Technology missions

Technology missions in India were started in 1987. Read here to know more about the major technology missions.

A Technology Mission includes projects that have well-defined objectives, scopes, and implementation timelines to aid the technological advancements in the country.

These missions were first proposed by Rajiv Gandhi-led government in 1987 as an offshoot of the Seventh Plan in the fields of literacy, immunization, oilseeds, drinking water, dairy products, and telecommunication.

Since then many technology missions on pulses, oil palm, maize, Railways, nanotechnology, technical textiles, etc have been introduced. These are funded jointly by the Center and State along with related agencies.

Recent Technology Missions

The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology Innovation and Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) formulated nine technology missions between October 2018 and January 2019.

The Nine technology missions identified are:

1. Natural Language Translation
2. Quantum Frontier
3. Artificial Intelligence
4. National Biodiversity
5. Electrical Vehicles
6. BioScience and Human Health
7. Waste to Wealth
8. Deep Ocean Exploration
9. Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations (AGNIi)

Each of these missions will be led by a Ministry and will engage international and national institutional partners, young scientists, and industry partners.

All these missions are formulated keeping in mind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Also read: National Quantum Mission

Mission 1: Natural Language Translation

The Mission aims to make opportunities and progress in science and technology accessible to all by removing the barrier that the requirement of the high level of facility in English poses today.

Using a combination of machine and human translation, the mission will eventually enable access to teaching and research material bilingually i.e. in English and one’s native Indian language.

Lead Agencies:

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
• Ministry of Human Resource Development
• Department of Science and Technology

SDGs related to the Mission:

• SDG1: No poverty
• SDG2: Zero Hunger
• SDG3: Good Health and Well Being
• SDG4: Quality Education
• SDG8: Decent work and economic growth
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG10: Reduced Inequalities

Mission 2: Quantum Frontier

It aims to initiate work in control of the quantum mechanical systems, with a large number of degrees of freedom, as one of the great contemporary challenges in fundamental science and technology.

Building excellence in the quantum frontier will also be essential for national security and in the development of quantum computers, quantum chemistry, quantum communication, new materials, quantum sensors, and quantum cryptography.

Lead Agencies:

• Department of Science and Technology
• Department of Space Department of Atomic Energy
• Defence Research and Development Organisation
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

SDGs related to the Mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Mission 3: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This Mission will facilitate the advancement in the field of Artificial Intelligence by engaging closely with academia and industry to develop core research capability.

Objectives:

• To deploy intelligent systems in a variety of decision-making tasks and enable better connectivity and enhance productivity
• To create new knowledge and develop new applications of intelligent systems
• To use intelligent systems with a focus on addressing India’s societal needs across areas like healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, infrastructure, and mobility

Lead agencies:

• NITI Aayog
• Department of Science and Technology
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
• Department of Biotechnology

SDGs related to the Mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing
• SDG4: Quality Education
• SDG8: Decent Work and Economic growth
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG11: Sustainable cities and communities
• SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Mission 4: National Biodiversity Mission

This Mission aims to build exhaustive documentation of countries’ biodiversity by cataloging and mapping all lifeforms.

Objectives: 

• To assess India’s biodiversity status in terms of distribution and conservation.
• To develop a professional cadre to handle large sets of environmental data for management and monitoring of biodiversity
• To expand knowledge in ecosystem functioning which provides updation on restoration efforts
• To enhance choices for agricultural production and livelihoods
• To formulate a dynamic biodiversity-based sustainable economy anchored by a reliable information system
• To engage the public for security and the general well-being of society

Lead agencies: 

• Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
• Department of Biotechnology

SDGs related to the Mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG2: Zero Hunger
• SDG4: Quality Education
• SDG8: Decent Work and Economic growth
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG13: Climate Action
• SDG14: Life Below Water
• SDG15: Life on Land

Mission 5: Electric Vehicles (EVs)

This Mission is critical for India to reduce fossil fuel consumption and mitigate emissions by facilitating the production of Electric Vehicles (EVs) economically.

Objectives:

• To facilitate focused research, development, and innovation to build indigenous capability
• To develop vehicle subsystems and components for Indian requirements including rare-earth-based electric motors, Li-ion batteries, power electronics, etc.

Lead Partners:

• Department of Science and Technology
• Department of Heavy Industries
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Ministry of Power
• NITI Aayog

SDGs related to the Mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing
• SDG7: Affordable and Clean energy
• SDG8: Decent work and Economic growth
• SDG9: Industry, innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG11: Sustainable cities and communities
• SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG13: Climate Action

Mission 6: BioScience for Human Health

This Mission will utilize healthy and disease-affected samples to understand the impact of nature and nurture on human health.

Objectives:

• To construct comprehensive reference maps of genomes, and understand the dynamics of how exposure to different environmental impacts our bodies
• To focus on the genomic study of human populations to identify and unravel the genetic basis and prevalence of rare and inherited diseases
• To improve diagnosis and treatment techniques, that can ultimately feed into the health care system of the country

Lead agencies:

• Department of Biotechnology
• Department of Health Research
• Department of Health
• Department of Science and Technology
• Department of Atomic Energy

SDGs related to the Mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG3: Good Health and wellbeing
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Mission 7: Waste to Wealth

This Mission will identify, develop, and deploy technologies to treat waste to generate energy, recycle materials, and extract worth.

Objectives:

• To identify and support the development of new technologies that can help create a cleaner and greener environment
• To boost and augment the Swachh Bharat Mission and Smart Cities Project by leveraging science, technology, and innovation
• To create circular economic models that are financially viable for waste management
• To streamline waste handling in India

Lead agencies:

• Department of Biotechnology
• Department of Science and Technology
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• Ministry of Urban Development
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

SDGs related to the mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing
• SDG6: Clean water and Sanitation
• SDG7:Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG13: Climate Action
• SDG14: Life Below Water
• SDG15: Life on Land

Mission 8: Deep Ocean Exploration

This Mission will explore the deep oceans to improve our understanding of the blue frontier.

Objectives:

• To address issues arising from long-term changes in the ocean due to climate change
• To develop technologies for the deep-sea exploration of living (biodiversity) and non-living (minerals) resources
• To develop underwater vehicles and underwater robotics
• To provide ocean climate change advisory services
• To identify technological innovations and conservation methods for sustainable utilization of marine bio-resources
• To develop offshore-based desalination techniques
• To develop renewable energy generation techniques

Lead agencies:

• Ministry of Earth Sciences
• Department of Biotechnology
• Department of Space
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
• Defense Research and Development Organisation
• Geological Survey of India
• National Hydrographic Office
• National Biodiversity Authority

SDGs related to the mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG13: Climate action
• SDG14: Life Below Water

Mission 9: AGNIi (Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations)

This Mission will boost the innovation ecosystem in the country and help commercialize innovative solutions.

Objectives:

• To support nation-wide efforts to boost India’s innovation ecosystem by bridging innovators across industry, individuals, and grassroots to the market and help commercialize innovative solutions
• To provide innovators with a platform to bring their technology-ready products and solutions to the industry and the market
• To propel techno-entrepreneurship which can usher in a new era of inclusive socio-economic growth
• Working with government R&D laboratories and academia to help commercialize their innovations
• Training and capacity building of scientists, innovators, technology transfer offices, and technology license offices

Lead agencies:

• Invest in India

SDGs related to this Mission:

• SDG1: No Poverty
• SDG2: Zero Hunger
• SDG3: Good Health and wellbeing
• SDG4: Quality Education
• SDG6: clean water and sanitation
• SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG8: Decent Work ad economic growth
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG13:Climate Action
• SDG14: Life Below Water
• SDG15: Life on Land
• SDG17:Partnership for the goals

Earlier technology missions

National mission for sustainable agriculture

It is one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Objectives:

• It aims at promoting Sustainable Agriculture through climate change adaptation measures, enhancing agriculture productivity, especially in rainfed areas focusing on integrated farming, soil health management, and synergizing resource conservation.
• It as a programmatic intervention caters to Mission Deliverables that focus mainly on Conservation agriculture to make the farm sector more productive, sustainable, remunerative, and climate-resilient by promoting location specific integrated/composite farming systems.

Schemes under NMSA:

• Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
• Soil Health Management (SHM)
• Sub Mission on Agro-Forestry (SMAF)
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
• Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI)
• National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)
• Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
• National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF)
• Central Fertilizer Quality Control and Training Institute (CFQC&TI)

National Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of MIDH was launched for the holistic development of horticulture in the country during XII Plan.

The Scheme, which took off from 2014-15, integrated the ongoing schemes of:

• National Horticulture Mission
• Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States
• National Bamboo Mission
• National Horticulture Board
• Coconut Development Board
• Central Institute for Horticulture, Nagaland

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region

It covers the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.

Objectives:

• This mission (2015-16 to 2017-18) is a Central Sector Scheme that seeks to capitalize on the organic farming potential of North-East India.
• It aims at the development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers.
• It supports the development of the entire value chain, covering Value Chain Production, Processing, Marketing, and Support Agencies.

Technology Mission on Oilseeds and Pulses

Objectives: 

• The Mission was launched in 1986 to increase the production of oilseeds to reduce imports and achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils.
• Subsequently, pulses and oil palm, and maize were also brought within the purview of the Mission.

Schemes under the mission are:

• Oilseeds Production Program
• National Pulses Development Project
• Accelerated Maize Development Program
• Post-Harvest Technology
• Oil Palm Development Program
• National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oil Development Board

National Mission on Oilseeds and Palm Oil

Objectives:

• To increase the production of vegetable oils sourced from oilseeds, oil palm & tree-borne oilseeds.
• The Mission is implemented through three Mini Missions (Oilseeds, Oil Palm & Tree Borne Oilseeds) with specific targets.
• The strategy includes increasing Seed Replacement Ratio with a focus on varietal replacement; increasing irrigation coverage; diversification of area from low-yielding cereals; intercropping; use of fallow land; expansion of cultivation in watersheds & wastelands; increasing availability of quality planting materials; enhancing procurement of oilseeds and collection and processing of TBOs.

Technology Mission on Coconut

Objectives: 

• The Mission was launched to converge and synergize all the efforts through the integration of existing programs.
• And to address the problems and bridge the gaps through appropriate programs in mission mode to ensure adequate, appropriate, timely, and concurrent action to make coconut farming competitive and to ensure reasonable returns.

Technology Mission on Cotton

Objectives: 

• To improve the yield and quality of the cotton, to increase the income of cotton growers by reducing the cost of cultivation and increasing the yield;
• To improve the quality of processing of cotton.

It had four Mini Missions:

1. Cotton Research and Technology Generation;
2. Transfer of Technology and Development;
3. Development of Market Infrastructure;
4. Modernization / Setting up of new G&P factories

National Livestock Mission

Objectives: 

• The Mission covers all activities required to ensure improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders.
• It covers everything for the improvement of livestock productivity and support projects and initiatives subject to the condition that such initiatives cannot be funded under other Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

It has 4 Sub-Missions:

1. Livestock Development;
2. Pig Development in NE Region;
3. Feed & Fodder Development; and
4. Skill Development, Technology Transfer & Extension

Technology Mission on Literacy

National Digital Literacy Mission

• The Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (DISHA) or National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) Scheme has been formulated to impart IT training to 52.5 lakh persons, including Anganwadi and ASHA workers and authorized ration dealers in all the States/UTs.
• It aims to make non-IT literate citizens IT literate to enable them to actively and effectively participate in the democratic and developmental process and also enhance their livelihood.

National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology

• This mission has been envisaged as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to leverage the potential of ICT in the teaching and learning process for the benefit of all the learners in higher education institutions at any time anywhere mode.

​It has two major components:

1. Providing connectivity, along with provision for access devices to institutions and learners
2. Content generation.

Nano Technology Mission

• The Government of India, in 2007, approved the launch of a Mission on Nano Science & Technology (Nano Mission) for 5 years.
• The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency for implementing the Nano Mission.
• Capacity-building in this area of research will be of utmost importance for the Nano Mission so that India emerges as a global knowledge hub in this field.

Technology Missions on Indian Railways

• This mission is a consortium of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Department of Heavy Industry.
• It is an investment sharing model for taking up identified railway projects for applied research and use on Indian Railways.
• It will also monitor the progress of research projects of the existing Railway Research Centre, Kharagpur, and other 4 upcoming Railway Research Centres sanctioned in Budget 2015-16.
• Thus, Railways’ investment in applied research activities will be fruitfully converted to technology development for actual use in railway working.