๐ Topic 06 of 6 ยท Chapter 08 ยท Nanotechnology & Material Science
India Nano Mission & Revision
India Nano Mission, DST, key centres, ethical concerns, complete revision โ UPSC & PSC exams.
โ๏ธ India’s Nano Mission
- Launched in 2007 by DST (Department of Science and Technology)
- Initial budget: โน1,000 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
โ๏ธ Ethical Concerns in Nanotechnology
- Toxicity โ nanoparticles may be toxic to humans and environment; nano-silver in water can harm aquatic life
- Privacy โ nano-sensors could enable surveillance without knowledge
- Environmental impact โ nanoparticles may accumulate in food chain
- Nano-weapons โ potential military applications; nano-explosives
- Regulation gap โ existing regulations don’t cover nanomaterials adequately
- India’s National Nanotechnology Initiative includes safety and ethical guidelines
โ Chapter 08 โ Complete Revision Checklist
โ
Nanotechnology = 1โ100 nanometre scale
โ Father of Nanotechnology = Richard Feynman (1959)
โ Term “nanotechnology” = Norio Taniguchi (1974)
โ Graphene = single layer carbon = strongest material = Nobel Prize Physics 2010
โ Carbon nanotubes = strongest material; excellent conductor
โ Fullerenes (Cโโ) = Buckyballs = Nobel Prize Chemistry 1996
โ Quantum dots = size-dependent colour = Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023
โ Nanomedicine = targeted drug delivery = nanoparticles for cancer
โ mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) use lipid nanoparticles
โ India Nano Mission = 2007 = DST = โน1,000 crore
โ India = top 5 in nanotechnology research publications
โ IFFCO Nano Urea = India’s first nano-fertilizer = 2021
โ Shape Memory Alloys = Nitinol = return to shape when heated
โ STM (Scanning Tunnelling Microscope) = 1981 = Nobel Prize 1986
โ Nano water filters = remove bacteria, viruses, heavy metals
โ Father of Nanotechnology = Richard Feynman (1959)
โ Term “nanotechnology” = Norio Taniguchi (1974)
โ Graphene = single layer carbon = strongest material = Nobel Prize Physics 2010
โ Carbon nanotubes = strongest material; excellent conductor
โ Fullerenes (Cโโ) = Buckyballs = Nobel Prize Chemistry 1996
โ Quantum dots = size-dependent colour = Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023
โ Nanomedicine = targeted drug delivery = nanoparticles for cancer
โ mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) use lipid nanoparticles
โ India Nano Mission = 2007 = DST = โน1,000 crore
โ India = top 5 in nanotechnology research publications
โ IFFCO Nano Urea = India’s first nano-fertilizer = 2021
โ Shape Memory Alloys = Nitinol = return to shape when heated
โ STM (Scanning Tunnelling Microscope) = 1981 = Nobel Prize 1986
โ Nano water filters = remove bacteria, viruses, heavy metals