Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, at a media briefing, underscored the pivotal role of India’s scientific prowess in determining its global supremacy. The Minister highlighted recent achievements, including Chandrayaan-3 and the successful development of the COVID-19 vaccine, positioning India’s scientific community on par with international benchmarks.
Scientific Breakthroughs Transforming Lives:
Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized that over the past nine years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, scientific breakthroughs have been instrumental in bringing ‘Ease of Living’ to the common man. From Roads and Railways to Smart City projects, Telemedicine, Deep Sea Exploration, Ground Water Mapping, and Crop Imaging, the applications of Science and Technology (S&T) are evident across various sectors.
IISF: Fostering Science, Technology, and Innovation Outreach:
Discussing the upcoming 9th India International Science Festival (IISF) in Faridabad, Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted its significance as an outreach festival for those benefiting from Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). He emphasized that S&T applications have permeated every aspect of life, with ministries and departments incorporating them for sectoral development.
Three Levels of Celebration:
Dr Jitendra Singh outlined three key aspects of the Science Festival:
- Sharing Global Implications: Success stories with global implications will be shared with key stakeholders, including startups, industry bodies, innovators, researchers, students, and the global scientific community.
- Alignment with Global Scientific Breakthroughs: India is at the forefront of major global scientific breakthroughs, exemplified by initiatives like the National Quantum Mission, collaborating with an elite league of six other countries.
- Setting Examples for Development: India’s demonstration that scientific research is meant for development purposes, is reflected in almost all flagship schemes having the footprint of S&T.
IISF 2023: Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders:
Principal Scientific Advisor Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood highlighted that IISF will ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship in young people, providing a platform to showcase the marvels of science through exhibitions and Startup conclaves. Secretary, DST, Dr Abhay Karandikar, added that over 10,000 school children, 500 young researchers, and 100 startups will participate, making IISF 2023 a grand event.
