Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Q. India’s position in the Global Innovation Index 2026 reflects strong innovation outputs despite relatively weaker inputs. Analyse India’s performance and suggest measures for building an inclusive and globally competitive innovation ecosystem.
- Q. Artificial Intelligence can help developing countries overcome limitations in healthcare, education and governance, but its benefits depend on adequate infrastructure, skills and institutions. Discuss in the light of the World Development Report 2026. Suggest a suitable AI strategy for India.
Q. India’s position in the Global Innovation Index 2026 reflects strong innovation outputs despite relatively weaker inputs. Analyse India’s performance and suggest measures for building an inclusive and globally competitive innovation ecosystem.
Introduction:
The Global Innovation Index 2026, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization, evaluates innovation through two equally weighted components—innovation inputs and innovation outputs. India ranked 38th among 139 economies, first among lower-middle-income economies and first in Central and Southern Asia.
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India’s Innovation Performance
- India ranked 49th in innovation inputs but 25th in innovation outputs, indicating efficient conversion of limited resources into innovation results.
- It ranked 15th in Knowledge and Technology Outputs.
- India stood:
- 1st in ICT services exports;
- 4th in late-stage venture-capital deals; and
- 13th in intangible-asset intensity.
- Digital services, entrepreneurship, startup financing and a large domestic market are driving India’s progress.
- Bengaluru and Delhi, ranked 25th and 27th respectively, emerged among the world’s leading innovation clusters.
Major Concerns
- Low investment in research and development compared with advanced economies.
- Shortage of researchers and advanced technical skills.
- Weak university–industry collaboration and limited commercialisation of research.
- Innovation remains concentrated in a few metropolitan cities and digital sectors.
- Inadequate patient capital for deep-tech enterprises.
- Gender, regional and digital divides restrict wider participation.
- India’s Frontier Technologies Readiness Index rankings remain weak in ICT deployment and skills despite strengths in R&D and industrial capacity.
Way Forward
- Increase public and private R&D expenditure.
- Strengthen university–industry research partnerships.
- Establish innovation clusters in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
- Improve STEM education, vocational skills and research careers.
- Provide long-term finance for deep-tech startups.
- Strengthen intellectual-property protection and technology-transfer systems.
- Use government procurement to support domestic innovations.
- Promote women-led, rural and socially inclusive innovation.
- Align research with healthcare, agriculture, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Conclusion:
India has demonstrated an ability to achieve strong innovation outcomes from limited inputs. Building deeper research capacity, skilled human resources and geographically diversified innovation networks is essential for transforming India into a knowledge economy and achieving Viksit Bharat 2047.
Q. China’s export controls on tunnel-boring machines highlight the strategic risks arising from technological and import dependence. Examine their implications for India and suggest measures to strengthen supply-chain resilience.
Introduction:
China has announced export controls on Tunnel-Boring Machines (TBMs) and related items, effective from 18 November 2026. It has justified the restrictions on the grounds of national security, dual-use applications and non-proliferation obligations. The decision is significant for India because it depends on imported TBMs for several critical infrastructure projects.
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Implications for India
- Infrastructure delays: TBMs are used in metro rail networks, railway corridors and major tunnelling projects. Customs-clearance problems may delay their implementation.
- Strategic vulnerability: Some TBMs are required for tunnelling projects in border areas. Dependence on external suppliers can therefore affect strategically important infrastructure.
- Global supply-chain exposure: China had blocked exports of TBMs manufactured there by a German company. This shows that the location of manufacturing is as important as the nationality of the supplier.
- Wider technology dependence: China has also announced controls on certain drones and proposed restrictions on more than 40 technologies involving solar manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology.
- Impact on solar ambitions: Restrictions on next-generation solar-manufacturing technologies could affect India’s efforts to reduce dependence on China and move up the solar value chain.
Way Forward
- Diversify suppliers and manufacturing locations for critical machinery.
- Develop domestic capacity in TBMs and advanced technologies.
- Map import dependence across strategic infrastructure projects.
- Prepare alternative procurement and supply-chain arrangements.
- Continue diplomatic engagement through export-control dialogue mechanisms.
- Build technology partnerships with multiple countries and companies.
- Give priority to machinery required for border and other critical projects.
Conclusion:
China’s decision demonstrates how control over technology and industrial machinery can become an instrument of strategic influence. India must combine diversified international partnerships with stronger domestic capabilities to protect infrastructure development, economic security and strategic autonomy.
