lauding Indian scientists working in the fields of atomic energy, space and earth science Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that the country's annual expenditure on science and technology should be at least two per cent of the GDP in order to promote science.
Singh said India had occupied an "enviable position" in these fields and Indian scientists are attracting global interest in their effort to develop a Fast Breeder Reactor. "I expect the prototype under construction in Kalpakkam to be completed this year"
Addressing the inaugural session of the 101st Indian Science Congress in Jammu University, Singh said, "It will be a great day for Indian science and technology because we will one of the few countries in the world with leadership in a completely new area of nuclear technology that can contribute non-polluting electrical power."
He said, "We must increase our annual expenditure on science and technology to at least 2 per cent of GDP. This has to come from both Government and industry."
"In countries such as South Korea, where a high percentage of the GDP goes to science, the contribution of industry is significant," Singh noted. The Prime Minister also said that India is joining the CERN, a premier European Organisation for Nuclear Research, as an associate member.
The Prime Minister also announced a national mission on high performance computing with an outlay of `4,500 crore.
Jammu & Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for Science and Technology, S Jaipal Reddy, various Members of J&K Council of Ministers, Parliament Members, legislators, J&KChief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Union Secretary Department of Science and Technology, and students were present on the occasion besides others.