Jammu, Sep 16: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said Jammu & Kashmir requires a startup fillip to change ‘Sarkari Naukri’ mindset.
In the midst of a startup revolution across India, the government job mindset could prove to be an impediment, Dr Jitendra said while inaugurating a ‘Youth Conclave’ organised by CSIR-IIIM Jammu.
Addressing the conclave, Dr Singh said, “This is the best time happening in India as the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya has sparked global aspirations among Indian students. With the unlocking of space technology by PM Narendra Modi, the doors of Sriharikota are open for the public now to watch satellite/rocket launch which was a dream earlier, some ten thousand watched the Aditya-L1 launch and 1000 media persons were present during the launch of Chandrayaan-3.”
He said India’s youth today is no longer the prisoner of aspiration as this generation has aspirations in abundance and avenues in tons, with numerous opportunities knocking at their doors in the form of startups which are now the engines of economic growth.
Praising the New Education Policy-2020 as one of the revolutionary steps taken by PM Narendra Modi, the union minister said, “NEP-2020 supplements startup ecosystem (Startup India, Standup India clarion call given by PM Modi), promises new careers and entrepreneurship opportunities for students and youth in India.”
Dr Jitendra further said the provision of multiple entry/exit options is something to be cherished as this academic flexibility will have a positive impact on the students related to the availing of different career opportunities at different times, depending upon their intrinsic learning and inherent aptitude.
Stating that one of the objectives of NEP-2020 is delinking degrees from education, Dr Singh said that linking degrees with education has taken a heavy toll on our education system and society as well. One of the fall-outs has been an increasing number of educated unemployed, he said.
Referring to the 9 years of the Modi government, the union minister pointed out that apart from formal jobs, lakhs of opportunities and avenues have been created outside the government sector for the youth of the country, be it startup policy, Mudra Scheme, PM SVANidhi, etc.
“This is all evident now that with the unlocking of the space sector by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2020, the number of space startups skyrocketed from merely 04 to 150 and most of them being led by science students, researchers and entrepreneurs,” he said.
Dr Jitendra further said there were just around 350 startups before 2014, but now the number has risen to over 1.25 lakh, with more than 110 Unicorns. “Similarly, in the Biotech sector, from 50-odd startups in 2014, we now have 6,000 Biotech startups,” he said.
He appreciated CSIR-IIIM saying it is the oldest scientific research institute in India with a history of discovering mint way back in the 1960s and the centre of the purple revolution in India.
