Science

RARE EARTH MAGNETS : OPPOTUNITY & CHALLENGES

Rare earth magnets are high-performance materials essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics, and defence systems, making them critical for India’s clean energy transition and technological growth. With China dominating global processing, India’s push for domestic manufacturing, critical mineral processing, and recycling aims to reduce import dependence and build a self-reliant mine-to-magnet ecosystem to strengthen economic and strategic security.

India Semiconductor Mission 2.0

India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, announced in Budget 2026–27 with an allocation of ₹1,000 crore, aims to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing, develop indigenous equipment and materials, promote full-stack chip design, and build a skilled workforce. Building on the progress of earlier initiatives, the mission focuses on advanced manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and industry-led innovation. With a rapidly growing domestic market expected to reach $100–110 billion by 2030, ISM 2.0 seeks to reduce import dependence, meet 70–75% of India’s chip demand by 2029, and position the country as a trusted global semiconductor hub.

DRDO showcases Hypersonic Glide Missile at Republic Day Parade

DRDO showcased the Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) at the Republic Day Parade, marking a major advancement in India’s indigenous defence technology. This hypersonic glide missile, capable of travelling over Mach 5 and striking targets up to 1,500 km away, combines high speed, manoeuvrability, and a low-altitude flight path to evade missile defence systems. Designed primarily for coastal defence and sea-denial operations, it significantly enhances the Indian Navy’s ability to deter and neutralise high-value enemy warships in the Indian Ocean Region, positioning India among the leading nations developing advanced hypersonic weapon systems.

Antimicrobial resistance: causes, consequences and cure

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being driven largely by the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics. A significant proportion of patients receive antibiotics without confirmed infections, with most prescriptions given empirically rather than based on laboratory diagnosis. This irrational use accelerates the development of drug-resistant microbes.

AMR now threatens the effective treatment of common infections, increases healthcare costs, and makes routine medical procedures riskier. Addressing the crisis requires stronger surveillance, better prescribing practices, improved diagnostics, public awareness, and coordinated national and global efforts under a One Health approach.

Malaria elimination in India

India has made major progress toward malaria elimination under its National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016–2030), with cases falling by around 80% between 2015 and 2023. Many districts have already reported zero indigenous cases, and the country has exited the WHO High Burden to High Impact group. The strategy now focuses on strong surveillance through the “Test, Treat and Track” approach, universal access to diagnosis and treatment, and intensified vector control.

However, challenges remain in the form of migration, urban malaria, hard-to-reach tribal and forested areas, and the persistence of Plasmodium vivax, which can relapse. Drug and insecticide resistance are also emerging concerns. India aims to achieve zero indigenous cases by 2027 and full elimination by 2030, but success will depend on accurate reporting, strong urban and community participation, and preventing re-establishment of transmission in malaria-free areas.

COUNTERFEIT RABIES VACCINES & THE PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE

A recent scare over counterfeit rabies vaccines has raised serious public-health concerns. Suspected fake or repackaged batches of a commonly used rabies vaccine were reported in multiple Indian cities, prompting advisories from several countries for travellers vaccinated in India. Investigations indicate that while most vials contained genuine vaccine, packaging was altered and government-supplied stock was likely diverted to the private market, revealing weaknesses in supply-chain monitoring. The incident risks creating vaccine hesitancy for a disease that is almost 100% fatal once symptoms appear. The crisis underscores the need for strict regulation, better tracking systems, strong law enforcement, transparent public communication, and assured availability of authentic vaccines and immunoglobulin to maintain trust and prevent avoidable deaths.

DATA EXCLUSIVITY EXPLAINED

India is debating the introduction of data exclusivity in pharmaceuticals, a regulatory protection that can delay the entry of generic drugs even after patent expiry. While the move is projected as a way to attract investment and support innovation, it raises serious concerns for India’s generics-driven pharmaceutical industry and access to affordable medicines. In the absence of any international obligation under WTO-TRIPS, the policy choice involves balancing innovation incentives with public health priorities and preserving India’s role as the pharmacy of the developing world.

ICMR’s Zero Snakebite Death Initiative

India faces the world’s highest burden of snakebite deaths, largely due to delayed treatment and weak rural health linkages. The ICMR-led Zero Snakebite Death Initiative seeks to address this gap by integrating community-based prevention, rapid response, and evidence-driven health system strengthening, drawing on successful local models such as Assam’s Demow Model. By shifting the focus from hospital-centric care to early intervention and community empowerment, the initiative offers a realistic pathway to significantly reduce preventable snakebite mortality in India.

NAVARA : KERALA RARE MEDICINAL RICE

Navara is an ancient medicinal rice native to Kerala’s Palakkad region, valued for its therapeutic role in Ayurveda and its rich nutritional profile. Once widely grown, it has become rare due to low yields, labour-intensive cultivation, pest sensitivity, and competition from hybrid varieties. Despite these challenges, Navara remains important for its cultural significance, biodiversity value, GI tag recognition, and unique place in traditional health practices.

GALLBLADDER CANCER IN THE GANGETIC BELT

Gallbladder cancer has emerged as a silent epidemic in India’s Gangetic belt, driven by polluted water, food contamination, poverty and gender inequality. It disproportionately affects rural women, often detected late with high treatment costs and poor survival. Weak surveillance, non-notifiability of cancer and ineffective environmental governance keep the crisis invisible. Addressing it requires pollution control, gender-sensitive screening, clean water access, stronger cancer reporting systems and integrated health–environment policy action.

BENEFITS OF NEURO TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIA

Neurotechnology—ranging from brain-computer interfaces to neural stimulation—offers India major gains in health, innovation, and economic growth by improving treatment for neurological disorders, enabling assistive devices, and creating new tech industries. Globally, countries like the U.S., China, and Chile are advancing neurotech while shaping ethical norms and neurorights. However, its promise depends on strong regulation that safeguards mental privacy, autonomy, equity, and long-term safety. If India builds research capacity, industry linkages, and ethical oversight,

WHO'S GUIDANCE ON GLP-1 THERAPY FOR OBESITY

The WHO’s first guideline on GLP-1 therapy marks a major shift in treating obesity as a chronic disease rather than a behavioural issue. It conditionally recommends drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide for adults with obesity, but only alongside diet, exercise, and counselling. While the therapy shows significant weight loss and metabolic benefits, WHO warns of high costs, limited access, safety gaps, and the need for strong health systems to ensure equitable, long-term care.