Science and Technology
Biotechnology
Welcome to the Biotechnology Study Hub, your definitive resource for mastering this crucial segment of the UPSC Civil Services Examination syllabus. Biotechnology, at its core, is the application of
42 articles in this topic
Articles on Biotechnology
National Biofoundry Network and India's Bioeconomy: Strategic Imperatives for 2025
India's National Biofoundry Network, driven by the Department of Biotechnology, is a strategic infrastructure initiative aimed at accelerating synthetic biology and biomanufacturing to achieve a $150 billion bioeconomy by 2025. This move is crucial for enhancing self-reliance in biotechnology but faces challenges in skill development, sustained funding, and regulatory harmonization.
India's National Biofoundry Network & Bioeconomy 2025: Strategic Biomanufacturing for Sustainable Growth
India's forthcoming National Biofoundry Network, targeting operationalization by September 1, 2025, represents a strategic governmental push to leverage advanced biomanufacturing capabilities for accelerating the nation's burgeoning bioeconomy. This initiative aims to integrate synthetic biology with industrial-scale production, fostering indigenous innovation while addressing critical sustainability and economic diversification goals within the 'Make in India' framework.
National Biofoundry Network: Catalyzing India's Bioeconomy by 2025 and Beyond for UPSC
India's National Biofoundry Network aims to leverage synthetic biology and advanced automation to industrialize biomanufacturing, targeting a $150 billion Bioeconomy by 2025. This strategic initiative by the DBT seeks to accelerate indigenous innovation and address the 'valley of death' in biotech, despite facing challenges in human capital, funding, and regulatory harmonization.
National Biofoundry Network: Catalysing India's $150 Billion Bioeconomy by 2025
India's push for a National Biofoundry Network, aimed for operationalization by 01 September 2025, is a critical strategic move to achieve its ambitious $150 billion bioeconomy target. This initiative seeks to establish industrial-scale biological engineering platforms, but faces significant challenges in funding, skilled workforce development, and regulatory coherence, demanding integrated policy interventions for successful implementation.
National Biofoundry Network & Bioeconomy: Catalysing India's Deep Tech Future for UPSC GS-III
India's plan to establish a National Biofoundry Network by September 2025 is a strategic initiative to boost its bioeconomy, leveraging advanced synthetic biology and automation for rapid biomanufacturing. This move aims to secure deep tech sovereignty and accelerate innovation in bio-based products, addressing crucial gaps in R&D and commercialization.
National Biofoundry Network & Bioeconomy 2025: India's Strategic Biotech Acceleration for UPSC GS-III
India's strategic 'National Biofoundry Network and Bioeconomy 01 Sep 2025' initiative aims to establish advanced, automated biomanufacturing infrastructure, accelerating synthetic biology and transforming the national bioeconomy. This move is critical for global competitiveness, supporting 'Make in India' and addressing significant challenges in skill development, funding, and regulatory frameworks.
India's National Biofoundry Network and the $150 Billion Bioeconomy Target by 2025: An Analytical Review
India's ambitious National Biofoundry Network, targeting significant operationalization by September 2025, is poised to be a cornerstone for achieving the nation's $150 billion bioeconomy goal. This initiative aims to accelerate bio-manufacturing and synthetic biology, but its success hinges on overcoming fragmented regulatory frameworks, significant capital expenditure, and critical skill shortages, demanding robust inter-ministerial coordination and sustained private sector engagement.
Scientists rewire bacteria to build ‘designer’ proteins on demand
Source: The Hindu(Page7) | Syllabus: GS3(Science and Tech)
Single Genome-editing Strategy Can Help Treat Multiple Disorders
Context A study in Nature recently revealed that researchers have developed a method to address many nonsense mutation diseases using a single genome-editing strategy. About Their approach is called Prime-Editing-mediated Readthrough of premature termination codons (PERT). It reprogrammes one of the cell’s own genes into a tool to override premature stop signals, allowing the cell to ignore the faulty instruction and complete the protein.
Bio-Based Chemicals and Enzymes: A New Frontier in India’s Bioeconomy
Context India is promoting bio-based chemicals and enzymes as key pillars of a green bioeconomy, linking climate action, industrial growth, and rural income diversification. What Are Bio-Based Chemicals and Enzymes? Bio-Based Chemicals: Bio-based chemicals are industrial chemicals produced from biological feedstocks such as sugarcane, corn, starch, agricultural residues, or other forms of biomass.
India Position on Futuristic Marine and Space Biotechnology
In News Futuristic space and marine biotechnology research focuses on using underexplored environments, such as the deep oceans and outer space, to develop new biological knowledge, materials, and manufacturing processes. What are Marine biotechnology and Space biotechnology? Marine biotechnology: It involves studying microorganisms, algae, and other marine life to discover bioactive compounds, enzymes, biomaterials, food ingredients, and biostimulants.
Upgrading India’s Biosecurity in the Age of Biotechnology
Context Rapid advances in biotechnology have increased the risk of deliberate misuse of biological agents by state and non-state actors, making the strengthening of India’s biosecurity framework a critical national security priority. What is Biosecurity? Biosecurity refers to the set of policies, practices, and institutional systems designed to prevent the intentional misuse of biological agents, toxins, or biotechnologies.
Digital Genetics Threatens Seed Sovereignty and Farmers’ Rights
In News The use of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) is a major point of contention at the 11th session of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) in Lima (Peru). Digital Sequence Information (DSI) It refers to genetic data derived from DNA, RNA, or proteins that are stored, shared, and analyzed digitally. It enables genome sequencing, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and precision medicine, allowing researchers to study biodiversity without phys
Indigenous Gene Editing Technology to Aid Cheaper, Commercial Crop Breeding
In News Indian scientists at ICAR’s Central Rice Research Institute have developed a patented indigenous Genome-Editing(GE) technology using TnpB proteins as a compact alternative to the globally patented CRISPR-Cas systems. TnpB or Transposon-associated proteins It acts as “molecular scissors,” and precisely cuts and modifies plant DNA, enabling desirable traits without introducing foreign genes. Unlike bulky Cas9 and Cas12a proteins, the hypercompact TnpB (408 amino acids) can be easily delive
Precision Biotherapeutics
Context Precision biotherapeutics bring together genetic science, molecular biology, and data analytics to design therapies that identify and rectify the cause of illness. Need for the Precision Biotherapeutics Rising Burden of Complex Diseases: Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular illness, and cancers account for nearly 65% of deaths in the country. Precision: For cancer especially, conventional therapies (like chemotherapy) often cause significant collateral damage; targe
DNA Sampling
Context Investigators are using DNA profiling to determine the suspect of the recent deadly car explosion outside the Red Fort in New Delhi, highlighting how genetic analysis plays a crucial role in forensic investigations. About DNA Profiling It is a set of molecular techniques used to identify individuals based on unique genetic markers. It remains the most dependable method of identification in cases involving explosions, fires, or mass disasters where bodies are unrecognisable.
India’s Biotech Surge
Context India’s biotech sector has surged in the past several years, from a modest count of roughly 500 startups in 2018, the number has soared to over 10,000 in 2025. What is Bioeconomy? The bioeconomy is the use of renewable biological resources to produce food, energy and industrial goods, which supports sustainability and economic growth.
RNA–Amino Acid Link on Early Earth
Context A new study by researchers has revealed how two fundamental building blocks of life, RNA (ribonucleic acid) and amino acids, could have joined together under conditions resembling those of early Earth about four billion years ago. What is Ribonucleic acid (RNA)? Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a fundamental biomolecule essential for life.
Funding Concerns in DBT Biocare Programme
Context Almost five months after being selected for the DBT Biocare programme, none of the 75 chosen candidates has received the funds promised or salaries. About The DBT, which is under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), has been running the Biocare programme since 2011. It is mainly meant for the career development of unemployed female scientists, for whom it will be the first extramural research funding sanctioned by the government.
Bio-fortified Potatoes
Context Bio-fortified potatoes, with added iron content, will soon be available in Indian markets, said the Director-General of the Peru-based International Potato Center (CIP). About Bio-fortified sweet potatoes, with vitamin A added using technology developed by the CIP, are already available in Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha. The focus is on iron fortification in potatoes, the first variety has been released in Peru.