With digital advances, India is becoming a centre of evolution and revolution of global high-tech power, Prime Minister Naredra Modi said on Tuesday, adding that the country’s tech industry is at the forefront of solving global problems.
Delivering the inaugural address at India International Science Festival (IISF) 2020, Modi said science and technology are bridging the gap of scarcity and impact. “It is connecting the poorest of the poor with the government,” he noted.
To achieve the world class education, health, connectivity and rural solutions, today’s India has data, demography and demand, the prime minister said. “Above all, India has democracy to balance and protect all this. That is why the world trusts India,” he added.
Modern science has a solution to many challenges in our country like water scarcity, pollution, soil quality and food security. Science also has a big role in rapidly exploring the water, energy and food resources in our sea. Modi said India is running Deep Ocean Mission for this and has achieved success.
The benefit of new inventions in science finds a way in commerce and business as well, the prime minister claimed.
Modi said reforms have now been undertaken in the Space Sector to encourage the youth and the private sector to not only touch the sky, but also the heights of the deep space. He said the new Production Linked Incentive Scheme focuses on sectors related to science and technology.
“Such steps will give a boost to the scientific community, the ecosystem related to science and technology will get better and generate more resources for innovation and create a new culture of partnership between science and industry,” he said.
Modi admitted that the biggest challenge facing science now is COVID-19 vaccine. But he claimed that the the biggest long term challenge science faces is to attract high quality youngsters and retain them. He lamented at the attraction of youths towards technology and engineering domains and stressed on the need of developing science for development of the country. He further added what is called science today, becomes the technology of tomorrow and an engineering solution later.
The prime minister urged the global community to invest in Indian talent and innovate in India. India has the brightest minds, and celebrates a culture of openness and transparency.
Lauding India’s rich legacy in science, technology and innovation, Modi said: “Our scientists have done path breaking research. Our tech industry is at the forefront of solving global problems. But, India wants to do more. We look at the past with pride but want an even better future”.
