India's science and technology sector has witnessed a flurry of activity in the past 24-48 hours, showcasing the nation's commitment to innovation and self-reliance across various domains. From ambitious space missions to transformative educational policies and groundbreaking biotechnological advancements, the country is steadily positioning itself as a global leader.
Space Exploration: ISRO's Upcoming Launch and Gaganyaan Progress
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the CMS-03 communication satellite on November 2, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission, utilizing the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) rocket, will deploy India's heaviest communication satellite to date, weighing approximately 4,400 kg. The CMS-03 is designed to provide extensive communication services across the Indian landmass and wide oceanic regions. The LVM3 vehicle has already been assembled and moved to the launchpad for final preparations.
In another significant development, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced on October 23, 2025, that 90% of the development work for the Gaganyaan mission, India's maiden human spaceflight, has been completed. The ambitious crewed mission is slated for 2027, preceded by three uncrewed test flights.
Artificial Intelligence: Education, Investment, and Economic Impact
In a forward-looking move, the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), under the Ministry of Education, has announced the introduction of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) curriculum for all schools, starting from Class 3. This initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to equip young learners with essential 21st-century skills and promote responsible use of technology from an early age. A stakeholder consultation for this curriculum development was held on October 29, 2025.
The economic impact of AI in India is also a major highlight, with projections indicating AI could add an astounding $1.7 trillion to the Indian economy by 2035. The IndiaAI Mission has already allocated over ā¹10,300 crore for its initiatives. Reinforcing this growth, Google Cloud announced a substantial $15 billion investment over the next five years (2026-2030) to establish its first AI hub in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh, further boosting India's AI infrastructure and capabilities.
Separately, Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, Starlink, is conducting demo runs in Mumbai on October 30-31, 2025, to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements for satellite broadband services in India, marking a significant step towards its entry into the Indian market.
Biotechnology: Policy, Innovation, and Growth
India is poised to lead the global biotechnology revolution in 2025, largely due to the government's pioneering BIO-E3 policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment). Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the rapid growth of India's bioeconomy, which aims to reach $300 billion by 2030. Recent breakthroughs include the indigenous development of the antibiotic 'Nafithromycin' for resistant respiratory infections and successful gene therapy trials for Hemophilia. The vast bio-potential of India's Northeast region is also being leveraged to drive economic growth through technology-driven interventions in aromatic and floricultural crops.
Defense and Science Promotion
In the defense sector, the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative has emerged as a key driver for indigenous defense innovations. The program has awarded 650 innovation and development contracts worth $344 million, significantly strengthening India's self-reliance in defense technology. On October 30, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also transferred technology for eight defense products to industry partners at SAMANVAY 2025.
Further promoting scientific discourse and advancements, the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 held its curtain raiser on October 31, 2025, featuring a dedicated session on "Health & Medical Technologies" to highlight India's progress in accessible and technology-driven healthcare solutions.