Significance of Emerging Tech

Political
 Strategic & National Security: Enhances digital sovereignty, cyber-defence,
advanced missile guidance, and a nation’s ability to assert influence in global
governance forums.
 Empowers governments with robust e-governance and regulatory tools for
smarter policymaking and security management.
Economic
 Drives Economic Growth: Fuels innovation, competitiveness, and productivity
across sectors (manufacturing, health, energy, governance) by enabling
efficiency and creating new business models.
 Catalyzes new high-tech industries, attracts investment, and opens avenues for
economic diversification.
Social
 Job Creation & Reskilling: Generates new high-skill job opportunities while
demanding constant upskilling and adaptability from the workforce.
 Fosters inclusion through digital outreach, improved healthcare, and real-time
public services, bridging urban-rural divides.
Technological
 Public Service Transformation: Enables predictive governance, targeted
welfare delivery, transparent processes, and real-time crisis response using AI,
Big Data, and IoT.
 Accelerates R&D, innovation, and diffusion of new technologies across sectors for
transformational impact.
Environmental
 Sustainable Solutions: Provides tools for climate adaptation, smart
agriculture, renewable energy integration, and resource optimization.
 Supports carbon emission reductions, efficient energy use, and development of
green infrastructure (smart grids, clean transport).
Legal
 Regulatory Foresight: Necessitates development of new legal frameworks for
data privacy, cybersecurity, AI ethics, and digital rights.

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  Drives transparency, accountability, and compliance in business practices and
public administration.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
 Definition:
AI with human-like reasoning and learning, able to tackle any cognitive task
autonomously.
 Applications:
Adaptive research systems, disaster response, creative arts, autonomous robots
in complex environments.
 Significance:
Potential to revolutionize science, decision-making, and productivity. Raises
critical societal and ethical questions about control, safety, and employment.
 Challenges:
 Alignment & safety problems: Ensuring AGI goals match societal values
 Ethical risks: Decision-making autonomy, privacy, inequality
 Existential risk if poorly controlled
 Lack of robust global safety & accountability standards
 Global Laws/Conventions:
 Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (Council of Europe, 2024):
First legally binding treaty on AI; covers human rights, democracy,
responsible use, and risk management.
 Fragmentation: National laws (EU AI Act, US executive orders, China’s
draft laws) differ, creating gaps in global standardization.
Generative AI (GAI)
 Definition:
Neural models (GPT, DALL-E, etc.) capable of autonomously creating text,
images, music, code, and synthetic data.
 Applications:
Content creation, design, prototyping, education, entertainment, synthetic
research datasets.

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 Significance:
Democratizes creativity and unlocks rapid prototyping but risks misinformation,
plagiarism, and erosion of intellectual property rights.
 Challenges:
 Deepfakes, misinformation, bias in outputs
 Privacy risks with synthetic and real data
 Copyright and fair-use disputes
 Difficulty in establishing creator responsibility and liability
 Regulation lags technology innovation
 Global Laws/Conventions:
 EU AI Act partially regulates generative AI.
 US copyright law: Recognizes only human authors – AI-generated content
faces grey areas.
 Growing calls for harmonized international standards and liability
frameworks.
AI Agents
 Definition:
Goal-driven, adaptive AI systems able to make decisions, interact, and learn
effectively across domains.
 Applications:
Autonomous vehicles, financial trading, health diagnostics, personalized
education, logistics, digital assistants.
 Significance:
Enable scalable, data-driven services, automation of complex tasks, and self-
optimizing systems.
 Challenges:
 Black-box decision-making lacks transparency
 Risks in autonomous actions (accident or trading crash)
 Algorithmic bias and discrimination
 Legal and ethical accountability for decisions
 Global Laws/Conventions:
 Universal regulations still developing
 Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (COE, 2024) covers
governance and monitoring but enforcement is weak.
 Sectoral standards emerging in autonomous driving and financial services.

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 Robotics & Automation
 Definition:
Interdisciplinary tech using hardware, sensors, and AI for autonomous or semi-
autonomous operation.
 Applications:
Manufacturing, logistics, hazardous site operations, healthcare (robotic surgery,
elder care), agriculture, surveillance, defence (drones, bomb disposal).
 Significance:
Drives economic productivity, safety, and precision; boosts competitiveness and
frees human workers for higher-order tasks.
 Challenges:
 Safety concerns: Accidents, human-robot interaction risks
 High cost of development and deployment
 Job loss and social disruption in labor-heavy sectors
 Algorithmic bias and data privacy
 Need for robust regulatory frameworks and standards
 Global Laws/Conventions:
 No dedicated UN convention; regulatory standards evolving (ISO robotics,
sectoral safety laws).
 Draft National Strategy for Robotics proposed in India; global efforts
focused on best practices and safety protocols.

Key Global Laws and Conventions

Domain Key Global Laws/Conventions Ongoing Issues

Enforcement,
COE Framework Convention on AI (2024); liability,
AGI/AI EU AI Act; US, China sovereignty

Generative Fair use, creator

AI EU AI Act; US copyright law rights, misinfo

COE AI Convention; sectoral laws (autos, Transparency,

AI Agents finance) accountability

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 Domain Key Global Laws/Conventions Ongoing Issues

ISO standards; draft national/regional Safety, ethics,

Robotics strategies job loss

Internet of Things (IoT)

 Integration & Definition:
IoT connects billions of devices—including sensors, appliances, vehicles, medical
equipment, and industrial tools—to the internet, enabling real-time data
collection and exchange for actionable intelligence.
 Applications:
 Smart Cities: IoT-driven solutions for traffic control, smart street
lighting, adaptive waste management, disaster monitoring, and water
quality (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission’s sensor-based drinking water system).
 Precision Agriculture: Soil and crop sensors, irrigation management,
pest control, livestock monitoring, “smart farming” for higher yields and
efficiency.
 Healthcare: Remote patient monitoring, continuous vital sign tracking,
IoT wearables for chronic disease management, and hospital asset
tracking.
 Industrial Automation: Predictive maintenance, process optimization,
safety compliance, smart supply chain logistics, and real-time energy
management in manufacturing.
 Environmental Management: Sensors for pollution, air/water quality,
leak detection, and early warning systems for floods or wildfires.

 Significance:
 Drastically enhances operational efficiency and productivity across
sectors.
 Enables data-driven, real-time decision-making allowing targeted
public service and crisis management.
 Central to Industry 4.0, supporting next-generation manufacturing,
automation, and digital transformation.

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  Fosters environmental sustainability and resilience through optimized
resource management and smart conservation practices.
 Promotes personalized consumer experiences through adaptive
technologies in homes, cities, and retail.
 Challenges:
 Cybersecurity risks: Vulnerability to hacking, privacy breaches, and data
manipulation.
 Interoperability: Compatibility issues among diverse devices; need for
universal standards.
 Regulatory complexity: Compliance with evolving data protection laws
like India’s DPDP Act and global frameworks like EU GDPR.
 Digital divide: Disparity in IoT access between urban and rural areas,
impacting inclusiveness.
 Infrastructure demands: Need for robust 5G, edge-computing capacity,
and scalable, low-energy networks.
 Societal impact: Job disruption due to automation, and ethical concerns
over surveillance and consumer profiling.
 Government Policy & Initiatives:
 Digital India, Smart City Mission, National Digital Communications
Policy, and IoT Centres of Excellence have fostered IoT-driven
transformation.
 India has formulated an IoT Policy Draft and partnered with NASSCOM,
IITs for research, start-up incubation, and standard-setting

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Blockchain

 Security: Blockchain is decentralized and tamper-proof, ensuring data and

transaction integrity.
 Example: Used in India's eCourts system for secure, transparent legal
records management.
 Trust & Transparency: Provides a reliable, auditable trail for financial
transactions, supply chains, land records, and digital voting.
 Example: India’s Andhra Pradesh Land Records on blockchain
improve transparency and reduce fraud.
 Smart Contracts: Self-executing contracts that automate and enforce
agreements without intermediaries, cutting costs and delays.
 Example: Dubai uses smart contracts for property transactions,
enabling faster and secure ownership transfers.
 Potential: Enables decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, enhances
cybersecurity, and builds trust in digital services globally.
 Example: JP Morgan's Quorum blockchain improves cross-border
payments efficiency.
 Application in Supply Chain: Improves traceability and authenticity from
production to retail.
 Example: Walmart uses blockchain to track and manage food safety.
 Healthcare: Secures pharmaceutical supply chains and patient data privacy.

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  Example: The MedRec project manages medical records securely on
blockchain.
 Voting: Secures election processes ensuring tamper-proof vote storage.
 Example: Sierra Leone’s blockchain-based voting pilot enhances election
transparency.
 Insurance: Automates claim processing and minimizes fraud risks.
 Example: AXA’s Fizzy automates flight delay insurance payouts via smart
contracts.

Quantum Technologies
 Quantum Key Distribution (QKD):
 Enables ultra-secure quantum encryption using quantum states of
photons, theoretically unhackable due to quantum no-cloning principle.
 India launched ‘Quantum Communication Satellite’ experiment leveraging
Micius China's tech, targeting secure government & defence
communication networks.
 Governments investing heavily to develop national quantum-safe
infrastructures for cybersecurity.
 Quantum Infrastructure:
 Development of quantum computers for simulation, optimization, drug
discovery, and cryptanalysis.
 Quantum sensors enhance precision in navigation, medical imaging,
mineral exploration.
 Quantum internet initiatives for entangled state transmission over optical
fibers for faster, secure networks.

Biotechnology & Life Sciences

 Genomic sequencing, CRISPR gene editing revolutionizing agriculture, medicine,
and personalized healthcare.
 Synthetic biology for creating sustainable biofuels, biodegradable plastics.
 Vaccine innovation accelerated by mRNA technology (as seen in COVID-19).
 AI integration for drug discovery and diagnostic improvements.

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  India's pharma sector globally integrated through collaboration with
multinational research.

 White Biotechnology: Advances focus on sustainable industrial processes

using synthetic biology, renewable feedstocks, and AI-driven bioprocess
optimization. Cell-free systems and microbial engineering enable efficient
biofuels, bioplastics, and green chemicals.
 Red Biotechnology: Innovations include AI-enhanced diagnostics, stem cell
therapies, mRNA vaccines, scalable gene therapy manufacturing, and
personalized medicine driven by molecular biomarkers.
 Green Biotechnology: Cutting-edge developments involve CRISPR-edited
climate-resilient crops, biodegradable bioplastics from plants, algae-based
biofuels, microbial bioremediation, and eco-friendly pharmaceutical production.
 Purple Biotechnology: Emerging therapies target cancer with first-in-class
immunotherapies, multi-specific antibodies, advanced checkpoint inhibitors,
and localized drug delivery to improve efficacy and safety.

Cybersecurity & Digital Technology

Types of Cyber Threats:
 Malware (viruses, worms, ransomware, cryptojacking, fileless malware)
damages or takes control of systems.
 Social engineering and phishing target human vulnerabilities through deceptive
communication.
 Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks intercept communications to steal data.
 Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed DoS attacks overload systems, causing
outages.
 Advanced attacks include zero-day exploits, credential stuffing, supply chain
attacks, and AI-synthesized malware.
 Emerging threats leverage AI and sophisticated phishing variants like spear-
phishing, vishing, and smishing.
India’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure:
 CERT-In and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre
(NCIIPC) conduct extensive audits across sectors like power, transport, and
banking.

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  Sectoral CSIRTs (e.g., CSIRT-Finance and CSIRT-Power) coordinate
cybersecurity efforts.
 Indigenous cybersecurity tools have been developed by C-DAC to reduce foreign
dependence.
 A Cyber Crisis Management Plan (CCMP) guides government bodies in
cyberattack response.
 Initiatives like Bharat NCX 2025 enhance operational preparedness through
large-scale exercises.
 Growing focus on data sovereignty, zero-trust architecture, biometric
authentication, and blockchain-based security.
Cybercrime Trends in India:
 Cybercrime incidents surged over 400% between 2021 and 2024, spreading
from metros to rural and semi-urban areas.
 States like Telangana, Odisha, Gujarat, and Maharashtra saw explosive growth
in cases.
 Common crimes include digital fraud, hacking, phishing, and identity theft.
 Increasing digital footprint and online transactions amplify vulnerabilities.
 Cybercriminals exploit expanding internet users with sophisticated scams and
ransomware.
Application of Digital Technology in PESTEL:
 Political: Digital tools enhance governance, election security, and regulatory
compliance.
 Economic: Automation, AI, blockchain, and IoT optimize operations and reduce
costs.
 Social: Digital platforms improve accessibility and communication but raise
privacy concerns.
 Technological: Innovation drives transformation with AI, big data, cloud
computing, and cybersecurity.
 Environmental: IoT and smart tech enable sustainable resource management
and precision agriculture.
 Legal: Emerging data protection laws (such as India’s PDP Bill) influence
compliance and business models.

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Energy & Environment Technologies
 AI-powered energy forecasting and grid optimization enhance the integration of
intermittent renewables like solar and wind.
 Distributed energy resources and microgrid systems empower local generation
and resilience.
 Floating solar farms increase land-use efficiency and panel performance by
cooling mechanisms.
 Advances in solid-state and lithium-ion batteries improve energy storage for grid
stability.
 Green hydrogen production scales up as a long-duration energy storage and
clean fuel option.
 Carbon mineralization emerges as a more durable carbon capture and storage
(CCS) solution.
 Synthetic biology applications grow for pollution control and precision agriculture
to reduce chemical inputs.
 Nanotechnology innovations enable advanced filtration and remediation of air
and water pollutants.
 Climate modeling powered by supercomputers with AI facilitates better
prediction and disaster preparedness.

Defense & Strategic Technologies

 AI-enabled battlefield analytics enhance decision making, reduce human error,
and improve situational awareness.
 Autonomous military robotics, drones, and unmanned vehicles serve multiple
roles from reconnaissance to logistics.
 Directed energy weapons (DEWs), including high-power lasers, advance toward
operational deployment with increased range and power.
 Hypersonic missile development continues globally with focus on speed and
maneuverability surpassing traditional missile defense.
 5G connectivity supports ultra-low latency communication for network-centric
warfare and real-time data transfer.
 Electronic warfare capabilities evolve to counter and disrupt adversarial
communications and radar.

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  Space situational awareness and counter-space technologies protect satellites
and national assets.
 India's DRDO focuses on next-gen tech including stealth aircraft, naval systems,
hypervelocity projectiles, and AI-driven autonomous weapons.
 DRDO actively develops indigenous directed energy weapons such as the 30 kW
IDD&IS system and plans for larger scale 300 kW lasers for missile defense.
 Defense bioengineering advances soldier performance and battlefield resilience
through human augmentation.

Policy, Institutions & Governance

 India’s Science & Technology Policy 2020 sets roadmap for emerging tech
adoption.
 Department of Science and Technology (DST), DRDO, ISRO spearhead R&D; IN-
SPACe fosters private sector participation.
 National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) enhances India’s cyber defence.
 Regulatory frameworks evolving: Data Protection Bill, Environment Impact
Assessment (EIA), Biotechnology Act.
 International cooperation through partnerships in multilateral forums (BRICS,
G20, WIPO).

Case Studies
India
Aadhaar + AI for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
 Aadhaar, with over 1.4 billion biometric IDs, underpins India’s DBT to deliver
subsidies, pensions, and welfare directly to intended beneficiaries, reducing
leakages and corruption.[Digital inclusion][Privacy]
 AI-powered analytics enable fraud detection, eligibility verification, and
optimization of fund distribution.
 Significance: Massive scale inclusion, cost-efficiency, and transparency in social
safety nets.

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  Concerns: Privacy, data security, profiling risks, potential surveillance; legal
debates led to the Supreme Court's Aadhaar judgment (2018) restricting usage
to welfare only.
CoWIN Platform (COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network)
 Launched in 2020, enabled real-time registration, appointment scheduling, and
vaccination tracking for 1.8 billion+ doses administered.
 Scalable digital infrastructure ensuring equitable access and management of
supply chains.
 Global admiration for use of technology to manage public health crisis.
 Issues: Digital divide challenges for marginalized groups; strong emphasis on
data security.
India Stack (UPI, DigiLocker, e-Sign)
 UPI (Unified Payments Interface): Instant mobile payments platform
revolutionizing cashless transactions; over 8 billion transactions monthly in
2025.
 DigiLocker: Cloud-based document storage providing official digital identity and
document verification.
 e-Sign: Secure digital signature facilitating paperless contracts.
 Global Benchmark: Adopted/adapted by several developing countries for public
digital infrastructure; promotes financial inclusion and ease of doing business.
 Concerns: Cybersecurity risks, interoperability in fragmented markets.

Global
Estonia’s e-Governance Model
 Nearly 99% public services digitized through “X-Road” platform, enabling secure
data exchange across government and private sector.[Digital governance]
[Transparency]
 E-residency program enabling global entrepreneurs to establish companies
remotely.
 Strong citizen data control coupled with blockchain-based logs for transparency.
 Significance: High efficiency, transparency, reduced corruption, exemplary
citizen empowerment.
China’s AI-Enabled Surveillance
 Extensive use of facial recognition, social credit system, and predictive policing
to monitor citizens and enforce social compliance.[Security][Ethics]

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  AI integrated with national databases to manage public security and grid
lockdowns during COVID-19 surge.
 Raises global concerns about privacy erosion, human rights abuses, and techno-
authoritarianism.
EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
 Introduced in 2018, set new global standards for data privacy, user consent, and
data portability.
 Mandates strict compliance even for companies outside EU handling EU
residents’ data.
 Has influenced privacy regulations globally; India’s PDP Bill draws significantly
from GDPR principles.
 Challenges: Compliance cost for businesses, tension with technological
innovation speed

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