Indian Science Congress Replaced by Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC)
In a significant shift for India's scientific community, the Indian Science Congress (ISC), a platform that has served for over a century, is being replaced by the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC). The first edition of ESTIC is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in November 2025. This transition signals a move towards a more structured and innovation-driven forum, aligning scientific research with national priorities like Viksit Bharat 2047. The ISC, established in 1914, had faced criticisms regarding its effectiveness, academic quality, and relevance in recent years, leading to its decline. ESTIC, organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with various ministries, aims to focus on deep-tech and showcase cutting-edge research, with its inaugural event expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ministry of Defence Unveils Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR-2025)
The Ministry of Defence has released the Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap 2025 (TPCR-2025), a comprehensive 15-year strategy aimed at enhancing India's military preparedness and modernization. This blueprint guides the Armed Forces with long-term goals for technology development and promotes self-reliance under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. The roadmap emphasizes multi-domain operations across land, sea, air, cyber, and space, and highlights key areas such as indigenous production, advanced drones with stealth capabilities, AI-enabled loitering munitions, and electronic and cyber warfare readiness. Specific plans include the Navy's pursuit of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, next-generation battle tanks for the Army, and directed-energy weapons for the Air Force. The TPCR-2025 encourages greater public-private sector partnerships in defence research and development.
Chhattisgarh Launches 'Mission Antariksh' and 'Project Jai Vigyan' to Foster Scientific Temper
In an effort to promote scientific thinking and innovation among students, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai launched 'Mission Antariksh' and 'Project Jai Vigyan' on Teachers' Day. These initiatives will establish science clubs in 101 schools across Raipur district and conduct workshops on space and satellites in over 200 schools for 75 days. The projects aim to provide hands-on experiences, expert lectures, and opportunities to participate in national-level science competitions, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Memorandums of Understanding were signed with the Igniting Dreams of Young Minds (IDYM) Foundation and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) to facilitate these programs, which were inspired by Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS).
APEDA Introduces BHARATI Initiative to Boost Agri-Food Exports
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched the BHARATI (Bharat's Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement) initiative in September 2025. This program aims to incubate and empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups to become export-ready, accelerating innovation and creating new export opportunities. BHARATI aligns with India's ambitious goal to achieve US$ 50 billion (ā¹4.4 lakh crore) in agri-food exports by 2030. The initiative will focus on high-value products like GI-tagged items, organic foods, and superfoods, while promoting advanced technologies such as AI-based quality control, blockchain traceability, and IoT-enabled cold chains.
India to Witness Total Lunar Eclipse on September 7-8, 2025
A rare celestial event, a total lunar eclipse, will be visible across India on the night of September 7 and into the early hours of September 8, 2025. This "Blood Moon" phenomenon occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that gives the Moon a coppery-red hue. The eclipse is expected to be one of the longest in a decade, with 82 minutes of totality. Major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru will offer excellent vantage points for this spectacle. This event highlights India's growing interest and capabilities in space observation, building on ISRO's extensive lunar studies through missions like Chandrayaan-1, 2, and 3, and its future plans for Chandrayaan-4 and the collaborative LUPEX mission with Japan.