Daily Current Affairs 07 October 2026 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 07 October 2026 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

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Bihar’s Higher Education Reforms And Demographic Dividend

Source: Indian Express
GS I: Population and demographic dividend, Regional disparities in development, GS II: Issues relating development and management of social sector/ services relating to Education, GS III: Skill development, Employment and human capital 

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Why in the News?

Bihar is undertaking a major expansion and reform of its higher-education system, focusing on access, transparent recruitment, university leadership, technology, academic discipline and employability.

News in Brief

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• Bihar has opened 211 government degree colleges, mainly in areas where access to higher education has been limited.
• The state recruited 2,451 contractual assistant professors through a centralised process that received more than 23,000 applications.
• Recruitment for 10 Vice-Chancellor positions received nearly 8,000 applications, with emphasis on wider and more transparent selection.
• Technology platforms such as Samarth and a unified academic calendar are being used to improve administration and ensure timely academic processes.

Key Highlights

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Expanding Access to Higher Education

• Bihar has opened 211 government degree colleges, particularly in areas that previously lacked convenient access to higher education.
• Distance from a college can significantly influence whether rural students, especially women, continue education after Class XII.
• Many of these new colleges are still developing their infrastructure, faculty and administrative systems.
• They should therefore be viewed as foundations for future institutions, rather than fully developed colleges at present.

Transparent Recruitment of Teachers

• Bihar appointed 2,451 contractual assistant professors through a centralized recruitment process.
• More than 23,000 applications were received and the process was completed in about 30 days.
• The emphasis was on ensuring that qualified candidates believe that merit, rather than influence, determines selection.
• The newly appointed teachers will help establish academic practices and teaching cultures in relatively new colleges.

Improving University Leadership

• Bihar is also reviewing the process of selecting Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Vice-Chancellors.
• Nearly, 8,000 applications were received for 10 Vice-Chancellor positions through an online process.
• A wider pool of candidates is important, but numbers alone cannot guarantee quality appointments.
• Careful scrutiny, credible search committees and matching individual capabilities with institutional requirements remain essential.

Technology-Enabled Governance

• Samarth, an e-governance platform developed under the Ministry of Education, is being expanded across Bihar’s higher-education system.
• For students, it can provide a common digital window for;
  • Institutional information
  • Courses and admissins
  • Registration
  • Examinations
  • Results
  • Opportunities
• For administrators, digital systems can integrate processes such as employee records, finance and institutional monitoring.
• Such platforms can also make it easier to identify where administrative processes have stalled.

Unified Academic Calender

• Bihar is introducing a uniform academic calendar across state universities.
• The purpose is to ensure that classes, examinations and results take place within predictable timelines.
• Timely results are important because delays can affect students’ jobs, scholarships and further admissions.
• Academic discipline is therefore closely connected with educational justice.

Quality Inside the Classroom

• Infrastructure and technology alone cannot guarantee quality education.
• The reforms will ultimately be tested in classrooms through;
  • Regular and effective teaching
  • Reading, writing and discussion-based learning
  • Mentoring of students
  • Stronger libraries and laboratories
  • Relevant curricula
  • Better faculty development
  • Fair assessment
  • Research support
  • Greater institutional autonomy with accountability
• Employability should be integrated into education without reducing higher education merely to vocational training.

Building Colleges as Institutions

• New buildings, digital portals and appointments create capacity, but do not automatically create educational quality.
• Sustainable institutions require;
  • Capable faculty
  • Academic leadership
  • Research culture
  • Institutional autonomy
  • Accountability
  • Academic decision-making

Nalanda University and the “Nalanda Approach”

• Bihar also has Nalanda University, although it operates outside the statue university system.
• The idea of the “Nalanda Approach” seeks to connect Bihar’s educational institutions with;
  • India’s civilizational knowledge traditions
  • Contemporary challenges
  • Global academic engagement
• The broader objective is to make Bihar’s universities locally rooted, nationally relevant and globally connected.

Significance for Bihar

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• Bihar’s young population can become a demographic dividend only when young people have access to quality education and employment opportunities.
• The present reforms seeks to build an integrated  higher-education ecosystem.
• The effort is particularly significant for Bihar, a state with a very young population and a large rural population.
• The larger challenge is to ensure that rapid expansion is accompanied by quality, accountability and institutional capacity.

Conclusion

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Bihar’s higher-education reforms can help convert its young population into a demographic dividend, provided that rapid expansion is matched by quality teaching, accountable leadership, academic discipline and better learning outcomes. The focus must now shift from merely creating institutions to building institutions that deliver quality and opportunity.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

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Consider the following statements:

1. Education was shifted from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.
2. The University Grants Commission is concerned with coordination and maintenance of standards in higher education.
3. NAAC is responsible for ranking higher-education institutions under the National Institutional Ranking Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

Mains Practice Question

Q) Expansion of higher education infrastructure alone cannot ensure a demographic dividend. Discuss the importance of faculty quality, institutional leadership, technology and academic discipline in improving higher education outcomes in India. (150 words)

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SME Growth Fund 2026 And Its Role In Strengthening Indian SMEs

Source: PIB
GS III: Indian Economy- MSMEs and Employment, Manufacturing and industrialization, Access to finance, Export Competitiveness, Technology adoption, Regional industrial development, Global value chains, Inclusive growth, Atmanirbhar Bharat

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Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund (SGF) to provide long-term equity capital to high-potential Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

News in Brief

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• The ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund will provide patient equity capital to viable and scalable SMEs.
• The fund will operate as a direct equity investment fund through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) established under the SGF framework.
• It will particularly support manufacturing-oriented SMEs and enterprises located in industrial clusters in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
• The initiative seeks to strengthen innovation, manufacturing capacity, employment generation, exports and India’s participation in global value chains.

Classification of SMEs

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Under the latest criteria effective from April 2025;

Category	Investment limit	Turnover limit
Small enterprise	Up to ₹25 crore	Up to ₹100 crore
Medium enterprise	Up to ₹125 crore	Up to ₹500 crore

• The classification is based on investment in plant and machinery/equipment and annual turnover.

India’s MSME Ecosystem

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• According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, MSMEs account for;
  • 31.1% of GDP
  • 35.4% of manufacturing output
  • 48.58% of exports
• As of 6 October 2026, registrations under Udyam and the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) stood at around 9.78 crore, reporting about 43.28 crore employment opportunities.
• Female-owned enterprises account for 37.6% of registrations.
• Among registered MSMEs;
  • Trading: ~4.08 crore
  • Services: ~3.77 crore
  • Manufacturing: ~1.93 crore

What is the SME Growth Fund?

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• The SME Growth Fund is designed to address the shortage of growth-stage equity capital available to small and medium enterprises.
• Existing equity funds largely cater to early-stage and micro enterprises, creating a gap for SMEs that have already established viable businesses but need additional capital to expand.

Investment Structure

• The fund will operate through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), a privately pooled investment vehicle established in India that raises funds from investors and invests them according to a defined investment policy.
• The SGF will therefore provide direct equity investment rather than functioning merely as a conventional credit-support mechanism.

Strategic Focus

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Manufacturing 

• A major share of the fund will support small and medium manufacturing enterprises seeking to;
  • Expand manufacturing capacity
  • Adopt advanced technologies
  • Improve productivity
  • Strengthen export competitiveness

Industrial Clusters

• The fund will also consider SMEs operating in industrial clusters in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
• This can promote:
  • Balanced regional industrial development
  • Stronger local supply chains
  • Quality employment opportunities

How Growth Capital Can Help SMEs

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• Long-term equity capital can enable enterprises to:
  • Scale operations
  • Undertake acquisitions
  • Foster innovation
  • Adopt advanced technology
  • Make strategic investments
  • Integrate into global value chains
  • Invest in manufacturing capacity
  • Expand into international markets

Expected Impact

• The fund is expected to;
  • Support enterprises operating in sectors of national importance.
  • Help SMEs expand their capacity and generate employment.
  • Improve enterprises-level scale and competitiveness
  • Build a pipeline of Indian companies capable of becoming sectoral champions.
  • Promote innovation-led industrialization.

Broader MSME Support Ecosytem

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• The SME Growth Fund complements existing government interventions;

Focus Area	Full Form / Scheme
Credit and finance	CGTMSE – Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises
Employment generation	PMEGP – Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme
End-to-end support	PM Vishwakarma – Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma
Training & entrepreneurship	ESDP – Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme; ASPIRE – A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship
Technology & infrastructure	RAMP – Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance; ZED – Zero Defect Zero Effect; Tool Rooms & Technology Centres
Public procurement	MSME SAMBANDH – MSME procurement monitoring portal; SC/ST Hub – National SC-ST Hub

Significance for the Indian Economy

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• The SME Growth Fund can help address the growth-stage financing gap faced by SMEs.
• By combining equity capital with technology adoption, capacity expansion and market access, it can help viable enterprises move from small-scale operations towards larger and more competitive businesses.
• Its focus on manufacturing and Tier -II/Tier-III industrial clusters also supports regional industrialization, employment generation and stronger domestic supply chains.
• The initiative complements India’s broader efforts towards reforms, digitalization, credit support and ease of doing business, while contributing to Atmanirbar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047.

Conclusion

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The SME Growth Fund strengthens India’s MSME ecosystem by addressing the need for growth-stage equity capital. By supporting technology adoption, manufacturing expansion, innovation and market access, it can help promising SMEs scale up, generate employment and become more competitive.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

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Consider the following statements regarding the SME Growth Fund:

1. It has an approved commitment of ₹10,000 crore.
2. It will operate through Alternative Investment Funds under the SGF framework.
3. Its focus is limited exclusively to micro enterprises.
4. It will support SMEs in industrial clusters in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4 only

Mains Practice Question

Q) MSMEs are crucial for employment, manufacturing and exports, but access to growth-stage capital remains a challenge. Discuss how the SME Growth Fund can strengthen the competitiveness and expansion of Indian SMEs. (250 words)

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Integrated Transport And Logistics Authority (ITLA)

Source: PIB
GS III: Infrastructure, Transport, Logistics, Multimodal Connectivity, Data-driven Governance

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Why in the News?

The Union Government approved the setting up of the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) on 6 October 2026 to strengthen integrated planning, project appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment across India’s transport and logistics sectors.

News in Brief

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• ITLA will act as a national apex institution for integrated transport and logistics planning, research, project appraisal and monitoring.
• It will prepare a National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of 10 years or more.
• It will technically appraise and monitor major Government infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more.
• ITLA will develop a National Transport Data Repository (NTDR) by integrating datasets such as GSTN e-way bills, FASTag, Vahan, GPS-based systems and urban traffic data.

Key Features of ITLA

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National Transport Master Plan

• ITLA will prepare a comprehensive 10-year or longer-term National Transport Master Plan.
• It will cover roads, railways, ports and shipping, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility, logistics.

Integrated Planning

• ITLA will assess short-term sectoral plans of around five years and annual plans of transport ministries to ensure their alignment with the National Transport Master Plan.
• This is intended to promote multimodal infrastructure development rather than isolated development of individual transport modes.

Project Appraisal and Monitoring

• ITLA will undertake technical appraisal of Government of India infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more.
• Financial appraisal will continue through existing financial appraisal mechanisms.
• It will monitor transport and infrastructure projects above ₹500 crore.
• It will also conduct post-implementation impact assessments.

National Transport Data Repository

• The NTDR will integrate transport and logistics data from multiple sources, including;
  • GSTN e-way bills
  • FASTag
  • Vahan
  • GPS-based systems
  • Urban traffic management systems
• This data can support freight-flow analysis, origin-destination analysis, planning, monitoring and impact assessment.

Logistics Policy Support

• ITLA will advise on the review and updating of the National Logistics Policy, 2022.
• It will also contribute to capacity  building, training and skilling in the logistics sector.

Research and Innovation

• The authority will promote research and innovation in the transport and logistics sectors.

Key Benefits

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• Unified infrastructure planning: Provides an apex mechanism for coordinated transport planning.
• Inter-ministerial coordination: Improves coordination among ministries dealing with transport and logistics.
• Evidence-based planning: The unified data repository can support data-driven decisions.
• Better project outcomes: Monitoring and post-implementation assessment can identify implementation gaps.
• Institutional capacity: Strengthens expertise in planning, big-data integration, project monitoring and evaluation.
• Multimodal connectivity: Encourages integration across different modes of transport.

Significance for India

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• India’s expanding transport network requires greater coordination between different modes of transport.
• ITLA is intended to reduce fragmented planning and improve infrastructure efficiency through integrated planning, data-driven decision-making and multimodal connectivity.
• It will complement existing initiatives such as PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy.
• Similar institutional approaches exist in countries including Korea, Japan, the US, China and Australia.

Way Forward and Conclusion

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Strengthening inter-ministerial coordination, ensuring reliable and interoperable transport data, and using effective project monitoring and post-implementation assessment will be crucial for ITLA’s success.

By promoting integrated and multimodal planning, ITLA can improve infrastructure efficiency, logistics performance and evidence-based decision-making, thereby supporting India’s Vision 2047 and a more competitive logistics ecosystem.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

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Consider the following statements regarding the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA):

1. It will prepare a National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of 10 years or more.
2. It will undertake technical appraisal of Central Government infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more.
3. It will undertake financial appraisal of all such projects.
4. It will develop a unified National Transport Data Repository.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only

Mains Practice Question

Q) The creation of the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority marks a shift towards integrated and data-driven infrastructure planning in India. Discuss its potential significance for improving multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency. (250 words)

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India’s Additive Manufacturing Ecosystem

Source: PIB
GS III: Science and technology, Indigenization of technology, Manufacturing, Infrastructure

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Why in the News?

The PIB highlighted India’s progress in Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, and the next phase of the National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM 2.0).

News in Brief

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• NSAM was launched by MeitY in February 2022 as India’s policy framework for additive manufacturing.
• More than 1.54 lakh people have been trained and 56 AM start-ups supported under the strategy.
• NSAM 2.0 aims to accelerate commercialization, IPR generation, digital integration, affordable machines and materials, and international cooperation.
• AM is being applied in space, defence, healthcare, electronics and construction, among other sectors.

What is Additive Manufacturing?

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• Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a digital manufacturing process in which a physical object is created layer by layer from a digital design, rather than removing material from a larger block.
• It combines CAD, computing, electronics, AI, design software and materials science.

How does 3D printing work?

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• The process begins with a digital/CAD design, which can be created digitally or obtained through 3D scanning or AI-assisted methods.
• The design is then converted into an STL file, which represents the 3D model through triangular surfaces.
• Next, slicing software divides the model into numerous horizontal layers and provides instructions for layer-by-layer printing.
• The 3D printer follows these instructions and deposits material successively to build the object.
• Finally, the layers are fused into a complete three-dimensional object, followed by post-processing to make the final product marketable.

Materials Used

• Thermoplastics: ABS, polycarbonate, PLA and PVA.
• Metals: Gold, silver, stainless steel, titanium and other alloys.
• Ceramics: Zirconia, alumina and tricalcium phosphate.
• Biomaterials: Silicon, calcium phosphate, zinc and bio-inks derived from stem cells.

Major Applications in India

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Space and Aerospace

• AM enables production of lighter and complex components.
• In May 2024, Agnikul Cosmos demonstrated a single-piece, AM-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine through Agnibaan SOrTeD.

Defence

• The Indian Army used AM for a two-storey dwelling unit in Ahmedabad, constructed in 12 weeks.
• Applications are also being extended to precast defence structures in Ladakh.
• NSAM supports AM-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities.

Healthcare 

• AM can produce patient-specific implants and bone grafts.
• Indigenous bioceramic materials can help reduce dependence on imported medical technology.
• Research is also exploring bio-printed tissues and organs.

Electronics

• AM has been used to develop components such as batteries, antennas, varistors and capacitors.
• IISc has also demonstrated Photonic Integrated Circuit blocks using AM printing.

Construction

• The Kelvin 6K Pro has demonstrated construction of 2,500 sq ft homes in under 30 days using low-carbon geopolymer material.
• Potential benefits include:
  • Lower material and logistics costs
  • Lower carbon emissions
  • Faster construction
• Early applications indicate potential for 30% lower material and logistics costs and 90% lower emissions compared with cement-based construction.

National Strategy for Addictive Manufacturing (NSAM)

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• NSAM provides a national framework for developing India’s 3D printing and additive manufacturing ecosystem.
• It brings together the Centre, States, industry and academia.

Development and Deployment Centres

• The government has established seven specialized centres for R&D, skilling and technology access.
• Centres cover areas such as medical devices, renewable energy, food processing, optoelectronics and optical computing chips.

NSAM 2.0

• The proposed next phase focuses on;
  • Accelerating IPR generation
  • Expanding the AM network through digital integration
  • Developing globally competitive technologies
  • Commercialization of indigenous technologies
  • Making machines and materials more affordable
  • Strengthening the AM-electronics value chain
  • Expanding start-ups
  • Supporting defence applications
  • SDG-oriented pilot projects
  • International cooperation on standards, joint research and technology partnerships.

Other Initiatives

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Atal Tinkering Labs

• Schools are being exposed to 3D printing through Atal Tinkering Labs, which receive grants of ₹20 lakh and provide facilities such as 3D printers, robotics and IoT kits for students from Classes VI–XII.

National Additive Manufacturing Symposium (NAMS)

• NAMS provides a platform connecting policymakers, scientists, industry, start-ups and academia.
• The second edition was organized by MeitY on 13 March 2026 in New Delhi, with discussions on NSAM 2.0, defence applications and R&D centres.

ESTIC 2026

• The Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2026) will be held from 27–29 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Its theme is “Creative Minds, Catalyzing Science, Empowering Technologies.”
• AM is among the emerging technologies highlighted at the event.

Significance and Challenges for India

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• Additive Manufacturing strengthens Atmanirbhar Bharat b building indigenous manufacturing capabilities and reducing import dependence through domestic production of advanced components and medical devices.
• It promotes innovation by enabling rapid prototyping and the creation of complex designs, while also supporting strategic sectors such as defence and space.
• The technology can generate demand for specialized technical skills and employment, and where appropriately applied, can contribute to sustainability by reducing material wastage and emissions.
• It also supports the transition towards Industry 5.0 through digital, flexible and distributed manufacturing.

Challenges

• India faces challenges such as high costs of AM machines and materials, limited commercialization of indigenous technologies, skill gaps, and the need for stronger R&D and IPR generation.
• Other concerns include standardization, strengthening the AM- electronics value chain, improving industry-academia collaboration, and expanding international technology partnerships.

Way Forward and Conclusion

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India should focus on commercializing indigenous AM technologies, making machines and materials affordable, strengthening R&D and IPR, developing skilled manpower, and improving industry-academia collaboration. Greater emphasis on standards, international partnerships and AM applications in strategic sectors can further strengthen the ecosystem.

With these measures, Additive Manufacturing can move beyond laboratories into factories, hospitals and strategic sectors, strengthening indigenous capabilities, reducing import dependence and creating skilled employment. It can thus become an important enabler of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Industry 5.0 and Viksit Bharat 2047.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

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With reference to Additive Manufacturing in India, consider the following statements:

1. It has applications in space and aerospace.
2. It is being explored for customized medical implants.
3. It has applications in electronics manufacturing.
4. It is being explored for low-carbon construction.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: D

Mains Practice Question

Q) Additive manufacturing can transform India’s manufacturing ecosystem by combining digital technologies with indigenous production capabilities. Discuss its potential, applications and challenges in India. (150 words)

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