Why is nanotechnology one of the key technologies of the 21st century? Describe the salient features of Indian Government’s Mission on Nanoscience and Technology and the scope of its application in the development process of the country.
Approach · directive: “why / describe”
What it asks · Explain why nanotechnology is a general-purpose technology of this century, then describe the Nano Mission's main features and the fields where it can help India's development.
The question has 3 parts — answer each
- Why: nanotechnology is a key technology of the 21st century
- Describe: the salient features of the Nano Mission
- Describe: the scope of its application in India's development
Open with · Nanotechnology works with matter at about 1 to 100 nanometres, where materials show new strength, conductivity, reactivity and optical properties.
Cover
- Why key: properties change at nanoscale, and the technology cuts across health, energy, electronics, materials, water and agriculture, and converges with biotechnology and IT.
- Why key: it promises stronger, lighter and cleaner materials, targeted medicines and sensitive diagnostics, better solar cells and batteries, and smaller, faster devices.
- Nano Mission: launched by the Department of Science and Technology in May 2007 (Rs 1,000 crore for five years) as an umbrella programme for promoting research and development in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
- Features: basic research funding, setting up centres of excellence and shared facilities, applications and technology development, human resource development and international collaboration.
- Features: promotion of industry and public-private partnership, and public awareness and education on nanoscience.
- Applications: safe drinking water through nano-filters, health and diagnostics, farm inputs and food packaging, energy and defence, and textiles and construction materials.
- Concerns: toxicity and environmental risks, lack of standards, high costs, and IPR; hence the need for safety norms and regulation.
Close with · Nanotechnology can advance health, water and energy goals if India invests in research, standards and safe, affordable applications.
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2016, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 306 words (UPSC limit 200) · Minimalist IAS
Nanotechnology engineers matter at 1 to 100 nanometres, where materials acquire new strength, conductivity, reactivity and optical behaviour that bulk matter does not show.
Why a key technology
- Scale changes properties: carbon nanotubes are stronger than steel yet light, silver nanoparticles kill microbes, nano-catalysts react faster; materials can be designed atom by atom.
- General-purpose reach: targeted drugs and sensitive diagnostics, better solar cells and batteries, smaller and faster chips, membranes for water, and inputs for agriculture.
- Convergence: it fuses with biotechnology, information technology and materials science; the countries that lead it gain in manufacturing, health and defence.
Nano Mission: salient features
- Launched by the Department of Science and Technology in May 2007 with Rs 1,000 crore for five years, as an umbrella programme for capacity building in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
- Basic research: grants to individual scientists and research units in nanoscience.
- Infrastructure: centres of excellence and shared facilities for synthesis, characterisation and fabrication, open to institutions nationwide.
- Applications and technology development through joint institution-industry projects, with promotion of public-private partnership.
- Human resource development through postgraduate programmes, fellowships and training, plus international collaboration and public awareness of nanoscience.
Scope in India's development
- Water: nano-membranes and nanoparticle filters to remove arsenic, fluoride and pathogens from rural drinking water cheaply.
- Health: cheap point-of-care diagnostic kits and targeted delivery of drugs for tuberculosis and cancer, cutting dose and side effects.
- Agriculture: nano-fertilisers and pesticides that cut input use, and smart packaging that reduces post-harvest loss.
- Energy, environment and industry: efficient solar cells, LEDs and catalysts, pollution sensors, and lighter, stronger composites, coatings, textiles and cement.
- Caution: nanoparticles can be toxic to people and ecosystems, and standards lag; safety research and regulation must grow with applications.
Nanotechnology can serve India's goals in water, health and energy if the Nano Mission's research is carried into safe, affordable products, with regulation keeping pace.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.