S&T can power India’s growth story: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

`Vigyan se Vikas’, the new language of Indian science and this should be music for the Indian scientific community. Speaking at the 107 th session of the Indian Science Congress, in Bengaluru Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s growth story will get a fillip through S&T. Some 15,000 scientists are deliberating on the subject `Science & Technology: Rural Development’ at the annual event being hosted by the University of Agriculture Sciences here. Delivering the 30 minute inaugural address, Modi said `there is a need to revolutionise the landscape of Indian Science Technology and Innovation.” Adding, “my motto for the young scientists burgeoning in this country has been – “Innovate, Patent, Produce and Prosper”. He said these four steps will lead India towards a faster development. “Innovation for the people and by the people is direction of our ‘New India”, he added. He said, “new India needs technology and also a logical temperament, so that we can give a new direction to our social and economic sectors”. He said science and technology provides a level playing field in making opportunities accessible to all and that it also plays a unifying role in the society. Modi announced with pride that India now stands at 3rd position globally, in the number of peer-reviewed science and engineering publications. “I have been told that India has climbed to third position globally in the number of peer reviewed science and engineering publications. It is also growing at a rate of about 10% as compared to global average of 4%”, he said. He also emphasized that science and technology has a major role in contributing towards making India a $5 trillion economy. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, India’s science and health minister highlighted that Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru has scored the 7th position in the quality of research as assessed by the Nature Index. Vardhan also stressed this decade be `Vigyan se Vikas ka Dashak’ or science for development for a rapid, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth. From: New Frontiers in Science & Development Title: S&T can power India’s growth story: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Location: Bengaluru, India Dated: Jan 3, 2020 By: Pallava Bagla