📌 Topic 06 of 6 · Chapter 08 · Nanotechnology & Material Science
India Nano Mission & Revision
India Nano Mission, DST, key centres, ethical concerns, complete revision — UPSC & PSC exams.
⚗️ India’s Nano Mission
- Launched in 2007 by DST (Department of Science and Technology)
- Initial budget: ₹1,000 crore; extended in subsequent phases
- Objectives: basic research, infrastructure development, human resource development, international collaboration
- India ranks among top 5 countries in nanotechnology research publications globally
- Key research centres: IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IISc Bengaluru, CSIR labs
- India has 500+ nanotechnology patents filed annually
⚗️ Ethical Concerns in Nanotechnology
- Toxicity — nanoparticles may be toxic to humans and environment; nano-silver in water can harm aquatic life
- Privacy — nano-sensors could enable surveillance without knowledge
- Environmental impact — nanoparticles may accumulate in food chain
- Nano-weapons — potential military applications; nano-explosives
- Regulation gap — existing regulations don’t cover nanomaterials adequately
- India’s National Nanotechnology Initiative includes safety and ethical guidelines
✅ Chapter 08 — Complete Revision Checklist
✅ Nanotechnology = 1–100 nanometre scale
✅ Father of Nanotechnology = Richard Feynman (1959)
✅ Term “nanotechnology” = Norio Taniguchi (1974)
✅ Graphene = single layer carbon = strongest material = Nobel Prize Physics 2010
✅ Carbon nanotubes = strongest material; excellent conductor
✅ Fullerenes (C₆₀) = Buckyballs = Nobel Prize Chemistry 1996
✅ Quantum dots = size-dependent colour = Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023
✅ Nanomedicine = targeted drug delivery = nanoparticles for cancer
✅ mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) use lipid nanoparticles
✅ India Nano Mission = 2007 = DST = ₹1,000 crore
✅ India = top 5 in nanotechnology research publications
✅ IFFCO Nano Urea = India’s first nano-fertilizer = 2021
✅ Shape Memory Alloys = Nitinol = return to shape when heated
✅ STM (Scanning Tunnelling Microscope) = 1981 = Nobel Prize 1986
✅ Nano water filters = remove bacteria, viruses, heavy metals
✅ Father of Nanotechnology = Richard Feynman (1959)
✅ Term “nanotechnology” = Norio Taniguchi (1974)
✅ Graphene = single layer carbon = strongest material = Nobel Prize Physics 2010
✅ Carbon nanotubes = strongest material; excellent conductor
✅ Fullerenes (C₆₀) = Buckyballs = Nobel Prize Chemistry 1996
✅ Quantum dots = size-dependent colour = Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023
✅ Nanomedicine = targeted drug delivery = nanoparticles for cancer
✅ mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) use lipid nanoparticles
✅ India Nano Mission = 2007 = DST = ₹1,000 crore
✅ India = top 5 in nanotechnology research publications
✅ IFFCO Nano Urea = India’s first nano-fertilizer = 2021
✅ Shape Memory Alloys = Nitinol = return to shape when heated
✅ STM (Scanning Tunnelling Microscope) = 1981 = Nobel Prize 1986
✅ Nano water filters = remove bacteria, viruses, heavy metals