1 . Agrivoltaics – Integrating Agriculture with Solar Energy
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Agriculture | Renewable Energy | Environmental Sustainability | Inclusive Growth
- Agrivoltaics (AgriPV) refers to the dual use of land for agricultural production and solar electricity generation, with panels installed above or between crop rows. It improves land-use efficiency while creating opportunities to diversify farmers’ incomes.
- India has significant potential for AgriPV. In 2023–24, its net sown area was 99 million hectares, while gross cropped area stood at 217.88 million hectares. A GIS-based assessment identified 47.35 million hectares of restricted cropland as potentially suitable for AgriPV after environmental, agronomic and technical screening.
- As of August 2025, India had 36 operational agrivoltaics projects with 37.54 MW installed capacity, alongside 10 pilot projects under development. Estimated national potential ranges from 3,000 GW to nearly 14,000 GW; this is potential capacity, not installed capacity.
- Elevated solar panels can provide partial shade, reduce soil-moisture loss and protect suitable crops from excessive heat. Fruits, vegetables, spices and medicinal plants are among the promising crops, depending on sunlight requirements and local agroclimatic conditions.
- Agrivoltaics can diversify farm incomes through crop cultivation, electricity for irrigation and the potential sale of surplus electricity to the grid. It can also reduce dependence on diesel-powered pumps and support agricultural resilience.
- Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh collectively account for nearly 50% of India’s estimated AgriPV power-generation potential. Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar and West Bengal have moderate potential.
- PM-KUSUM, launched in 2019, promotes decentralised solar power generation, solarisation of agricultural pumps and opportunities for farmers to earn from surplus electricity, supporting the integration of solar energy with agriculture.
- The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), in collaboration with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), has established a Centre of Excellence on Agrivoltaics for research, demonstration and capacity building, including a 100-kW pilot project at IARI.
- The India Agrivoltaics Alliance, launched in 2023 and anchored by the National Solar Energy Federation of India, promotes research, policy advocacy, pilot projects and scalable implementation models.
- State initiatives include Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0 (Maharashtra), Kisan Suryoday Yojana (Gujarat) and Surya Raitha Scheme (Karnataka), which support solar power generation or solar-powered irrigation for agricultural use.
- The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 was held in New Delhi from 21–23 October 2026 under the theme “Powering the Global South”, bringing together stakeholders to advance the integration of agriculture and solar energy.
2. TDB–Manastu Space Partnership: Indigenous Green Propulsion Technology
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Science and Technology | Space Technology | Indigenous Technology Development
- The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), has extended ₹116 crore support to Manastu Space Technologies Pvt. Ltd. under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund for developing indigenous green propulsion systems. The total project cost is ₹277.63 crore.
- The technology uses a hydrogen peroxide-based green propellant with additives, integrated with a propulsion engine, propellant-feed system and specialised catalyst, as an alternative to conventional satellite propellants.
- Catalyst-based propulsion: The catalyst facilitates the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, generating hot gases that produce thrust. An ultra-high-temperature ceramic catalyst is being developed for reliable operation under demanding conditions.
- The system is designed for a 5 mN to 300 N thrust range, enabling applications from small satellite manoeuvres to higher-thrust propulsion requirements.
- Green propulsion aims to reduce propellant toxicity, handling risks and operational costs associated with conventional systems, including hydrazine-based propulsion. However, concentrated hydrogen peroxide remains a hazardous oxidising agent requiring specialised handling.
- Applications include orbit raising, station-keeping, attitude control, collision avoidance and controlled de-orbiting, supporting satellite manoeuvrability and space-debris management.
- The project aims to advance the technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-6 to TRL-9 through further engineering, integration, testing and validation. TRL-6 indicates demonstration in a relevant environment, while TRL-9 signifies successful operation in the actual operational environment.
3. Immersive Technologies – Blending Physical and Virtual Worlds
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Science and Technology | IT and Computers | Applications of AI | Creative Economy- Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term covering Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR). These technologies enable interactive experiences by combining digital content with real or simulated environments.
- VR creates a completely simulated environment; AR overlays digital information on the physical world; MR enables digital objects to interact with the user’s physical surroundings. Haptic technology adds touch-based feedback, while 360-degree video enables viewing in every direction.
- Immersive technologies have applications in education, healthcare, heritage tourism, gaming, entertainment and infrastructure planning. VR simulations support experiential learning and medical training, while AR can display digital information over real-world objects.
- Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a real-world object, system or place, updated using real-world data to monitor performance, simulate scenarios and support decision-making. The Department of Telecommunications’ Sangam: Digital Twin initiative combines digital twins with 5G, IoT and AI for infrastructure planning. A National Digital Twin for major urban centres is envisaged by 2035.
- In heritage preservation, JATAN software supports digitisation of museum artefacts and their records. The Museums of India digital repository enables online access to collections, while AR tools and virtual tours improve visitor engagement.
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is promoting the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) ecosystem through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, established in 2025 as a National Centre of Excellence.
- The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated ₹250 crore for AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, with IICT as the nodal agency. The initiative aims to develop practical skills in animation, gaming, visual effects and digital content creation.
- GENESIS, launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in 2022, supports technology startups, including those working in AR/VR and spatial computing. WaveX, an initiative of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, supports media-tech startups through incubation and acceleration.
- India’s immersive technology market generated an estimated US$1,259.5 million in 2023 and is projected to reach US$7,818.7 million by 2030.
4. GeM’s AABHAR Collection – Promoting Local Artisans through Public Procurement
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: E-Commerce | MSMEs | Rural Development | GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions
- The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is promoting the AABHAR Collection, a dedicated digital storefront for culturally distinctive Indian gifts and hampers. Launched in July 2024, the initiative features 294 product listings from 10 State and Central handloom and handicraft emporiums as of October 2026.
- The collection includes handicrafts, handlooms, artisanal foods, pantry products and personal care items, offering government buyers products for official events, conferences, festivals and gifting.
- Products associated with One District One Product (ODOP) and Geographical Indication (GI) tags feature in the collection, improving the visibility of regional products and providing market access to artisans, weavers, rural entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises.
- Participating emporiums include COTTAGE, Khadi India, Garvi Gurjari, Jharcraft, Cauvery, Mrignayani, Marhati, Purbashree and Poompuhar, among others.
- The initiative integrates indigenous enterprises into the public procurement ecosystem through a dedicated digital marketplace, supporting the government’s Vocal for Local
- GeM, launched in 2016, is an online public procurement platform that enables government ministries, departments, public sector undertakings and other eligible buyers to procure goods and services transparently.
- The AABHAR Collection can strengthen market linkages, artisan livelihoods, regional product branding and women’s economic participation.
5. Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) – Welfare of Senior Citizens
Syllabus Mapping: GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions | Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections | Health and Social Justice- The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, provides an integrated framework for senior citizens’ welfare through institutional care, healthcare support, state-level interventions and capacity building.
- Its key components include the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC), Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), Senior Citizen Opportunities for Productive Engagement (SCOPE) and Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE). Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) provide institutional support through training, research, capacity building and coordination.
- Under IPSrC, financial assistance is provided through grants-in-aid to eligible NGOs, State Governments, Panchayati Raj Institutions and local bodies to establish and maintain facilities for senior citizens, particularly indigent elderly persons.
- Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) provide institutional support through training, capacity building, research, documentation, awareness generation and advocacy on ageing and elderly welfare. Each RRTC receives annual financial support of ₹19.58 lakh under the scheme.
- RRTCs also assist with database development, monitoring and evaluation, project inspections and coordination among State Governments, UTs and implementing organisations.
- Under SAPSrC, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for locally relevant elderly-welfare interventions, including training geriatric caregivers and organising special cataract surgery drives.
- States and UTs may utilise up to 20% of their allocated funds for state-specific programmes, subject to scheme guidelines and approval of eligible components. They are also expected to supplement Central assistance with their own resources.
