Nano-technology is emerging as a transformative platform across health, energy and materials. Discuss the Nano Mission’s contributions and the regulatory gaps in nano-safety.

Introduction: The Nano Mission was launched by DST in 2007, with Phase II (2014-25) carrying a ₹1,000 crore outlay; Scopus 2024 ranks India third globally in nano-science publications; the 2023 Nobel in Chemistry recognised quantum dots — semiconductor crystals at the nanoscale that anchor displays and solar cells.

Body: First, achievements — IIT Bombay's Nanofabrication Facility, Centres of Excellence at IISc and JNCASR, IFFCO nano-urea commercialised in June 2021, and Coromandel nano-DAP (2023) for precision-fertiliser application. Second, gaps — no dedicated nano-safety regulation under EPA 1986, FSSAI guidelines pending, and thin occupational exposure standards for workers handling nano-particles. Third, strategic value — nano-coatings for stealth, carbon-nanotube composites for defence, and nano-pesticides hold dual-use significance.

Way forward: Notify Nano-Safety Guidelines under EPA 1986, mandate labelling of nano-engineered food and cosmetics, and launch Nano Mission Phase III with industry co-funding by 2027 under DST.