- Why in news
- On 31 August 2026, PIB published a explainer on Cyber-Physical Systems and NM-ICPS, giving progress figures as of August 2026: 25 hubs, 4 research parks, 1,146 technologies and 5,824 fellowships.
- What it is
- NM-ICPS is a Department of Science and Technology mission for Cyber-Physical Systems, which link computing, communication and physical processes through sensors and software. It works through Technology Innovation Hubs hosted by academic institutions. It covers research, product development and start-up incubation.
- Approval and outlay
- The Union Cabinet approved NM-ICPS in 2018 with an outlay of ₹3,660 crore for nine years. DST implements it.
- Technology Innovation Hubs
- There are 25 TIHs, set up as Section 8 companies and hosted by premier academic institutions.
- Digital twin
- A digital twin is a live virtual copy of a physical object or system, using real-time sensor data.
Don’t confuse with TIH vs TTRP: TIHs are the 25 hubs; TTRPs are four of the best-performing hubs chosen in 2025 to focus on deployment and commercialisation.
Don’t confuse with CPS vs IoT: IoT connects devices to networks; CPS tightly integrates computation, communication and physical control, so systems sense and act in real time.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Builds indigenous capability in strategic technologies such as autonomous systems, cybersecurity and AI.
- Links academia, industry and start-ups to move research to products.
Problems
- Translating research into commercial products and sustaining hubs beyond mission funding.
- Cyber security risks as physical infrastructure becomes digitally connected.
Way forward
- Deepen industry partnerships and procurement support for hub-developed technologies.
- Strengthen standards and security testing for CPS in critical infrastructure.
Put in your answer
Mission outlay: ₹3,660 crore over nine years, approved in 2018.
Start-ups and jobs: The Mission has incubated 1,136 start-ups and spin-offs, contributing to over 24,000 jobs.
Autonomous testbed: TiHAN at IIT Hyderabad is India's first dedicated proving ground for autonomous navigation.
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- 2016Mains GS3 · Q13Nanotechnology's significance; features of India's Nanoscience and Technology Mission
- 2015Prelims Q10Which statements on National Innovation Foundation-India are correct?
- 2017Prelims Q10Which statements on Smart India Hackathon 2017 are correct?
- 2019Prelims Q19Which ministry sets up the Atal Innovation Mission for innovation and incubation?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology.
- 2.The Technology Innovation Hubs under NM-ICPS have been set up as Section 8 companies.
- 3.The Technology Translation Research Park at IIT Indore focuses on Mining Technologies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.NM-ICPS is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology.
True. DST implements NM-ICPS.
2.The Technology Innovation Hubs under NM-ICPS have been set up as Section 8 companies.
True. The 25 TIHs are Section 8 companies.
3.The Union Cabinet approved NM-ICPS in 2018 with an outlay of ₹3,660 crore for five years.
False. The outlay is for nine years.
4.The Technology Translation Research Park focused on Cybersecurity is at IIT Kanpur.
True. IIT Kanpur's TTRP focuses on Cybersecurity.
5.The TTRP at IIT Indore focuses on Mining Technologies.
False. IIT Indore focuses on Digital Healthcare; Mining is at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
6.BharatGen, supported under NM-ICPS, is led by IIT Madras.
False. BharatGen is led by IIT Bombay.
7.A digital twin is a live virtual copy of a physical system that uses real-time sensor data.
True. A digital twin mirrors a physical system using real-time data.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.