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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the global community to invest in Indian talent and innovate in the country. The Prime Minister was delivering the inaugural address at the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2020 this evening through video conferencing. Mr Modi said, India has the brightest minds, and celebrates a culture of openness and transparency. He said, the Government stands ready to address any challenge and improve the research environment in the country. He lauded the scientist for keeping India ahead and in a better position in the fight against Corona. The Prime Minister said that India has a rich legacy in science, technology and innovation.
Mr Modi said, all our efforts are aimed at making India the most trustworthy centre for scientific learning. At the same time, Government wants the scientific community to share and grow with the best of global talent. He asserted that the New National Education Policy will help in fostering scientific temper from an early age. The Prime Minister said now focus has shifted from outlays to outcome, from textbooks to research and application.
Mr Modi emphasized the importance of making the benefits of science and technology to all. He said, Science and technology is connecting the poorest of the poor with the government. He said, with digital advances, India is becoming a centre of evolution and revolution of global high-tech power.
The Prime Minister said that India has data, demography, demand, democracy to achieve world class scientific solutions. He said there are many challenges in our country like water scarcity, pollution, soil quality, food security, for which modern science has a solution. He said, science also has a big role in rapidly exploring the water, energy and food resources in the sea. Mr Modi said India is running a Deep Ocean Mission for it and has achieved success.
The Prime Minister 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 also focuses on sectors related to science and technology.
The Prime Minister stressed that the biggest challenge facing science now, may be a vaccine for COVID pandemic. But the biggest long term challenge science faces is to attract high quality youngsters and retain them. He stressed on the need for developing science for the development of the country. The Prime Minister said, what is called science today, becomes the technology of tomorrow and an engineering solution later. He said for attracting good talent into the science domain, the government has announced scholarships at various levels, but it needs a big out-reach from within the science community as well.
Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan was also present on the occasion. Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in association with Vijnana Bharati conceptualized the IISF to promote scientific temper in society. Launched in 2015, the goal of the four-day long festival this year is to help youth develop 21st century skills, with a focus on scientific knowledge, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork.
