How many biotechnology institutions does BRIC bring into its national network?
- A.9 institutions in 7 cities
- B.11 institutions in 13 cities
- C.13 institutions in 11 cities
- D.18 institutions in 15 cities
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is 13 institutions in 11 cities. Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology and Director General of BRIC, said the council’s core vision was to unify thirteen premier biotechnology institutions spread across eleven cities into a decentralised national network supported by a lean secretariat. Option B is the trap, since it reverses the two numbers. Options A and D are wrong because no such counts were given. The minister described the arrangement as a joint family in which institutions pool resources while keeping their identity, independence and autonomy, which he said had reduced procedural delays and had been replicated by other departments and ministries. He added that a lean secretariat and translational schemes such as the i3C PhD curriculum and the BRIC-BIRAC entrepreneurship programmes connect laboratory work with market applications.
Read the full article: BRIC Third Foundation Day: India-UK Biomanufacturing LoI
Practice Questions
BRIC signed a Letter of Intent on biomanufacturing with which United Kingdom body?
- A.Centre for Process Innovation
- B.Wellcome Sanger Institute
- C.Royal Society of Biology
- D.UK Research and Innovation
Show answer
At BRIC’s third Foundation Day on 10 November 2026 a Letter of Intent was signed with this British centre to strengthen India-UK collaboration in biomanufacturing and to help build biofoundries, the minister having already named such hubs at Mohali, Hyderabad, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram.
Read the full explanation →According to the minister, India’s bioeconomy has grown to more than what size?
- A.USD 70 billion
- B.USD 120 billion
- C.USD 195 billion
- D.USD 300 billion
Show answer
Speaking at the Foundation Day of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council, Dr Jitendra Singh said the bioeconomy had expanded from about ten billion dollars when the government took office to more than this figure.
Read the full explanation →How much grant did the Wellcome Trust announce for the iBRIC+ PhD immersion programme?
- A.Up to Rs 11.5 crore
- B.Up to Rs 21.7 crore
- C.Up to Rs 45 crore
- D.Up to Rs 100 crore
Show answer
The Wellcome Trust announced this grant at BRIC’s third Foundation Day for a five-year immersion training programme that will cover more than 250 iBRIC+ PhD scholars.
Read the full explanation →How many members took part in the 45th Indian Antarctic Expedition reported to the council?
- A.45
- B.66
- C.95
- D.120
Show answer
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research told the meeting that the forty-fifth Indian Antarctic Expedition involved ninety-five members, and it also reported the sixteenth Indian Arctic Expedition, glacier monitoring in the Himalayas and scientific work in the Southern Ocean.
Read the full explanation →How many institutions make up the Earth System Sciences Council whose reports were reviewed?
- A.Three
- B.Four
- C.Five
- D.Seven
Show answer
The annual reports and audited accounts for 2025-26 of five constituent institutions were placed before the council: the National Institute of Ocean Technology, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, the National Centre for Earth Science Studies, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the National Centre for Polar…
Read the full explanation →