RAS question
India's first indigenous MRI scanner was manufactured by which company?
Correct answer: (B) VoxelGrids.
India's first indigenous MRI scanner was developed by Voxelgrids Innovations Pvt Ltd under the National Biopharma Mission of the Department of Biotechnology.
Explanation
Voxelgrids Innovations is the company to associate with India's first indigenous MRI scanner because the PIB launch release states that Voxelgrids Innovations Pvt Ltd developed the scanner under the Department of Biotechnology's National Biopharma Mission. Press Information Bureau describes it as India's first indigenously developed, affordable, lightweight, ultrafast, high-field 1.5 Tesla, next-generation MRI scanner. The project is linked to the National Biopharma Mission, BIRAC and DBT, with DBT support through BIRAC forming a major part of the development cost. The core exam point is therefore not simply "MRI technology", but the company-mission link: Voxelgrids developed the indigenous scanner with National Biopharma Mission support.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Wipro GE is not the company credited in the PIB launch report; the scanner is attributed to Voxelgrids Innovations under the National Biopharma Mission.
- (C) Siemens India is not named as the developer or manufacturer; Voxelgrids Innovations is identified for this indigenous MRI scanner.
- (D) BEL is not linked to this scanner in the launch report; the report specifically names Voxelgrids Innovations Pvt Ltd.
Concept
This tests Science and Technology current affairs, especially indigenous medical devices supported by government missions. It recurs in RAS because such questions often turn on matching an innovation with the company or mission behind it.