With electric vehicles fast becoming the new reality, Union Minister for MSME and Road Transport & Highways has stressed the need to emerge as pioneers in developing leading battery and power-train technologies. Noting that the challenge we presently face is the control on strategic reserves of Lithium, which is used to manufacture Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries used in vehicles, the Minister has called upon the EV sector to shift towards a completely indigenous battery technology in the coming years. This could be metal-air, metal-ion and other potential technologies in the R&D pipeline. 

With the aim of taking the lead in implementing 5G, India’s ongoing project to set up ‘Indigenous 5G Test Bed’ which was launched in March 2018, with a total cost of 224.01 million, is expected to be ready by October, 2021 to improve the national capability in telecommunications technology, which fills the Indian telecommunications manufacturers. To provide test beds full access for research teams to work on new concepts or ideas that have potential for standardization in India and on a global scale, make a test bed available for Indian operators to understand the workings of 5G technologies and security aspects and to plan their future. networks are among the main objectives of the ‘5G Test Bed’.

The government eased the path for 5G rollout in the country by reducing to six months the notice period for offering any new technology using the spectrum being put up for auction in March. Earlier, the Telecom department DoT has asked telecom operators to give one year notice before starting any technology using spectrum across the seven frequency bands that will be offered in auction on March 1. "In case of switching over to different technology while rolling out the networks for compliance of roll out obligations, information regarding the new technology should be given at least six months before any new technology base station is offered for testing," the amendment in the spectrum auction clause released by the DoT said.