Which body gave the Rs 75 crore grant that supports the pilot facility for PLA and co-polymers?
- A.NITI Aayog
- B.Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- C.Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
- D.Technology Development Board
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, known as BIRAC, which functions under the Department of Biotechnology. Its grant of Rs 75 crore supports the pilot scale research facility of 100 TPA for Polylactic Acid and advanced co-polymers that Balrampur Chini Mills will operate at Kumbhi in Uttar Pradesh. Option A is wrong because NITI Aayog is a policy think tank and does not hand out research grants of this kind. Option B is wrong because the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research runs its own laboratory network and was not named in this launch. Option D is wrong because the Technology Development Board finances commercialisation of indigenous technology through a separate route and has no part in this particular grant. Dr Rajesh Sudhir Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, is also the Chairman of BIRAC.
Read the full article: Bio-based Biodegradable PLA Plastic Launched Under BioE3 Framework
Practice Questions
What does the E3 in the BioE3 framework, under which the PLA biodegradable plastic venture was launched, stand for?
- A.Energy, Ecology and Efficiency
- B.Economy, Environment and Employment
- C.Education, Enterprise and Export
- D.Ethanol, Enzymes and Engineering
Show answer
BioE3 is the government framework named Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment, and the commercial launch of bio-based biodegradable plastic from Polylactic Acid by Balrampur Chini Mills has been taken forward under it.
Read the full explanation →The BioE3-supported pilot scale facility for PLA and co-polymers will be set up at Kumbhi in which state?
- A.Uttar Pradesh
- B.Maharashtra
- C.Karnataka
- D.Bihar
Show answer
The pilot scale research facility of 100 TPA for Polylactic Acid and co-polymers is to be built inside the integrated manufacturing complex of Balrampur Chini Mills Limited at Kumbhi in Uttar Pradesh, while the launch event itself was held at the Department of Biotechnology in New Delhi.
Read the full explanation →As of 6 November 2026, how many equipment items were listed on the I-STEM portal?
- A.4,044
- B.18,250
- C.31,540
- D.45,000
Show answer
As of 6 November 2026, the day its API integration with the Startup India Portal was launched, I-STEM listed 31,540 equipment items across 4,044 registered institutions, giving researchers and innovators a large national pool of scientific resources.
Read the full explanation →Who chaired the launch of the API integration between the Startup India and I-STEM portals on 6 November 2026?
- A.Dr. Parvinder Maini
- B.Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
- C.Ateesh Kumar Singh
- D.Dr. Vishal Choudhary
Show answer
He described the integration as an institutional convergence that can lower R&D costs, avoid duplication of capital-intensive facilities and raise the use of publicly funded infrastructure.
Read the full explanation →What does the acronym I-STEM, whose portal was integrated with the Startup India Portal in November 2026, stand for?
- A.Indian Scheme for Technology and Engineering Mentorship
- B.Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map
- C.Integrated Startup Technology Enablement Mission
- D.Indian Society for Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Show answer
I-STEM is the portal that maps scientific equipment and research facilities across academic and research institutions so that they can be shared.
Read the full explanation →