Science for Shaping the Future of India

The theme of this Congress, Science for Shaping the future(a) of India, reflects the dream of every generation of Indian scientists. Faster harvest-home over the coterminous a couple of(prenominal) decades, more sustainable maturation based on food and muscularity certificate, and socio-economic inclusion made possible by rapid growth of canonic friendly services, such as education and health, atomic number 18 all crucial for defining Indias future. Science, engineering and vicissitude all go an important role to play in achieving these objectives.Science and technology training have been rudimentary to the phenomenal material advancement and ability in the use of resources seen in the be hundred geezerhood. The pace of change has whole accelerated in the go away a couple of(prenominal) decades, as globalization and spic-and-span technology have enhanced peoples access to knowledge and their ability to supplement it by dint of coaction. India has benefited from this epochal duty period by embracing these trends. Since technological changes typically spring from established structures, they whitethorn at propagation re-inforce them and inhibit the advancement of equity and equality.As India seeks a sustained growth of its national income, we mustiness(prenominal)(prenominal) endeavour to harness the tools of cognizance to bring home the bacon to the aims of the underprivileged and to bridge the cattle farm between the haves and the have-nots. Nearly 65 helping of our people live in rude areas. The increase in their living standards fronts greatly on the growth of agricultural labor and productivity. The Twelfth Five twelvemonth computer program assumes that a sustained growth of our land at the rate of 4 percent per annum is essential for the achievement of food security for our country.This growth is constrained by shortages of irrigate and in addition of land. We need new break finisheds in water-saving technologies o f cultivation, enhancement of land productivity and development of climate-resilient varieties. This transformation of agriculture must be the top precession concern of our human race policies, including wisdom and technology policies. In care with the theme of this Congress, the question naturally arises as to what we should do to build our future through attainment? I would like to share a a few(prenominal) ideas.First, we must, as a society, enhance the spread of what Jawaharlal Nehru used to differentiate as the scientific temper. Our younger generations must adopt a scientific discipline-based value-system in order to benefit from what skill empennage offer and to make up for befuddled time. Complex issues, be they genetically circumscribed food or nuclear zippo or exploration of out(a)er space, cannot be settled by faith, emotion and dread but by structured debate, psychoanalysis and enlightenment. A scientific approach and understand of these issues are at t hat placefore as springy as our core scientific capabilities.For this, we must invest in popularizing science, not plainly in our schools and colleges as we are doing through the INSPIRE programme but excessively in our homes, workplaces and communities through all ready(prenominal) communication methods, like the high-speed optical fibre field Knowledge Network. Eventually, science must help in establishing an comprehensive society that seeks to solve major societal problems through the application of science. Second, our scholarship and look for must be informed by a keen awareness of our basic social and economic realities.Given the limited resources that we, as a nation, are able to grant to scientific inquiry, it is imperative that we give antecedency to admiting those challenges which are fundamental to the transformation of our economy. I have already referred to the need to transform Indias agriculture. But thither are other equally sound concerns as well wh ich require priority attention. The quest for energy security, sanitation, provision of unspoilt drinking water, labour intensive manufactures and prevalent healthcare at affordable make up are other areas of high priority concern.Our effort should be to carve out a niche for Indias leaders in some of these areas. Indian intentness must play an active part in this serve well through in-house seek centres and, more importantly, through enhanced academia-industry interaction. Third, a holistic organizational approach is essential. on that point was a time when science took a lonely road, driven by individual enterprise rather than collective effort. This is sub-optimal in the knowledgeability and knowledge-intensive world that is empowering the growth process today.We need cross-fertilization of disciplines and synergy among s mystifyholders. Government-sponsored look for must be supplemented by look in esoteric labs. Academic and re hunting systems must foster innovation and entrepreneurship and hence link up with those interested in commercial development. In the last few twelvemonths, we have taken some insurance measures in this direction. We have encouraged manduction of and access to Government-owned data for search.We have overly created new mechanisms like Innovation Complexes, engineering science Business Incubator and Innovation Universities in an effort to bring about lap of interests among the various players in science. Fourth, internationalist quislingism is vital for increasingly resource-intensive modern science to progress. Economic liberalization and economic growth over the last several years have made it possible for our scientists to gather meaningfully and confidently in the international arena.Let me cite whole two prominent lessons. There was significant Indian collaboration with the European Centre for Nuclear interrogation on the Large Hadron Collider, which led to the discovery of what is believed to be the el usive Higgs boson. The other example is our work with a select assembly of countries on the International Thermonuclear data-based Reactor. We must partner not besides with established leaders in science and technology, but also with emerging innovation powerhouses, many of them in our region.We must also offer our expertise to our neighbours for collective successfulness and progress. Finally, the quality of our scientific institutions go away depend upon the quality of the students we can attract into science, the liberty we give them in pursuing scientific research and the human resource policies we come out in selecting leaders. We must select only the best and we must expand our search to the many Indian scientists abroad who may wish to return to India at least for some years.The solution of even the simplest of problems relate to humanitys pressing need often requires first-rate fundamental research. During the last eight years, we have tried to assume this gap by exp anding the infrastructure of our scientific research and innovation. We have established flipper new Indian Institutes of Science procreation and Research, eight new Indian Institutes of Technology, cardinal new Central Universities, ten new National Institutes of Technology, six new R&D institutions in the field of biotech and five-spot institutions in other branches.It is my apply that all this will significantly rise up the quality of scientific research in our country. Given that science-led innovation is the key to development, the National Innovation Council has also brought the domain of innovation to the foreground, helping translation of knowledge into operative solutions. The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013 released here today aspires to position India among the top five global scientific powers by the year 2020. It is an ambitious goal.It aims to produce and nurture genius in science, to stimulate research in our universities, to develop young lead ers in the field of science, to reward consummation, to create a policy environment for greater private sector participation in research and innovation and to forge international alliances and collaborations to meet the national agenda. The Twelfth Five Year conception, which was approved by the NDC a few days ago, outlines a number of initiatives which will make this possible.An important step in this direction in the Eleventh Plan was the establishment of the National Science and engine room Research Board as an self-directed funding body. As pointed out in the Twelfth Plan, this institution proposes to invest in researches of proven track record and establish about 200 to 250 centres based on a grant model with performance reward linkages. I would like to decide by recalling Gurudev Rabindranath Tagores immortal lines in which he prayed for a future India where, among other things, a clear stream of dry land would prevail.I am confident that, in the abutting five days, thi s confluence of leading lights of science from home and abroad will cause up useful ideas on how science will shape the future of India. As the Indian Science Congress crosses other milestone, let us pledge to persevere alive the passion of its architects for truth that is interminable and beautiful and their dream to lead India to greater heights of knowledge. Let me also take this occasion to wish all those pull together here a very golden New Year.