In News:

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA)–Medical Technology (MedTech).This landmark initiative seeks to accelerate innovation in India’s medical technology ecosystem, reduce dependence on costly imports, and ensure affordable, high-quality healthcare technologies for all.

About the MAHA MedTech Mission

• Launched by: ANRF, in partnership with ICMR and Gates Foundation
• Mission Duration: 5 years
• Deadline for Concept Note Submission: 7 November 2025
• Implemented through: ANRF online portal – www.anrfonline.in

The mission represents a strategic push under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision to strengthen India’s domestic MedTech sector, which is currently import-heavy and fragmented.

Objectives of the MAHA MedTech Mission

• Public Health Impact:
  • Promote technologies addressing priority disease areas such as tuberculosis, cancer, neonatal and maternal care, and primary healthcare.
  • Expand access to safe, high-quality medical care across India.
• Affordability and Accessibility:
  • Support innovative solutions that reduce healthcare costs while maintaining quality standards.
  • Promote equitable access to advanced medical devices, especially in rural and underserved regions.
• Self-Reliance and Competitiveness:
  • Catalyze indigenous research, manufacturing, and commercialization in MedTech.
  • Foster industry–academia collaboration and boost India’s global competitiveness in medical innovation.

Scope of the Mission

The MAHA MedTech Mission will support a wide range of medical technologies and innovations, including:

• Medical devices and equipment
• In-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and subcomponents
• Implants and surgical instruments
• Assistive and wearable devices
• Consumables and disposables
• AI/ML-driven software-based medical platforms
• Robotics, imaging, and minimally invasive technologies
• Point-of-care and molecular diagnostics

These innovations will target priority national health areas, promoting early disease detection, efficient treatment delivery, and improved healthcare infrastructure.

Funding Mechanism

• Milestone-linked funding:
  • ?5–25 crore per project
  • Up to ?50 crore for exceptional projects with transformative potential.
• Eligible Applicants:
  • Academic and R&D institutions
  • Hospitals and clinical research centers
  • Startups and MSMEs
  • Established MedTech industries
  • Interdisciplinary collaborations between public and private entities

The funding structure encourages translational research, product prototyping, clinical validation, and commercialization of indigenous medical technologies.

Enabling Support Framework

The Mission also provides institutional and regulatory facilitation through several national support programs:

• Patent Mitra:Facilitates intellectual property protection, patent filing, and technology transfer.
• MedTech Mitra:Provides regulatory guidance, helps in obtaining clinical and market approvals, and supports compliance with national and international standards.
• Clinical Trial Network:Offers access to a national network of hospitals and research centers for clinical validation and evidence generation.
• Mentorship and Industry Linkages:Access to industry mentors, market experts, and commercialization partners to support end-to-end product development.

In News:

India has recently issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a large-scale tri-services military exercise, “Ex Trishul,” scheduled along the Pakistan border. The announcement highlights India’s focus on joint operational preparedness, self-reliance, and technological innovation in defence.

About Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)

• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), also known as Notice to Air Missions, is an official notification issued by national aviation authorities to inform airspace users about temporary or permanent changes that may affect flight operations.
• Purpose: NOTAMs ensure flight safety by providing timely information about:

• Changes in aeronautical facilities or services
• Temporary airspace restrictions
• Hazards or obstacles along flight paths
• Military activities, such as exercises or missile tests

They are critical for pilots, air traffic controllers, and flight planners, allowing them to modify flight paths or schedules to ensure operational safety.

Common Reasons for Issuing NOTAMs

• Airshows, parachute jumps, or glider operations
• VIP movements (e.g., heads of state)
• Runway or taxiway closures
• Unserviceable navigational aids or airport lighting
• Construction activities or temporary obstacles near airfields
• Military exercises involving restricted or closed airspace

NOTAMs are disseminated rapidly via aeronautical communication systems, online aviation portals, and electronic flight planning tools, enabling real-time updates for all stakeholders.

India’s Recent NOTAM: Context and Significance

The recent NOTAM covers a large segment of India’s western frontier, extending up to 28,000 feet, indicating one of the largest joint operational drills in recent years. Satellite imagery has highlighted the vast scale of the restricted airspace, reflecting India’s intent to conduct multi-domain, tri-service coordination along the Pakistan border.

This development follows Operation Sindoor (May 2025)—a precision air campaign against Pakistan’s terror infrastructure launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack (April 2025). The operation neutralized over 100 terrorists, marking one of the most intense India–Pakistan military confrontations in decades.

About Exercise Trishul

Exercise Trishul (Ex Trishul) is a tri-services military exercise involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. It aims to strengthen jointness, operational integration, and technological innovation, aligning with the government’s JAI Vision—Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and Innovation.

Objectives

• To enhance inter-service coordination in high-tempo, multi-domain operations.
• To test indigenous systems and weapons platforms developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• To refine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) suited to emerging hybrid and asymmetric threats.

Key Operational Components

• Joint Operations:
  • Coordinated manoeuvres across desert, creek, and coastal sectors, led by Southern Command.
  • Amphibious operations off the Saurashtra coast, integrating Navy and Army assets.
  • Air defence missions, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare (EW) exercises by the Air Force.
• Multi-Domain Integration:
  • Exercises in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) networks.
  • Deployment of cyber warfare and space-enabled systems.
  • Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence–based decision support and digital command systems.
• Indigenous Focus:
  • Use of home-grown technologies in sensors, communication networks, and combat systems.
  • Demonstrates the operational maturity of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.

In News:

The Indian Navy has recently received ‘Mahe’, the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs), built indigenously by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. The induction marks a major step towards bolstering India’s littoral (coastal) defence capabilities and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in naval shipbuilding.

About Mahe – ASW Shallow Water Craft

• Builder: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
• Delivered to: Indian Navy
• Named after:Mahe, a historic port town in the Union Territory of Puducherry, symbolizing India’s rich maritime heritage.
• Classification: Designed and constructed under the rules of Det Norske Veritas (DNV) classification society.
• Displacement: Around 1,100 tons
• Length: Approximately 78 metres
• Indigenous Content: Over 80%, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in naval design and shipbuilding.

Design and Features

• Advanced Warfare Capabilities
  • Equipped with torpedoes and multi-functional anti-submarine rockets.
  • Integrated radar and sonar systems for precise detection and engagement of underwater threats.
  • Designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in shallow coastal waters.
• Operational Flexibility
  • Capable of underwater surveillance, mine-laying operations, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).
  • Suitable for coastal defence, escort missions, and search and rescue operations in littoral zones.
• Sustainability and Efficiency
  • Compact yet powerful platform for quick maneuverability in shallow regions.
  • Built using modern shipbuilding technologies, ensuring durability, stealth, and operational efficiency.

Strategic Significance

• Enhancing ASW Capabilities:The induction of Mahe will significantly strengthen India’s anti-submarine warfare capacity in coastal waters, enabling faster response to sub-surface threats from enemy submarines or unmanned underwater vehicles.
• Maritime Security:Strengthens surveillance and security along India’s vast 7,500 km coastline, ensuring greater control over sea lines of communication (SLOCs) and exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
• Boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat:The vessel, with more than 80% indigenous components, reflects the Make in India initiative’s success in the defence manufacturing sector. It reinforces India’s ambition to be a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Support to Blue Water Aspirations:While designed for shallow waters, the ASW SWC fleet complements India’s blue-water naval capability by securing coastal zones — the first line of maritime defence.

About Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)

• Established: 1972
• Location: Kochi, Kerala
• Ownership: Under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways
• CSL has emerged as one of India’s premier shipbuilding and repair facilities, with successful projects like:
  • INS Vikrant (India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier)
  • ASW Shallow Water Craft series

In News:

Project Arunank of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) recently celebrated its 18th Raising Day at Naharlagun, marking over 17 years of sustained infrastructure development in Arunachal Pradesh’s remote and strategic regions.

About Project Arunank

• Launched: 2008
• Implementing Agency: Border Roads Organisation (BRO), under the Ministry of Defence.
• Name Origin: Derived from the state’s name — Arunachal Pradesh.
• Objective:To enhance road connectivity in remote valleys and forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh, supporting both civilian access and the operational needs of the Indian Armed Forces.

Key Achievements

• Strategic Road Development
  • Constructed and maintained over 696 km of roads and 1.18 km of major bridges across the state.
  • Completed the 278 km Hapoli–Sarli–Huri Road, which was blacktopped for the first time since Independence, connecting the remote KurungKumey district — a major milestone in post-Independence connectivity.
• Technological Innovations
  • Adopted modern and sustainable construction technologies, including:
    • Steel Slag and GGBFS Concrete for durability.
    • Cut-and-Cover Tunnels and Geo Cells for terrain stability.
    • Plastic Sheets, Gabion Walls, and Slope Stabilisation Systems to prevent landslides and improve road resilience.
  • These innovations promote eco-friendly and climate-resilient infrastructure in fragile Himalayan terrain.
• Green and Welfare Initiatives
  • Under the ‘Ek Ped MaaKe Naam’ campaign, over 23,850 trees were planted across Arunachal Pradesh to promote environmental conservation.
  • Welfare measures for Casual Paid Labourers (CPLs) included better shelters, protective gear, and regular health camps—acknowledging their crucial contribution to BRO’s success.
• Community and Awareness Programs: Conducted a motorable expedition along the Naharlagun–Joram Top–Sangram–Ziro–Naharlagun route to promote road safety and connectivity awareness among locals and officials.

Future Plans

• Focus on road widening, construction of new bridges and tunnels, and improving all-weather, high-altitude connectivity for both civilian and defence use.
• Integration of digital monitoring tools, geotextiles, and eco-friendly materials to enhance infrastructure sustainability while reducing maintenance costs.

About the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

• Established: 7 May 1960
• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Defence
• Mandate:To construct and maintain road networks in border areas of India and in friendly neighbouring countries to ensure defence preparedness and socio-economic development.
• The BRO has been pivotal in strategic connectivity across northern and northeastern India, including projects like Arunank (Arunachal Pradesh), Vartak (Assam & Arunachal), Himank (Ladakh), and Sampark (Jammu & Kashmir).

In News:

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has recently credited India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme for significantly boosting exports from Least Developed Countries (LDCs). India has surpassed China and the European Union (EU) in providing duty-free market access to the world’s poorest economies, strengthening South-South trade cooperation.

About the DFTP Scheme

• Launched: 2008
• Implementing Agency: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
• Framework: In line with the WTO’s Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration (2005), which encouraged developed and developing members to provide duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) market access to LDCs.
• Objective:To promote trade-led economic growth of LDCs by granting preferential tariff concessions on their exports to India.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Duty-Free Access
  • Provides duty-free or preferential tariff access to a large range of products exported from LDCs to India.
  • Nearly 98% of India’s tariff lines are now covered under the scheme.
• Eligible Countries
  • Open to all LDCs recognized by the United Nations.
  • Currently, around 48 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific benefit from it.
• Product Coverage
  • Agricultural goods: Fruits, vegetables, grains, spices, coffee, and tea.
  • Textiles & garments: Clothing, fabrics, and handwoven textiles.
  • Leather & handicrafts: Bags, jewelry, and artisan products.
  • Minerals & metals: Including raw materials like gold and diamonds.
  • Processed foods and beverages: Key export commodities for African and Asian LDCs.
• Trade Facilitation: Simplified customs procedures and transparent rules of origin help integrate LDC exporters into global value chains (GVCs).

Recent WTO Recognition

According to the WTO, India now provides one of the widest duty-free market access schemes among developing economies—outperforming China and the EU in terms of product and tariff-line coverage.
This initiative has:

• Enhanced export diversification in LDCs.
• Strengthened India’s trade and diplomatic engagement with Africa and other developing regions.
• Supported inclusive global trade, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals).

Significance

• For LDCs: Encourages industrial growth, employment, and export competitiveness.
• For India: Reinforces its image as a responsible development partner and a leader in South-South cooperation.
• For Global Trade: Promotes equity by integrating vulnerable economies into mainstream trade flows.