly.
• Vehicle production reached 31.03 million units in 2024-25, around 33% higher than in 2014-15.
• Compared with 2020-21, production in 2024-25 increased by:
  • 65% in passenger vehicles
  • 65% in commercial vehicles
  • 71% in three-wheelers
  • 30% in two-wheelers
• The growth reflects the expansion of both domestic demand and India's manufacturing capabilities.

Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing

• India is the third-largest pharmaceutical producer in the world by volume and 11th-largest by value.
• The pharmaceutical industry's annual turnover reached ₹4,71,898 crore in 2024-25, recording a CAGR of around 9.5% since 2020-21.
• Domestic medical device manufacturing also increased from around ₹28,000 crore in 2019-20 to ₹41,500 crore in 2024-25, an increase of about 48.2%.
• India is also developing capabilities in advanced medicines, biosimilars, antibiotics and innovative drug development.

Growth in Steel Production

• India's steel sector has witnessed a major increase in production.
• Crude steel production increased from 81.7 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 170 million tonnes in 2025-26.
• The expansion of steel production has strengthened India's industrial base and supported sectors such as automobiles, construction, infrastructure and engineering.

Railways and Defence Manufacturing

Railways

• Indian Railways has expanded its domestic manufacturing capacity for coaches, locomotives, wheels and axles.
• Between 2014 and 2024, Indian Railways manufactured 54,809 coaches. Average annual coach production increased from fewer than 3,300 during 2004-14 to 5,481 during 2014-24.
• In 2025-26, it produced:
  • 1,674 locomotives
  • 6,677 Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches
• The Rail Wheel Factory also produced 2,10,026 wheels, 1,22,000 axles and 1,20,100 wheelsets in 2025-26.

Defence

• Indigenous defence production has increased substantially.
• Defence production rose from ₹46,429 crore in 2014-15 to a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26.
• This represents an increase of around 283% compared with 2014-15.
• The expansion reflects efforts to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports.

From Final Products to Domestic Components

• A major change in India's manufacturing landscape is the growing focus on producing not only final products but also components, machinery, materials and critical technologies within the country.
• This is important because a strong manufacturing ecosystem requires domestic capabilities across the entire value chain.

Rare-Earth Permanent Magnets

• A pilot plant for Nd-Fe-B (Neodymium-Iron-Boron) rare-earth permanent magnets was established at ARCI, Hyderabad, in March 2026.
• These magnets are important for:
  • Electric vehicles
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Electronics
  • Advanced manufacturing
• The facility is expected to support technology validation, process optimisation, industry collaboration and the scaling up of domestic technologies.

Indigenous Space Technology

• ISRO and SCL have developed the VIKRAM3201 and KALPANA3201 microprocessors.
• VIKRAM3201 is the first fully Make-in-India microprocessor qualified for the harsh conditions of launch vehicles and was fabricated at SCL.
• KALPANA3201 was designed using open-source software tools and has also been tested with flight software.

Solar Manufacturing

• India's solar manufacturing capacity has expanded rapidly.
• Solar module manufacturing capacity increased from 2.3 GW in 2014 to 192 GW as of June 2026.
• Solar-cell manufacturing capacity increased from 1.2 GW to around 30 GW during the same period.

Expansion of Capital Goods and Machinery

• Make in India has also strengthened India's capacity to manufacture industrial machinery and capital goods.
• Production across various capital goods and heavy engineering equipment increased from ₹2,87,233 crore in 2019-20 to ₹5,69,900 crore in 2024-25.
• Major increases were recorded in:
  • Earthmoving and mining machinery
  • Printing machinery
  • Machine tools
  • Plastic-processing machinery
  • Heavy electrical equipment
  • Food-processing machinery
  • Textile machinery
  • Dies, moulds and press tools
  • Process plant equipment
• This expansion is important because domestic machinery production can reduce dependence on imported industrial equipment and strengthen manufacturing value chains.

Reforms and Investment under Make in India

Make in India has been supported by reforms aimed at improving the investment environment and simplifying business processes.

Foreign Direct Investment

• India permits 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through the automatic route in most sectors, subject to sector-specific rules and restrictions.
• Cumulative FDI reached around USD 843 billion between 2014-15 and 2025-26, representing a significant increase over the preceding 12-year period.

National Single Window System

• The National Single Window System (NSWS) provides businesses access to more than:
  • 327 Central approvals
  • 3,452 State approvals
  • Across 34 States and Union Territories
• As of September 21, 2026, the system had onboarded more than 5.69 lakh business entities.

India Industrial Land Bank

• The India Industrial Land Bank is a GIS-enabled platform that provides information on industrial land and infrastructure.
• As of May 2026, it had mapped 4,220 industrial parks covering around 6.98 lakh hectares.

PM GatiShakti

• The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, launched in October 2021, aims to improve coordinated infrastructure planning and execution.
• As of August 11, 2026, its Network Planning Group had evaluated 396 projects worth around ₹18.66 lakh crore.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme is one of the major policy instruments used to strengthen domestic manufacturing.

PLI schemes currently cover 14 sectors, including:

• Electronics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Automobiles
• Solar photovoltaic modules
• Specialty steel
• Textiles

As of June 2026, PLI schemes had:

• Attracted ₹2.40 lakh crore in investment
• Generated more than ₹22.66 lakh crore in production and sales
• Supported exports worth over ₹15.20 lakh crore
• Created more than 14 lakh jobs

Startup India and Manufacturing Innovation

• The Startup India initiative, launched in January 2016, aims to promote innovation, support startups and encourage investment.
• As of September 2026, around 2.54 lakh entities had been recognised as startups under the initiative.
• Startups can contribute to manufacturing through new technologies, product development, research and innovation.

New Initiatives to Strengthen Manufacturing

India has introduced several new measures to deepen manufacturing capabilities in strategic and emerging sectors.

Specialty Steel

The third round of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Specialty Steel, launched in November 2025, covers advanced categories such as:

• Super alloys
• CRGO steel
• Stainless steel products
• Titanium alloys
• Coated steels

Rare-Earth Permanent Magnets

• The Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets, notified in December 2025, has an allocation of ₹7,280 crore.
• It aims to establish 6,000 MTPA of integrated manufacturing capacity for sintered NdFeB-type rare-earth permanent magnets.

BHAVYA

• The Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) was approved in March 2026 with an allocation of ₹33,660 crore.
• It aims to develop 100 investment-ready industrial parks with integrated infrastructure.

Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme

• The Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme, approved in July 2026, has an allocation of ₹62,500 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
• Its objectives include increasing mobile phone production, improving domestic value addition, strengthening supply chains and enhancing global competitiveness.

Semicon 2.0

• Semicon 2.0, approved in July 2026, has an allocation of ₹1,27,500 crore.
• It aims to strengthen India's semiconductor ecosystem across:
  • Semiconductor design
  • Manufacturing
  • Advanced packaging
  • Materials
  • Equipment
  • Research
  • Talent development

BHAVYA Rasayan

• The Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan (BHAVYA Rasayan) was approved on July 24, 2026, with an allocation of ₹3,030 crore.
• It aims to establish three dedicated chemical parks in India.

Significance of Make in India

• The Make in India initiative has contributed to the expansion of India's manufacturing ecosystem in several areas.
• First, it has strengthened domestic production across sectors such as electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, steel, defence and railways.
• Second, it has encouraged domestic value addition by promoting the production of components, machinery and critical materials within India.
• Third, it has supported investment and infrastructure development through measures such as PLI, PM GatiShakti, the National Single Window System and industrial parks.
• Fourth, it has helped develop strategic capabilities in areas such as semiconductors, rare-earth materials, defence technology, space technology and renewable energy.
• Finally, it aims to improve India's position in global manufacturing and supply chains.

Challenges Ahead

Despite significant progress, India needs to address several issues to further strengthen its manufacturing sector.

• Increasing domestic value addition in manufacturing supply chains
• Improving research and development capabilities
• Developing a highly skilled industrial workforce
• Strengthening logistics and infrastructure
• Improving the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises
• Ensuring reliable access to critical minerals and strategic materials
• Increasing India's participation in global value chains
• Promoting advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies

Way Forward

• India's next phase of manufacturing growth will require a shift from simply increasing production to building competitive, technology-intensive and globally integrated manufacturing ecosystems.
• Greater focus on research and development, skill development, domestic component manufacturing, advanced technologies, logistics, critical minerals and sustainable production can help strengthen India's manufacturing base.
• The integration of initiatives such as Make in India, PLI, PM GatiShakti, Semicon 2.0 and industrial development programmes can further support India's manufacturing ambitions.

Conclusion

After 12 years, Make in India has expanded beyond increasing production to strengthening domestic value addition, technology, skills and industrial capabilities. The next focus should be on innovation, competitiveness and deeper integration with global value chains.

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