New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that India wants top-quality research to help its farmers and praised Indian scientists for increasing the production of pulses and food grains.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came while inaugurating the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit, a global virtual summit of overseas and resident Indian Researchers and Academicians.
PM’s observations came amid the Parliament passed two farm bills recently. The PM had congratulated farmers when the bills were cleared in Rajya Sabha amid huge protests from the Opposition, saying that it is a ‘watershed moment in the history of Indian agriculture”.
Apart from that, he said the need of the hour is to ensure more youngsters develop interest in Science. “For that we must get well-versed with science of history and history of science”, the Prime Minister said in his introductory remarks at the summit.
He referred to India’s immense efforts towards development of vaccines and executing the vaccination programme, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said, the long break in vaccine production is broken. “In 2014, four new vaccines were introduced into our immunization programme. This includes indigenously developed rota vaccine,” he said in his inaugural address.
He also mentioned about ambitious mission to eliminate tuberculosis in India by 2025, which is five years before the global target.
In addition to this, Modi referred to the National Education Policy 2020 which was brought in after three decades and after nation-wide detailed consultations and deliberations. The policy aims to boost curiosity towards science and gives much needed boost to Scientific Research. It provides open and broadbased environment to nurture young talent.
Mentioning about Indian partnership in Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, CERN and International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), he highlighted the importance of scientific research and development efforts at global level.
He also referred to India’s major missions on supercomputing and cyber physical systems. Talking about fundamental research and applications in areas of artificial intelligence, robotics, sensors, and big data analysis, he said that this will boost the startup sectors and manufacturing in India.
He mentioned about the 25 innovation technological hubs already launched in India and how it would further boost the startup ecosystem.
More than 3,000 overseas Indian origin academicians and scientists from 55 countries and about 10,000 from India are taking part in the VAIBHAV summit and it is being organized by 200 Indian academic institutes and S&T departments, led by Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India.
Around 700 overseas panelists from 40 countries and 629 resident panelists from eminent Indian academia and S&T departments will deliberate on 18 different verticals with 80 sub-topics in 213 sessions, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
-ARK
