Tech Vision 2022: Niti Aayog to work with Central ministries to select future technologies

NEW DELHI: Intelligent roads, artificial intelligence, human independent decision support systems, location and ability independent voting facility — these are part of future technology ideas that the Centre is pondering upon for a modern India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Niti Aayog to work with ministries to select future technologies and submit ‘Technology Vision 2022’ that can be taken on a mission mode.

The document will be part of the PM’s vision for New India by 2022. At the first stage, central ministries - Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry - directly dealing in areas of science and technology were told to select five future technology projects on a mission mode.

After a recent meeting, the Niti Aayog has circulated a document to the Centre’s technology think tank Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) to work out with ministries and also select future technology projects that can be taken by 2022. The TIFAC is already working with the central ministries to identify such technologies. The Niti Aayog also wants a National Science and Technology Innovation Foundation on the lines of US-based National Science Foundation (NSF) with a mission to advance the progress of science.

The TIFAC has already identified key challenges - including nutritional security and eliminating anemia, water quality in rivers, improving connectivity to difficult terrain, electricity in all houses, holistic education and adapting to climate change - that need technology interventions. Some available and future technology has already been identified in various sectors that could bring the change required to overcome the major challenges. “We have taken into account future technologies which are in process of development and will soon become reality.

When we came out with Technology Vision 2035, some of the technologies that we talked about as future technologies are in the process of becoming reality soon,” said a senior government official. According to the Niti Aayog, science and technology innovation by Indian scientists continue to remain in laboratories even after six decades and the idea is to take it to field so that can be used in eradicating social challenges. “This necessitates that some of the areas are taken on a mission mode and technology intervention is done in a phased manner,” the official added.

Technology that can lead to better future

• Artificial intelligence is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals

• Intelligent road creates a system that can provide road users with various data

• Human independent decision support systems helps in transferring decision authority to software programs