26-Oct-2021: Security ink based on nano-materials that spontaneously emits light can combat counterfeiting
Indian Scientist has developed a highly stable and non-toxic security ink from nano-materials that spontaneously emit light (luminescent) due to its unique chemical properties to combat the counterfeiting of branded goods, bank-notes, medicine, certificates, currency.
Counterfeiting of branded goods, bank-notes, medicine, certificates, currency, and other important documents is very common all over the world, and it has become a serious issue. Luminescent ink is generally used as covert tags to combat the counterfeiting. Most of the security inks available today are based on luminescent materials that absorb a high energy photon and emit low energy photon, technically called downshifting, where covert tag is invisible under daylight, and it becomes visible under UV light. However, these single emission-based tags are prone to replication. To overcome this, luminescent ink with excitation-dependent luminescent properties (downshifting and upconversion) are advised. This is because increasing the number of parameters required to decode the tag decreases the possibility of decoding and replication. However, most of the materials reported recently for this purpose are based on fluorides which are less stable and highly toxic.
To address this challenge, Dr. Sanyasinaidu Boddu’s research group from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, has developed non-toxic metal phosphate-based ink with excitation dependent luminescent properties which are highly stable under practical conditions such as temperature, humidity and light, etc. This work has been published in the journals ‘Crystal Growth and Design’ and ‘Materials Today Communications’.
The luminescent security ink developed by the researcher is based on lanthanide ions (Ln3+) doped Gd1-xBixPO4 nano-materials. It showed very strong downshifting as well as upconversion luminescence properties. Also, the downshifting luminescence colour of the ink is highly dependent on the excitation wavelength making it difficult to decode the covert tag.
These luminescent nanomaterials were synthesized via simple co-precipitation method. A composite was made with these nanoparticles and commercially available PVC gold medium ink. The composite ink was used to print patterns and letters on black paper. The patterns of this ink under different excitation wavelengths were found to be stable against various conditions which may occur during practical applications.
Dr. Boddu explains that ‘Trivalent lanthanide ions have very rich energy levels which help to exhibit both downshifting (absorb a high energy photon and emit low energy photon) and upconversion (absorb two low energy photon and emit a high energy photon) luminescent properties. Energy transfer between bismuth and lanthanide ions results in excitation dependent downshifting emission.’
“Lanthanide ions are known for their excellent downshifting and upconversion luminescent properties. We thought that if these materials are applied for anti-counterfeiting, it will give better encoding, decoding capacity and thereby improve the security ability,” he added.
The developed ink has huge potential to combat counterfeiting. A common man can find out easily that the document/product is original or fake.
30-Jul-2021: Brain Drain
Minister of State (I/C) for Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Shri Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today, said that there is no significant brain drain to an extent of affecting the developments in Science and Technology (S&T) sector has been observed by the Union Government. A three-pronged strategy has been adopted to retain the best human resource in the country. First strategy has been the creation of substantial sophisticated research infrastructure, environment for scientific pursuit and academic / research institutions. Secondly, opportunities have been created for overseas scientists of Indian origin to contribute to our country. Thirdly, new opportunities have been created for postdoctoral research in the country.
Several measures have been taken to reduce brain drain from the scientific community. The extramural funding schemes of Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Fellowship schemes of DST, DBT and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have been designed to encourage scientists to do quality research in the country. Several schemes/programmes for building research infrastructure for enhancing research capabilities such as Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructures in universities and higher educational institutions (FIST) have been instituted. Other schemes like Core Research Grant, Research fellowships such as JC Bose and Swarnajayanti are targeted at scientific community to empower them to pursue world-class research in cutting edge areas of science and technology. Special attention has been given to young scientists for making them independent and to motivate them to continue their research in the country.
A large number of young scientists have been supported through schemes like Start-up Research Grant, National Postdoctoral Fellowship of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). MK Bhan-Young Researcher Fellowship Programme of DBT is a new Fellowship scheme to encourage young bright researchers to continue their research in the country after PhD. Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme of SERB provides a platform for overseas scientists including Non-Resident Indians to undertake collaborative research in Indian Institutions and Universities for a finite period of time. The Flexible Complementing Scheme/Merit based promotion scheme positioned in scientific departments and introduction of Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) in strategic Departments have also been instrumental in recruiting and retaining scientists. All these measures have been aimed at retaining our scientific workforce in the country and thereby reduce brain drain.
29-Jul-2021: Role of Internet in Trafficking
The Information Technology Act, 2000 has provisions to deal with prevalent cyber-crimes and to prevent exploitation initiated through the internet. `Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes including cybercrime through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The LEAs take legal action as per provisions of law against the offenders. The Central Government supplements the initiatives of State Governments through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for their capacity building.
Ministry of Home Affairs has provided financial assistance to all States & UTs under Cyber Crime Prevention against Women & Children (CCPWC) scheme to support their efforts for setting up of cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories, training and hiring of junior cyber consultants. Cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories have also been commissioned in 18 States. The Central Government has taken steps for spreading awareness about cybercrimes, issuance of alerts, capacity building/ training of law enforcement personnel/ prosecutors/ judicial officers, improving cyber forensic facilities etc. The Government has established Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to provide a framework and eco-system for LEAs to deal with the cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in), is available to enable the public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cybercrimes, with a special focus on cybercrimes against women and children. A toll-free number 155260 has been operational for assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.