Maintaining that the scientific community must work to address the needs of the country and make it self-reliant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday exhorted the scientists to make innovations in fields related to energy requirements, undertake “Integrated Disease Surveillance” and prepare vaccines for new diseases.
Addressing the 108th Indian Science Congress in Nagpur on the theme “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment” through video-conferencing from New Delhi, the PM said, “Today, I want to put forward some issues before you, which will be helpful in deciding the direction of science in India. The basic motivation of our scientific community should be the development of science in India to meet the needs of the country. Scientific works should give momentum to 17-18 per cent of the world’s humanity that leaves in India.”
The PM said the scientific community should work on such issues which were important for the entire humanity. “For example, if we take the issue of energy. India’s energy needs are going to grow continuously. In such a situation, if the scientific community of India makes innovations related to energy requirements, then it will be of great benefit to the country.”
Alluding to the National Hydrogen Mission undertaken by the Government, he said, “To make it successful, it is necessary that various essential components like electrolyzers should be made in the country itself. If there is scope for any new options in this direction, then research should be carried out in that direction also. Our scientists and the industry have to work together in this regard.”
Stressing on the need for identifying diseases well in time through Integrated Disease Surveillance, the PM said, “Today we are living in such an era when humanity is facing the threat of new diseases. We have to promote research and development to prepare new vaccines in the same way we are prepared in advance to deal with catastrophes like floods or earthquakes. Similarly, we have to identify diseases well in time through Integrated Disease Surveillance and take measures to deal with them.
“Different Ministries will have to work together to achieve this goal. All of you my friends are very well aware about LiFE i.e. Lifestyle for Environment. Our scientific community can be of great help in this direction,” he said.
Mentioning that the United Nations had declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets on the call of India, Modi said, “This is a matter of great pride for every Indian. Work can be done to improve India’s millets and their use. Effective steps can be taken by the scientific community to reduce post-harvest losses with the help of biotechnology.”
On the need for undertaking scientific research in waste management, the PM said, “Today there are immense possibilities of scientific research in the waste management sector as well. Municipal solid waste, electronic waste, bio-medical waste, agricultural wastes are such areas, which are continuously expanding. This is the reason the government laid a lot of emphasis on the circular economy in last year’s budget. Now we have to further strengthen the Mission Circular Economy”.
Modi called for such innovations which can make better use of metal and plastic scrap. “We have to work simultaneously on curbing pollution and making scrap useful,” he said.
Modi asked the private companies and start-ups to take advantage of these opportunities in space sector. “Today India is also scaling new heights in the space sector. Due to low-cost satellite launch vehicles, our capacity will increase and the world will come forward to use our services. Private companies and start-ups can take advantage of these opportunities. Start-ups can find a way forward by associating with R&D labs and academic institutions,” he said.
The PM asked the young researchers and scientists to gain expertise in the field of quantum and lead in this field. “Quantum Computing is another such issue. Today India is making its mark in the world as a quantum frontier. India is moving fast in the direction of quantum computers, quantum chemistry, quantum communication, quantum sensors, quantum cryptography and new materials. I would like our young researchers and scientists to gain expertise in the field of quantum and lead in this field,” he said.
Asking the scientific community to take note of what is going on in the world but at the same time to focus on the works which are not being done anywhere and which are futuristic ideas, Modi said, “Today there is debate on AI, AR and VR in the world. We have to include these issues in our priorities. The country is taking many important steps in the direction of semiconductor chips. Over time, new innovations will also be needed in semiconductor chips.”
“Why don’t we think in the direction of making the country’s semiconductor future ready from now itself? When the country will take initiative in these areas, only then will we be able to lead Industry,” he said.
Stressing on the need for scientists to collect and analyse data at every step, he said, “We have two things in abundance in today’s 21st century India. First - data and second - technology. Both of them have the power to take India’s science to new heights. The field of Data Analysis is progressing at a fast pace. It helps in converting information into insight and analysis into actionable knowledge.”