PIB Summaries November 17, 2025 | Legacy IAS Academy

Contents

1. Electronics Development Fund
2. EXERCISE GARUDA 25

Electronics Development Fund

Why in News?

• PIB reported that the Electronics Development Fund invested ₹257.77 crore in 8 Subsidiary fundswhich turns ₹ on1,335.77 crore downstream investments 128 startups.
• EDF-backed startups have emerged 23,600+ high-tech jobs and generated 368 Intellectual properties (IPs) from September 30, 2025.

Relevance:

GS-III: Economics & S&T

• Drives innovation in semiconductors, ESDM, AI, robotics and cybersecurity.
• Strengthens R&D, IP creation and design-driven production.
• Addresses funding gaps in deep tech and reduces dependence on electronics imports.

GS-III: Public Policy

• Case study of the Fund-of-Funds model, public–mobilization of private investment.
• Supports Digital India, Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat.

GS-II/III: Development and security

• Enables strategic technical capabilities (drones, AI, cybersecurity).
• Creating high-quality jobs and strengthening the startup ecosystem.

What is the Electronics Development Fund (EDF)?

• Launched indoors February 2016 by MeitY to create a “Fund of Funds” model for electronics, nanoelectronics and IT innovation.
• Goal: Build India’s Design and Manufacturing of Electronic Systems (ESDM) ecosystem through venture capital for technology startups.
• Structure: The government invests in Subsidiary funds → These invest in startups developing deep-tech products and IPs.

Strategic objectives (conceptual basis)

• Strengthen innovation and R&D – Promote domestic capacity in electronics and advanced technologies.
• Support venture capital/AIF funds – Provide anchor capital for SEBI regulated alternative investment funds of category I and II.
• Encourage indigenous product development – Promote the creation of intellectual property and reduce import dependence.
• Enhance the domestic design ecosystem – Promote local ESDM design for strategic and commercial sectors.
• Enable strategic technology acquisition – Encourage purchase/acquisition of critical foreign technologies.
• Build a national IP pool – Strengthen India’s IP ownership in frontier technology.

Operational framework (how EDF works)

• Institutional architecture
  • Anchor Investor: Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
  • Trustee & sponsor: Canara sofa
  • Investment manager: Canbank Venture Capital Funds Ltd.
• Main features
  • Functions as one Fund of funds; invests indirectly through subsidiary funds.
  • Maintains participation of minoritiescatalyzing major private sector co-investments.
  • Subsidiary funds must be SEBI registered Category I/II AIFs.
  • Managers of subsidiary funds have done so autonomy in investment decisions.
  • EDF covers the entire electronics/IT value chainfrom hardware design to deep tech startups.
  • Selection of Subsidiary Funds based on strict due diligence.

Performance and performance (data-driven analytics)

Financial footprint

• Total EDF investment: ₹257.77 crore
• Total downstream investments by subsidiary funds: ₹1,335.77 crore
• Leverage Ratio: For every ₹1 invested by EDF → ~₹5.18 mobilized in the ecosystem.

Start-up level results

• Total number of startups supported: 128
• Job creation: more than 23,600 jobs
• Intellectual properties generated: 368 IPs
• Outputs: 37 outputs
• Cumulative revenues to EDF: ₹173.88 crore

Priority sectors supported

• IoT
• Robotics
• Drones
• Autonomous vehicles
• HealthTech
• AI/ML
• Cybersecurity
• Semiconductor and embedded systems

Overview

Relevance for electronics production and the digital economy

• EDF closes India’s early-stage deep tech funding gap.
• Critical to India’s semiconductor and design goals.
• Join Make in India, Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Economic and strategic significance

• Reduces import dependence on critical electronics (India’s annual imports >$70 billion historically).
• Boosts domestic design, increasing India’s share in global electronics value chains.
• Strengthens strategic technology sectors (AI, robotics, cybersecurity, drones) important to national security.

Evaluation of policy and governance

• The minority participation model ensures this market efficiency and avoids micromanagement.
• The Fund-of-Funds design mitigates and creates risk multipliers in private finance.
• Transparent SEBI regulated structure improves investor confidence.

Challenges/Limitations

• The funding gap persists for startups with lots of hardware and long gestation times.
• India still doesn’t have a large scale deep-tech venture capital depth compared to US/China.
• Scaling up from prototype to commercial production remains a challenge for ESDM.

Future requirements

• Expand the EDF corpus in line with the semiconductor strategy.
• Deeper ties with academia (IITs, IIITs) and R&D labs.
• Integration with Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programs.
• Strengthening the exit ecosystem (IPOs, strategic acquisitions).

Conclusion

• The Electronics Development Fund is an important pillar in India’s shift electronics assembly to leadership in electronics design.
• The Fund-of-Funds model has successfully mobilized private capital, supported deep-tech startups, created high-quality intellectual property and strengthened India’s innovation ecosystem.
• EDF now occupies a strategic position in the long term of India technical self-reliance and roadmap for semiconductors.

EXERCISE GARUDA 25

Why in News?

• PIB announced India‘s participation in Exercise Garuda 25the 8th edition of the bilateral air exercise with the French Air and Space Force (FASF)held on Mont de Marsan, France (November 16–27, 2025).
• IAF deployed Su-30MKI fighterssupported by C-17 Globemaster III and IL-78 flight refuelers.

Relevance:

GS-II: International Relations

• Important pillar of the defense partnership between India and France.
• Defense diplomacy instrument; strengthens Indo-Pacific alignment.

GS-III: Defense and Homeland Security

• Improves IAF interoperability, BVR/EW capabilities, and multi-domain readiness.
• Improves readiness for high-intensity and coalition operations.

What is exercise GARUDA?

• Bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Forces (FASF).
• Launched indoors 2003 as part of the expansion India–France strategic defense cooperation.
• Alternately hosted in India and France.
• Under the longest running IAF international air exercises.

Key Features of GARUDA 25 (2025 Edition)

• Host: France (Mont-de-Marsan airbase).
• Date: November 16–27, 2025.
• IAF implementation: Su-30MKI; C-17 for strategic airlift; IL-78 for aerial refueling.
• French bet: Rafale (F3R), Mirage-2000 variants, support aircraft.
• Practice scenarios:
  • Air defense and joint attack missions
  • Coordination across multiple domains
  • Complex BVR and EW settings

Objectives (strategic and tactical)

• Strengthen interoperability with an important strategic partner.
• Exposure to advanced NATO-coordinated air combat doctrines.
• Training in air superiority, joint attack and defensive counter-air operations.
• Improve long range attack power through IL-78 tank support.
• Increase staff exchanges and sharing operational best practices.

Operational significance

• Makes it possible Su-30MKI to be busy with European versatile fighters in realistic contested airspace.
• Supports the IAF’s transition to network-oriented, multi-domain operations.
• Increases skill in BVR fight, EW tacticsAnd mixed combat package ops.
• Improves joint planning and execution of combined air campaigns.

Context of defense cooperation between India and France

• France is a long-term defense partner (Mirage-2000 → Rafale).
• Part of the tri-service practice framework: Varuna (navy), Shakti (army), Garuda (air).
• Strong alignment with the priorities of the Indo-Pacific region, including maritime security and open sea lanes.

Broader strategic context

• In line with India’s aspirations high-quality military exercises with trusted partners.
• Improves preparation for high-intensity fights and coalition operations.
• Supports the indigenous population by validating domestic systems in multinational environments.
• Improves defense diplomacy, especially with European strategic actors.
• Strengthens capability for long-duration missions in contested operations.

Significance to the Indian Air Force

• Improves operational readiness by realistic multinational scenarios.
• Improves disparate air combat training (DACT) exposure for pilots.
• Reinforced interoperability for future UN/multilateral contingencies.
• Contributes to the IAF’s evolving combat doctrine and integrated air defense architecture.

Previous editions at a glance

• Performed in: 2003, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023/24, 2025.
• Locations included Istres (France), Jodhpur (India) and Mont-de-Marsan (France).
• Progressing from simple DACT to full-spectrum, multi-domain combat simulations.