5 February 2026·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROGRESS UNDER NM-ICPS

In this note

1. At a Glance

NM-ICPS = National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, a flagship DST mission to build India's capability in AI, ML, IoT/IoE, robotics, quantum, cybersecurity, data analytics [1][3].
Implemented via a network of 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) — each a Section-8 company housed in elite institutes (IITs, IISc, IIITs, BITS Pilani, ISI Kolkata) [2][3].
Total outlay ₹3,660 crore; period 2018–2027 [1][2].
Examinable as a Science & Tech mission and as a federal R&D/innovation governance case for GS-III.

5 February 2026 — DST tabled a Parliament reply detailing progress under NM-ICPS during the mission's terminal phase (2018–2027 outlay window) [1].
Earlier Parliament reply (PRID 2226272) reiterated mission scope and the four implementation pillars [4].

2018: Union Cabinet approved NM-ICPS as a five-year mission with ₹3,660 cr outlay [2][3].
Driven by the recognition that Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) — integration of computation, networking and physical processes — underpin Industry 4.0, smart cities, defence and digital economy.
Implementation architecture finalised through 25 TIHs spread across IITs/IISc/IIITs/BITS/ISI, each assigned a Technology Vertical [2][3].
Aligned with parallel initiatives: Digital India, National Quantum Mission (2023), IndiaAI Mission (2024).

Implementing Ministry/Department: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology [1].
Outlay: ₹3,660 crore [1].
Period: 2018–2027 (PIB 2026 reply); originally announced as 5-year mission in 2018 [1][2].
TIHs: 25 Section-8 companies in host institutes (all IITs, IISc Bengaluru, IIIT-Hyderabad, IIIT-Allahabad, IIIT-Delhi, BITS Pilani, ISI Kolkata, etc.) [2][3].
Four implementation pillars [1]: 1. Technology Development 2. HRD & Skill Development 3. Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Startups 4. International Collaborations
Technology verticals: AI/ML, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, IoT/IoE, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics & Predictive Tech, Quantum Tech, Advanced Communication, Tech for Agriculture & Water, Tech for Mining, Intelligent Collaboration Systems [1][2].
Reported outputs (cumulative) [2]:
496 technology products (incl. 46 new technologies)
13 Technology Business Incubators (TBIs)
54 startups & spin-offs
~928 jobs created

Scientific / Technological

Builds indigenous capacity in dual-use frontier tech (quantum, AI, robotics) reducing import dependence in strategic sectors [1].
TIH model decentralises R&D — moves from single-PI grants to mission-mode, vertical-aligned ecosystems [2].

Economic

Direct entrepreneurial output: 54 startups, 13 incubators, ~928 jobs [2].
Section-8 (non-profit) TIH structure permits revenue retention for re-investment in R&D — a federal financing innovation.

Administrative / Governance

Inter-ministerial convergence: DST nodally implements but partners with MeitY, DRDO, ISRO and line ministries via collaborative projects [3].
Distributed accountability across 25 autonomous SPVs — risk of uneven performance across hubs.

Strategic

Quantum & cybersecurity verticals directly feed national security and complement the National Quantum Mission (₹6,003 cr, 2023).
International collaboration pillar enables tech diplomacy with US (iCET), Japan, EU [1].

Ethical / Governance

Cyber-Physical Systems raise data-protection, autonomy and surveillance concerns — relevant to DPDP Act 2023 compliance.

5 Feb 2026 — DST Parliament reply summarising progress, reaffirming ₹3,660 cr / 2018-27 framing and four-pillar implementation [1].
Earlier 2025 Parliament reply (PRID 2226272) detailing TIH outputs [4].
Cumulative figures publicised: 496 tech products, 46 new technologies, 54 startups, 928 jobs, 13 TBIs [2].

NM-ICPS is implemented by DST (not MeitY) under the Ministry of Science & Technology [1].
Total outlay: ₹3,660 crore [1].
Mission period: 2018–2027 [1].
Number of TIHs: 25, each a Section-8 company [2].
Cabinet approval year: 2018 [2].
Four pillars: Technology Development; HRD/Skill; Innovation & Startups; International Collaborations [1].
Technology verticals include Quantum Technologies, IoT/IoE, Robotics, Cybersecurity, AI/ML [1].
Hosts include all IITs, IISc, IIITs, BITS Pilani, ISI Kolkata [2].
Reported cumulative output: 496 technology products incl. 46 new technologies [2].
TIH ecosystem: 13 TBIs, 54 startups/spin-offs, ~928 jobs [2].
TIH for Quantum Tech is housed at IISc Bengaluru (TIH "QuTI"); AI/ML TIH at IIT Kharagpur (knowable from DST listing) [2].

GS-III: Science & Technology — Indigenisation of technology; Awareness in IT, AI, robotics, quantum.
GS-II: Government policies — design of mission-mode programmes; centre-state-academia coordination.
Plausible question stems: 1. "Discuss the role of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems in building India's frontier technology ecosystem. What structural bottlenecks limit its outcomes?" (GS-III, 15 marks) 2. "The Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) model under NM-ICPS represents a shift from project-based to mission-mode R&D. Critically examine." (GS-III, 10 marks) 3. "Examine the complementarity between NM-ICPS, the National Quantum Mission and IndiaAI Mission in achieving technological sovereignty." (GS-III, 15 marks)

National Quantum Mission (2023) — sibling DST mission, ₹6,003 cr.
IndiaAI Mission (2024, MeitY) — AI compute & dataset infrastructure.
Digital India Programme — overarching umbrella.
Atal Innovation Mission / AIM 2.0 (NITI Aayog) — incubation parallel.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act 2023 — new R&D financing architecture.
Cyber Surakshit Bharat / CERT-In — cybersecurity vertical linkage.
DPDP Act 2023 — data governance for CPS deployments.
Section-8 Companies under Companies Act 2013 — legal form of TIHs.

NM-ICPS is under DST, not MeitY — easy confusion because of "cyber" terminology.
Outlay is ₹3,660 cr (not ₹3,600 cr or ₹6,003 cr — the latter is the National Quantum Mission).
25 TIHs, not 25 "Centres of Excellence"; each is a Section-8 company, not a society/trust.
Mission period is 2018–2027 (extended timeline per 2026 Parliament reply), not strictly 5 years ending 2023.
NM-ICPS ≠ National Supercomputing Mission (which is jointly run by MeitY + DST).