Why is in news? PM hails India's first 3D printed Post Office at Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru
The Prime Minister has called India's first 3D printed Post Office at Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru, a testament to our nation's innovation and progress.
3D-printing:
3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file.
The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes.
In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced cross-section of the object.
3D printing enables yoto produce complex shapes using less material than traditional manufacturing methods.
Where an inkjet printer sprays liquid ink and a laser printer uses solid powder, a 3D printer uses neither.
The 3-D printer deposits layers of molten plastic or powder and fuses them together (and to the existing structure) with adhesive or ultraviolet light.
The most common 3D printing raw materials are the commodity thermoplastic polymers:Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polylactic acid (PLA), Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PETG).
These materials, made in huge quantities by the global chemicals and plastics industry, are readily available, relatively inexpensive.
Benefits of 3 D Printing:
Potentially reduces overall construction cost significantly
Order of magnitude difference in overall construction time
Brings down the related carbon footprint
Increases productivity of labour involved
Offers raw material flexibility/utilisation of eco-friendly materials.
UPSC / PCM - 2026 / NEW REGULAR BATCH STARTS ON SEP-5, 2025 
