Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project
PM laid the foundation of the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP).
- Location: Banswara, Rajasthan near the Mahi Dam on River Mahi.
- Capacity: 4 x 700 MWe PHWR (4 nuclear power units of Indigenous PHWRs (Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors)).
- It will be developed by Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam (ASHVINI), a joint venture between Nuclear Power Corporation India Limited (NPCIL) and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).
- The project is part of India’s “fleet mode” initiative.
- Under this Initiative, ten identical 700 MW reactors are being built across India under uniform design and procurement plans.
Nuclear Power Capacity in India
- India currently has 24 reactors across 7 power plants with installed nuclear energy capacity of 8180 MW (January 30, 2025).
- The government plans to increase this to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.
- Nuclear power accounts for 3.61% of India’s total electricity generation in 2022-23, making it fifth-largest Non-fossil fuel source of electricity.
- India is currently in the 1st stage of its three-stage Nuclear Power Programme (NPP).
- The 1st Stage is based on uranium fuelled PHWRs.
- The 2nd Stage and 3rd stage are based on Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) utilising plutonium-based fuel and Thorium, respectively.
- Tags :
- Nuclear Power Programme
- Fast Breeder Reactors
Launch of First Fully-indigenous 4G (5G-Ready) Network
India’s first fully indigenous 4G (5G-ready) network has been deployed by BSNL and developed through collaboration between C-DOT, Tejas and TCS.
- This provides India the capability to quickly develop technologies for fast tracking adoption of 5G and laying foundation for 6G.
Significance of indigenous 4G Stack
- Strategic Autonomy: Empowers India to control its telecom infrastructure, therefore reducing dependency on foreign technologies and foreign vendors, and enhancing national security.
- Cloud native: Enables rapid upgrades, scalability and easier future migration path to 5G.
- Improving Accessibility: Expected to benefit tribal regions, remote villages, and hilly areas by providing access to quality digital services.
- Supply Chain Development: Localised manufacturing and deployment are creating employment, strengthening supplier ecosystems, and nurturing a skilled domestic workforce.
- Technological Capability: With this, India is now among the select five nations globally with the capability to launch fully indigenous 4G services.
- Tags :
- 4G
- 5G
Articles Sources
Guidelines and Special Purpose Fund (SPF) for Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Approved
It was approved by the Executive Council of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) ensuring seamless scheme execution, effective private sector participation and long term innovation.
- ANRF was established with Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023.
- It acts as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research.
- Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by 2008 Act has been subsumed into ANRF.
RDI Scheme
- About: Establishes ₹1 Lakh crore RDI Fund approved by the Union Cabinet on July 1, 2025.
- Nodal Department: Department of Science & Technology (DST)
- Funding Structure: Two Tiered
- Special Purpose Fund (SPF): Being set up under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to serve as the first-level custodian.
- Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs): Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), or Focused Research Organizations (FROs) like Technology Development Board (TDB), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), IIT Research Parks, etc.
- Exclusions: Grants and short-term loans are not supported.
- Coverage: Financing can cover up to 50% of assessed project cost for transformative RDI projects at Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4 and above.
- Tags :
- Anusandhan National Research Foundation
- Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
- Technology Development Board