New Delhi, Nov 02: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday called upon the scientific organisations and research institutions across the country to chalk out a roadmap for initiating a nationwide public outreach campaign to create awareness in science, technology, innovation-related enabling provisions introduced by the Modi government for StartUps and potential entrepreneurs
The Union Minister said, after the Chandrayaan-3 landing on the Moon, there is a massive public interest generated in India’s Space exploration projects and the momentum needs to be sustained. “This campaign will not only raise public awareness about our pioneering achievements by DST, CSIR, DBT, ISRO, DRDO & other scientific Departments during the more than nine years of the Government led by PM Modi but also inspire and motivate the youth to contribute and be a part of this exciting journey,” he said.
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, was chairing a meeting of all Science Secretaries in New Delhi.
Dr Jitendra Singh called for grooming innovation aptitude in school children. “Innovative learning will contribute to making India a $5 trillion economy goal and fulfil the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
The S&T Minister said the INSPIRE scheme is helping create a scientific temper as every year there is an increasing number of aspiring students competing for the awards. The first-ever Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators was launched in November 2021 to mark the 75th Year of India’s Independence, he said.
He said that the DST supports a variety of infrastructure-related schemes like FIST, PURSE, SAIF, etc. towards augmenting/ facilitating the R&D equipment for research activities at various Universities/ Institutes and other Academic organizations as well as promoting industry-academia linkages.
The union minister said that PM Modi’s vision is to step up the efforts in various fields to make the country ‘the most advanced laboratory for modern science’ in the ‘Amrit Kaal’- the the next 25 years leading to a Viksit Bharat.
Dr Singh pointed out that flexible infrastructure grants are being provided to universities nationwide to keep up the vigour of conducting highly challenging R&D activities with an investment of Rs 950 crores till date.
“Under PM Modi, the government is taking a number of steps to promote scientific temper among the masses, particularly youngsters, by strengthening scientific research and innovation efforts in the country,” he said.
Dr Jitendra said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is now steering the world in innovative technologies. We are on course to our target of reducing Greenhouse gas emissions, and achieving Net Zero by 2070, he said, adding, “India is today one of the leading users of non-conventional energy including electric automobiles, wind & solar energy and the world’s first Hydrogen powered bus has been made in India. The world is looking up to us for leads.”
Referring to PM Modi’s monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, in May this year, Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s Startup ecosystem is not limited to just big cities, but about 50% of Startups hail from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
