India's BioE3 Mission for Life Sustainability in Space

Introduction and About

  • The BioE3 Mission, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), aims to conduct India's first biological experiments on the International Space Station (ISS).
  • India will investigate the possibility of sustainable human life in space.
  • The minister of State for Science & Technology announced the mission.

 

BioE3 Mission in the News 

  • The mission is part of the ISS's upcoming AXIOM-4 programme, which is a private spaceflight operated by U.S. based company, Axiom Space.
  • Slated for launch in June 2025, the mission will send two Indian astronauts from ISRO to the ISS.

 

Proposed Experiments under BioE3Mission 

  • The BioE3 mission will investigate how microgravity affects the growth of edible microalgae, which are nutrient-rich and can potentially serve as food in space.
  • The mission will also study how the microalgae cleanse air by taking in CO? and emitting O?.
  • Additionally, the experiment will research the growth of cyanobacteria like Spirulina in space using two nutrients- urea and nitrate in an attempt to understand how to recycle waste (carbon and nitrogen) from humans to sustain life in space.
  • Spirulina, known as a "superfood" due to its protein-rich and antioxidant qualities, is also under study.

 

BioE3 Policy (2024)

  • The policy advocates for advanced biomanufacturing to facilitate a circular bioeconomy and aid India's Net Zero objectives.
  • The focus of the policy is on innovation, Bio-AI hubs, the development of skilled workforces, and creating sustainable biotech solutions.

 

India's First Indigenous Polar Research Vessel

Introduction and Background

  • India's first indigenously built Polar Research Vessel (PRV) is being developed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), a Government of India undertaking. 
  • The project is a collaboration with Kongsberg, a Norwegian firm specialising in marine engineering and technology. The partnership indicates a significant step in India's shipbuilding industry.

 

Purpose and Usage of the Polar Research Vessel

  • The Polar Research Vessel's function is to aid research in the polar regions, which are the areas around the North and South Poles, as well as other ocean regions. 
  • The studies will be geared towards the requirements of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research. 
  • The vessel will support India's research missions in both polar and oceanic regions. 
  • Advanced scientific instruments will be fitted onto the vessel, facilitating exploration of marine ecosystems and deep-sea biodiversity in polar and southern ocean realms.

 

Reinforcing India's Commitment to Research and Maritime Leadership

  • This establishment of the polar research vessel will strengthen India's already active three research stations: Bharati and Maitri in Antarctica, and Himadri in the Arctic. 
  • The project represents India's commitment to MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions), a comprehensive security programme.
  • Under the maritime programme Sagarmala 2.0, India aspires to become a global maritime leader by addressing infrastructure shortcomings and augmenting shipbuilding, repair, and recycling activities.

 

Aligning with 'Make in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiatives

  • This breakthrough collaboration with Norway also lines up with India's 'Make in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. 
  • The project aims to enhance India's indigenous shipbuilding capability, thereby boosting the nation's self-reliance and fostering domestic talent.

 

BharatGen: India’s First AI Multimodal LLM

Introduction and About BharatGen 

  • BharatGen is India’s first indigenously developed, government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM). 
  • It supports a wide variety of 22 Indian languages. 
  • This was launched at the BharatGen Summit 2025 by the Union Minister of State (IC) for Science & Technology. 
  • Multimodal LLMs are large language models that are trained on diverse data types such as text, audio, video, and images. 

 

The Technology behind BharatGen 

  • They are built with advanced AI capabilities to understand and interpret the complexity of human language and multimedia content.
  • BharatGen surpasses the limitations of unimodal models like earlier versions of ChatGPT by generating cohesive responses across multiple data forms. 
  • It includes AI models trained on large text data, AI models with two networks (Generator & Discriminator), and models predicting the next value/token based on past sequences.

 

Development 

  • BharatGen was developed under the banner of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). 
  • The program is implemented by the TIH Foundation for IoT and IoE at IIT Bombay.
  • NM-ICPS was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Science and Technology to promote innovation and R&D in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and new-age technologies.

 

Objectives and Importance of BharatGen 

  • The main objective of BharatGen is to promote ethical, inclusive, multilingual AI that is rooted in Indian values. 
  • It aims to provide region-specific solutions in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance. 
  • Another primary objective is to boost rural telemedicine with AI doctors who can speak in native languages. 
  • This makes it a pivotal resource in providing tech-oriented, linguistically inclusive solutions, particularly in regions lacking traditional linguistic resources.

 

Tardigrades Aboard Axiom-4 Mission and the Exploration of Space Resilience

 Introduction 

  • Indian astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla, is piloting the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
  • The commanding authority of the mission is Peggy Whitson from the USA.
  • ISRO is dispatching tardigrades, also known as water bears, to ISS as part of this mission to study life's resilience in extreme space conditions.

 

 About Axiom-4 Mission 

  • The initiative is the fourth private spaceflight to ISS operated by the US-based Axiom Space using the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. 
  • Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the second Indian, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, to visit space and the first to set foot on the ISS.
  • The aim of the Axiom Space's 14-day mission is to conduct scientific experiments, technological demonstrations, and educational outreach.
  • The mission features an international crew from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary.

 

 Key Experiments during the Mission 

  • The mission will explore the physical and cognitive impact of using computer screens in microgravity. 
  • Behaviour and response of tardigrades in space will be studied.
  • The impact of spaceflight on six types of crops specifically on moong dal will be investigated. 
  • Growth rate, cellular responses, and biochemical activity of cyanobacteria will be observed.

 

 Importance of the Mission for India

  • The mission strengthens the Indo-US space collaboration through the ISRO-NASA partnership.
  • The mission is also expected to boost the success of the future Gaganyaan mission by providing hands-on training experience for the Gaganyaan crew.
  • The mission aims to position India as a key player in future commercial space stations.

 

Knowledge Points on Tardigrades

  • Tardigrades are microscopic eight-legged organisms, about 0.5 mm long, that feed on plant and algae fluids.
  • These creatures have existed for approximately 600 million years and survived all five mass extinctions, making them one of the most resilient life forms on Earth.
  • They can survive extreme conditions, such as temperatures from –272.95°C to 150°C, intense UV radiation, and pressures up to 40,000 kilopascals.
  • Studies of tardigrades could pave the way to climate-resilient crops, advanced UV-protective sunscreens, and improved organ preservation techniques for transplants.
  • Tardigrades made history in 2007 as the first animals to survive direct exposure to space during ESA's Foton-M3 mission.

 

Noteworthy Point 

  • The zero-G indicator for the Axiom-4 mission is a swan plushie named 'Joy', which will alert astronauts of their transition into a state of weightlessness.

 

 Unique Tardigrades Species

  • Batillipes chandrayaani is a newly discovered species of marine tardigrade found along India's southeast coast of Tamil Nadu. It is named after India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission, symbolically connecting India's advancements in space exploration and marine biology.

 

The NISAR Mission and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Introduction to NISAR and SAR:

  • The NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) satellite is currently at ISRO’s spaceport in Sriharikota, preparing for its launch. 
  • It has been designed to scan almost all land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, collecting unprecedented data regarding Earth’s environment. 
  • NISAR is a joint Earth-observation mission between NASA and ISRO, aimed at observing Earth’s land and ice surfaces in unparalleled detail.

 

About the NISAR Mission:

  • The NISAR Mission is a collaborative project between NASA (US) and ISRO (India). 
  • It intends to provide intricate monitoring of Earth’s land and ice surfaces.
  • The satellite consists of two advanced radar systems—NASA’s L-band radar and ISRO's S-band radar—marking it as the first satellite to carry both the radars.

 

Understanding Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR):

  • Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an active remote-sensing technology that transmits microwave pulses and records the echoes to create images. 
  • SAR works effectively during day and night, and under any weather conditions, as microwaves can penetrate clouds, smoke, and light rain.
  • It does not depend on sunlight like optical cameras for its functionality. 

 

The Working of SAR:

  • SAR operates by sending microwave pulses and recording the echoes from Earth’s surface. 
  • It uses the movement of the platform (e.g., satellite or aircraft) to simulate a large antenna, assisting in producing high-resolution images.

 

Applications of SAR:

  • SAR has multiple applications in environmental monitoring, like mapping wetlands and tracking oil spills in marshes. 
  • It plays a crucial role in Cryosphere studies by monitoring icebergs and ice sheets, examples include regions like Antarctica.
  • SAR technology is employed in disaster management to detect floods, landslides, and terrain changes. 
  • It is also used in agriculture & forestry to assess soil moisture, track vegetation health, and monitor deforestation.

 

Ultra-Secure Communication Using Quantum Technology

Introduction and Overview

  • Use of light particles (photons) and the principle of quantum entanglement to transmit information is a novel approach by scientists at IIT Delhi and DRDO.
  • The method ensures that any attempt to intercept the communication is immediately detectable, marking a significant advancement for India under the National Quantum Mission (2023–2031). 

 

Key Highlights of the Quantum Communication Breakthrough

  • The Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) demonstrated over a 1 km free-space link, transmitting quantum keys with a secure key rate of 240 bps (bits per second).
  • The method shows resilience to atmospheric turbulence, detector noise, and artificial lighting.
  • India's first intercity quantum link was set up in 2022 between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj, using commercial-grade fibre. 
  • By 2024, QKD was extended to 380 km over standard telecom fibre and a 100 km demo followed.

 

Concept of Quantum Communication and Quantum Entanglement

  • Quantum communication refers to the transmission of secure information using the principles of quantum mechanics, including Quantum Key Distribution, Quantum teleportation, and dense coding.
  • Quantum entanglement is a complex phenomenon where the state of one particle instantly determines the state of another, regardless of the distance between them, allowing for applications such as quantum communication, quantum cryptography, and quantum computing.

 

 Understanding Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

  • Quantum Key Distribution is a secure method that uses quantum mechanics principles to generate and share cryptographic keys between two parties.
  • Photons are utilized, which are highly sensitive to disturbance, to securely exchange encryption keys.
  • If an eavesdropper tries to intercept the communication, it causes transmission errors that alert the legitimate users, ensuring tamper-evident encryption.

 

National Quantum Mission (NQM)

  • The National Quantum Mission is a strategic national initiative aimed at advancing India's capabilities in quantum technologies.
  • The mission has applications in defence, cybersecurity, space, banking, and telecommunications, and is key in advancing India's position in the global quantum race.
  • Key objectives of the mission include the development of intermediate-scale quantum computers and enabling satellite-based quantum communication between Indian ground stations over vast distances.

 

Thematic Hubs and Key Initiatives Under NQM

  • Four T-Hubs focusing on quantum computation, quantum communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices are to be established at premier academic and national R&D institutions.
  • DRDO is working on quantum-resilient security protocols, and quantum-safe symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic algorithms to secure defence and strategic communications.
  • Under the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), SETS works on Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) research for FIDO authentication and IoT security applications.
  • Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), provides solutions like Quantum Key Distribution, Post-Quantum Cryptography, and Quantum-Secure Video IP Phones.
  • India's Entry into Human Spaceflight: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom-4

 

Introduction and About

  • Setting a significant landmark in India's space journey, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
  • Marking another first, he is also the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS).
  • Shukla is part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, a commercial spaceflight to the ISS.

 

Details on the Axiom-4 Mission

  • The Ax-4 is the fourth private spaceflight to the ISS, conducted by Axiom Space, a US-based company. 
  • The crew comprises Peggy Whitson (Commander), Shubhanshu Shukla, S?awosz Uzna?ski-Wi?niewski, and Tibor Kapu.
  • The mission aims to boost space tourism and private research in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). 
  • This mission also enables experimentation with microgravity in areas such as materials science, biology, space agriculture, and earth observation.
  • Participating in 60 experiments from 31 countries, this mission sets the record for being the most research-intensive Axiom mission and is a testament to international cooperation in space science. 

 

Significance of Axiom-4 for India

  • This mission serves as a pivotal foundation for Gaganyaan, India's planned manned space mission.
  • By participating in Ax-4, India reinforces its global space stronghold, aligning with its long-term goals of an Indian space station by 2035 and a human lunar mission by 2040.
  • Through active partnership in mission planning and execution, India bolstered its international standing and demonstrated its technological prowess.
  • The mission opens up new corridors for private sector involvement and overseas investments, enhancing India's share in the global space economy.
  • By inspiring the youth and promoting STEM education, the mission helps to create an expert workforce for India's evolving space sector, ensuring continuous innovation and national capacity building.

 

Key Facts on the International Space Station (ISS)

  • The ISS is the largest habitable artificial satellite in LEO, acting as a unique space laboratory for scientific research and international cooperation.
  • It's an international collaboration of 15 countries, led by five space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, European Space Agency, JAXA, and Canadian Space Agency.
  • Hosting over 3,000 experiments from more than 108 countries, the ISS aids in research in science, medicine, and Earth observation related studies. Its microgravity setting allows for studying human adaptation and generating Earth-relevant innovations.

 

CRISPR Technology for Climate-Resilient Crops

Introduction to CRISPR-dCas9-Based Molecular Tool

  • The Bose Institute researchers, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have produced a new tool based on CR-9ISPR-dCas9 that improves plant resilience to heat stress and attacks from pathogens. 
  • CRISPR-dCas9, an altered version of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, has been engineered to make the Cas9 protein dormant, preventing it from cutting DNA. 
  • Despite not being active, the Cas9 protein still uses guide RNA to locate and bind to specific DNA sequences.

 

Working Mechanism of CRISPR-dCas9

  • The conventional CRISPR-Cas9 technology functions by slicing DNA to make alterations in the gene. Simultaneously, CRISPR-dCas9 does not cut the DNA, but operates like a switch for genes, activating or deactivating specific genes without modifying the DNA. 
  • This is particularly beneficial in safely controlling when particular genes, like those responding to stress in plants, are activated. This makes the process energy-efficient and improves overall effectiveness. 
  • Plants frequently face stress stemming from extreme weather conditions or attacks by pathogens which can reduce their productivity and growth. 
  • By using a tomato protein's transmembrane (TM) domain, CRISPR-dCas9 helps plants respond only when under stress by keeping a modified protein, dCas9, outside the nucleus under normal conditions. 

 

CRISPR-dCas9 in Action under Stress Conditions

  • When a plant is under stress due to heat or an attack from a pathogen, the TM domain releases dCas9, which subsequently enters the nucleus and stimulates the release of specific defence genes. 
  • Under attack from a pathogen (for instance, Pseudomonas syringae), it stimulates the CBP60g and SARD1 immune response genes which boost immune responses. 
  • Under heat stress, it stimulates the NAC2 and HSFA6b genes, improving the plant’s water retention, leaf's greenness, and its ability to withstand heat.

 

Application and Efficacy

  • Tests on various plants, including tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco, have shown this technology to be most effective in tomato plants. This novel tool can bolster their resilience to heat stress and pathogenic attacks, while potentially improving their productivity and efficiency.