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Module 5 • Science, Energy & Tech2026-07-2616 min read

Emerging Tech, Clean Energy & Nuclear: IndiaAI, Quantum Mission, PM Surya Ghar & SMRs (2025–26)

Target Exam: UPSC & State PSCs National Current Affairs•Official Sources: India National State Gazettes, Budget & Official ReleasesUnion Budget, PIB, Economic Survey & National Official Releases

1. IndiaAI Mission: Democratizing Compute & Foundational Models

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Budgetary Outlay: ₹10,372 crore approved by the Union Cabinet under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
•
AI Compute Infrastructure:
•
Setting up a scalable public-private AI compute capacity of 10,000 to over 45,000 GPUs (Graphics Processing Units).
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Compute access subsidized by up to 50% for domestic AI startups, academic researchers, and public research institutes.
•
Seven Strategic Pillars:
1.
IndiaAI Compute Capacity: Cloud-based high-performance supercomputing infrastructure.
2.
IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC): Developing sovereign multimodal foundational Large Language Models (LLMs) trained on Indian languages.
3.
IndiaAI Datasets Platform: Unified repository of non-personal public data for model fine-tuning.
4.
IndiaAI Application Development Initiative: Critical deployment in healthcare, agriculture, and climate governance.
5.
IndiaAI FutureSkills: Expanding AI educational curricula in Tier-2/3 institutions.
6.
IndiaAI Startup Financing: Early-stage equity and grant funding for deep-tech AI enterprises.
7.
Safe & Trusted AI: Establishing safety frameworks, watermarking, and bias mitigation protocols.

2. National Quantum Mission (NQM): Frontier Physics to Industrial Scale

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Financial Outlay & Tenure: ₹6,003.65 crore (2023–24 to 2030–31), implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
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Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs):
1.
Quantum Computing: Developing 50 to 1,000 physical qubit superconducting and photonic quantum computers.
2.
Quantum Communication: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over 2,000 km ground distance and satellite-based secure quantum links.
3.
Quantum Sensing & Metrology: High-sensitivity atomic clocks, quantum magnetometers, and gravimeters for defense and navigation.
4.
Quantum Materials & Devices: Topological insulators, 2D quantum structures, and single-photon detectors.

3. Clean Energy Transitions: PM Surya Ghar & PM E-DRIVE

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PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana:
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Financial Outlay: ₹75,021 crore to solarize 1 crore households.
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Benefits: Up to 300 units of free electricity per month per household.
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Capital Subsidy: ₹30,000 for 1 kW systems, ₹60,000 for 2 kW, and ₹78,000 for systems ≥ 3 kW.
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Progress: Exceeded 9.57 GW installed capacity and over 1.4 crore consumer applications.
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PM E-DRIVE Scheme (Electric Mobility):
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Financial Outlay: ₹10,900 crore (succeeding FAME-II) for 2 years (2024–2026).
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Incentivization Focus: Subsidies for electric 2-wheelers (e-2W), electric 3-wheelers (e-3W), e-ambulances, and 14,028 e-buses.
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Charging Infrastructure: Accelerated installation of fast public EV chargers along national highways and urban corridors.

4. Nuclear Energy Roadmap 2047 & Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

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Nuclear Capacity Horizon: India plans to expand nuclear power capacity from ~8 GW to 100 GW by 2047 as a baseload zero-carbon pillar.
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Small Modular Reactors (SMRs):
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Deployment of Bharat Small Reactors (BSR) (220 MWe pressurized heavy water design) for captive industrial power (steel, aluminum, chemicals).
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Active policy amendments allowing private sector participation in setting up SMRs while retaining regulatory nuclear safety strictly with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
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Critical Minerals Architecture:
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Identification of 24 critical and strategic minerals (Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Rare Earth Elements, Titanium, Tantalum).
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Launch of tranches of offshore and onshore critical mineral block auctions to de-risk battery and renewable hardware supply.
Key Examination Takeaways:
  • IndiaAI Mission provides ₹10,372 Cr with targeted 10,000 to 45,000+ AI GPUs subsidized for domestic researchers.
  • National Quantum Mission has an outlay of ₹6,003.65 Cr structured across 4 specialized Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs).
  • PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (₹75,021 Cr) targets 1 Cr households with up to 300 units free monthly solar power.
  • Nuclear 2047 roadmap targets 100 GW utilizing Bharat Small Reactors (BSR 220 MWe) and private industrial co-location.
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Q1

What is the total financial outlay approved for the IndiaAI Mission by the Union Cabinet?

Q2

What is the targeted GPU compute capacity envisioned to be built under the IndiaAI Compute Capacity pillar?

Q3

What is the total financial outlay approved for the National Quantum Mission (NQM) spanning 2023–24 to 2030–31?

Q4

What is the total financial outlay of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana launched to install rooftop solar systems?

Q5

Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, what is the maximum Central Financial Assistance (subsidy) provided for residential systems of 3 kW capacity and above?

Q6

Which electric mobility scheme was launched with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore as the successor to FAME-II in 2024–2026?

Q7

What is India's targeted nuclear power generation capacity by the year 2047 under its long-term low-emission development strategy?

Q8

What is the power capacity rating of the indigenous Bharat Small Reactor (BSR) developed for industrial co-location in India?

Q9

Consider the following statements regarding the IndiaAI Mission: 1. It comprises seven core pillars, including the IndiaAI Datasets Platform and IndiaAI FutureSkills. 2. The IndiaAI Innovation Centre is tasked with developing sovereign foundational models trained in indigenous languages. 3. The scheme restricts AI compute infrastructure exclusively to Central Government research agencies. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q10

Which of the following verticals represent the four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) established under the National Quantum Mission (NQM)? 1. Quantum Computing 2. Quantum Communication 3. Quantum Sensing and Metrology 4. Quantum Materials and Devices Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Q11

Consider the following statements regarding PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: 1. It aims to solarize one crore households across the country. 2. Households are entitled to up to 300 units of free electricity every month. 3. The Central Government provides a flat ₹1,00,000 cash subsidy irrespective of rooftop solar system capacity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q12

With reference to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in India's nuclear policy, consider the following statements: 1. SMRs have a power capacity of up to 300 MWe per module and can be factory-fabricated. 2. The Bharat Small Reactor (BSR) repurposes the 220 MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor technology. 3. Private sector companies are permitted to own and operate nuclear safety licensing independently of the AERB. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q13

Consider the following statements regarding the PM E-DRIVE Scheme: 1. It provides financial incentives for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and commercial electric buses. 2. Electric private passenger cars (four-wheelers) receive the largest share of purchase subsidies under the scheme. 3. It incorporates funding for the establishment of public EV charging stations across high-density corridors. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q14

With reference to Critical Minerals in India's strategic clean energy roadmap, consider the following statements: 1. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act empowered the Centre to auction critical mineral blocks. 2. Lithium, Cobalt, and Titanium are classified as critical and strategic minerals under the amended schedule. 3. Royalty rates for lithium and rare earth elements have been fixed at prohibitively high levels exceeding 25% to deter mining. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q15

Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are increasingly favored for industrial co-location near heavy steel and chemical manufacturing clusters. Reason (R): SMRs require smaller physical footprints, feature passive safety systems, and provide reliable zero-carbon thermal heat and baseload power. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?

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