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
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, who chaired the launch. 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. Dr. Parvinder Maini attended as Scientific Secretary in the Office of the PSA and spoke about I-STEM's role in sharing equipment, but she did not chair. Ateesh Kumar Singh attended as Additional Secretary of DPIIT and spoke on support for deep-tech startups. Dr. Vishal Choudhary, a Scientist-F in the Office of the PSA, gave a presentation on the status and impact of I-STEM. So only option B fits the role of chair at the event organised with DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Read the full article: I-STEM and Startup India Portals Linked Through API Integration
Practice Questions
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 →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 →Which of the following products received approval under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) for the first time in November 2026?
- A.Copper foil
- B.Multi-layer PCB
- C.Relays
- D.Heat sinks
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The 12 applications cleared by MeitY in this round included first-time ECMS approvals for three products: copper foil, cathode active material and specialty ceramics.
Read the full explanation →The Semicon 2.0 Web Application Portal launched in November 2026 opened applications for which pillars?
- A.Pillars 1, 5 and 6
- B.Pillars 1, 2 and 3
- C.Pillars 2, 3 and 4
- D.Pillars 4, 5 and 6
Show answer
Semicon 2.0 has six pillars. Pillar 2 covers machines and materials, Pillar 3 covers setting up more fabs and Pillar 4 covers further strengthening of the ATMP/OSAT industry, and these three are the ones for which applications went live when Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the portal.
Read the full explanation →What is the fiscal outlay approved by the Union Cabinet for Semicon 2.0 under the India Semiconductor Mission?
- A.₹76,000 crore
- B.₹1,27,500 crore
- C.₹1,64,000 crore
- D.₹2,10,000 crore
Show answer
The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0, the second phase of the Semicon India Programme, with this fiscal outlay under the India Semiconductor Mission.
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