The Jiyo Parsi Scheme, initiated in 2013-14 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, is a first-of-its-kind Central Sector scheme to stem the falling Parsi population in India. Taking cognizance of the demographical woes of the community, the scheme follows a scientific intervention and systematic measures for stabilizing and incrementally increasing their numbers.
Policy Update Bhavana Girase Background Agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy and also the primary source of livelihood. It falls under the primary sector and supplies raw material to various other sectors. Therefore, the growth and modernisation of this…
India is emerging as a global center for its vast digital user base and government initiatives, free and open source software (FOSS) innovation. India's digital ecosystem is well deployed to use open-source technologies, with more than 96% of the 4G users accessing the Internet through open-source platforms such as Android. Recognizing this capacity, the Government of India (GOI) has actively promoted the adoption of open-source since 2015, notably through Openforge, an official platform for collaborative development of e-governance applications.
India-Saudi Arabia share a history of deep economic, cultural and strategic ties. In recent decades, these have been strengthened by high-level exchanges and bilateral agreements. Both countries are committed to a relationship that leverages their respective strengths. The Delhi Declaration in 2006 and the Riyadh Declaration in 2010 were two initiatives that built a foundation for cooperation, especially in energy. Since then, the relationship expanded significantly through visits by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, which eventually led to the formation of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in 2019.
India is steadily moving towards self-reliance and technological independence, especially under programs like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. These initiatives aim to reduce reliance on imports across various sectors, including sustainable energy. An essential part of this shift is gaining the ability to access and process critical minerals. Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are crucial in making high-performance components like Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs). These magnets are widely used in wind turbines, electric cars, electronics and defense applications.
India is emerging as a global leader in biotechnology, with its biotech sector valued at USD 165.7 billion in 2024 and projected to reach USD 300 billion by 2030. Recognising the sector's vast potential to address global challenges, the Government of India launched BioRRAP (Biological Research Regulatory Approval Portal) in 2022, an online platform developed and maintained by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
India began its journey with High-Performance Computing (HPC) several decades back, but it was not a smooth beginning. Supercomputers and HPC systems were categorized as strategic and dual-use technologies by many developed nations, which limited the access of supercomputers to India. The first attempt to indigenously create supercomputing systems for research and development was the development of PARAM 8000, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).