New Delhi, May 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the programme marking National Technology Day 2023 at Pragati Maidan here. The programme also marked the commencement of the celebration of the 25th year of National Technology Day being held from May 11 to 14.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple projects related to scientific and technological advancement in the country worth more than Rs 5,800 crores. This is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat through strengthening scientific institutions in the country.
During the programme, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the expo showcasing scientific and technological advancements made in India in the recent past and also took a walk-through. He released a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi said that May 11 is one of the most prestigious days in the history of India. “Today marks the day when India’s scientists achieved the stupendous feat in Pokhran which made the entire nation proud. I can never forget the day when Atal Ji made the announcement of India’s successful nuclear testing,” the PM remarked.
He said the Pokhran Nuclear Testing not only helped India prove its scientific capabilities but also gave a boost to the global stature of the nation. “In Atal Ji’s words”, the Prime Minister said, “We have never stopped on our journey and never surrendered to any challenge that has come our way.” The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to every citizen on the occasion of National Technology Day.
On the occasion, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh in his welcome address said that National Technology Day is a celebration of India’s growth story under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The minister said, “Before 2014, there were just around 350 StartUps, but after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the clarion call from the ramparts of the Red Fort in his Independence Day address and rolled out a special StartUp scheme in 2016, there has been a quantum jump in StartUps to more than 90,000 with more than 100 Unicorns. India also has the world’s third largest StartUp ecosystem and has leapfrogged from 81st to 40th in the Global Innovation Index 2022. Biotech Startups have grown 100 times in the last 8 years from 52 odd startups in 2014 to 5300 plus in 2022.”
Talking about Agri tech StartUps, Dr Jitendra Singh said that before 2014, no one knew about the Aroma Mission or Purple Revolution. But today, lavender cultivation has led to a boom of Agri tech StartUps. Similarly, before 2014, there was no concept of Preventive Healthcare in India, but today that same India is being recognised as the Vaccine Hub of the World, he added.
“In 2023, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, India has taken up some breaking initiatives like LIGO which the PM will be launching today, India Space Policy 2023 and National Quantum Mission making India part of the elite club of nations who possess Quantum technology,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
