NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Centre has opened up several sectors, including space, atomic energy and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with an aim to encourage research and innovation among youth.
“In India of the 21st century, we have to keep the 19th century mindset behind. There is a saying that ‘knowledge is such an asset that doesn’t grow when you keep it with you but it grows when you share it’. If we limit knowledge and research, then we will do injustice to our youth. With this mindset, we are opening up several sectors such as space, atomic energy, DRDO and agriculture for youth of this country who are full of potential,” Modi said while speaking at a webinar on the implementation of Budget in the education sector.
Two important steps have been taken to give a boost to innovation and the R&D ecosystem. For the first time, Indian solutions of international standards related to the meteorology sector have been found and are being improved. “We have also taken a very big step in geospatial data reforms. Such data is now freely made available to Indian youth, entrepreneurs and desi startups, and they should make the most of it,” he said while referring to sweeping changes in India’s mapping policy.
“For the first time in India, we are developing a National Research Foundation, at a cost of Rs 50,000 crore. This will give a boost to research work in academia and industry. The desi pharma and vaccine research has provided the country security and respect (amid the pandemic). Seven national institutes on pharmaceutical education and research have already been declared Institutes of National Importance. Now, efforts are being made to expand the scope of biotechnology research to boost food production and help increase farmers’ income,” he said.
Talking about the reforms in the technology sector, the PM said, “There's a new tradition of hackathons for start-ups in India. It will strengthen both the youth as well as the industry. Under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovation, over 3,500 startups have been nurtured.”
Modi said the country’s focus should be on the hydrogen mission. “India has tested the hydrogen vehicle. Now, we have to make our industry ready to utilise hydrogen as a fuel for transport,” he said. The government is also going to launch a deep sea mission that will be goal-oriented, based on a multi-sector approach and will help the country unlock the potential of the blue economy, he said.
The PM said, “For building an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, it is important that the youth have self-confidence. Self-confidence comes when youth have faith in their education, skills and knowledge. For meeting global demands, we have to make our youth industry-ready and upgrade their skills. Simultaneously, we have to be ‘vocal’ about ‘local’.”