Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the programme marking National Technology Day 2023 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on May 11, 2023. The programme additionally marked the graduation of the celebration of the twenty fifth 12 months of National Technology Day being held from the Eleventh-14th May. On this momentous event, the Prime Minister laid the muse stone and devoted to the nation a number of initiatives associated to scientific and technological development within the nation value greater than Rs 5,800 crore. This is in keeping with the Prime Minister’s imaginative and prescient of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ by means of strengthening scientific establishments within the nation.

The initiatives whose basis stone was laid embrace Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory – India (LIGO-India), Hingoli; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jatni, Odisha; and Platinum Jubilee Block of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

The initiatives devoted to Nation embrace Fission Molybdenum-99 Production Facility, Mumbai; Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant, Visakhapatnam; National Hadron Beam Therapy Facility, Navi Mumbai; Radiological Research Unit, Navi Mumbai; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam; and Women & Children Cancer Hospital Building, Navi Mumbai.

During the programme, the Prime Minister additionally inaugurated the Expo showcasing scientific & technological developments made in India within the latest previous and in addition took a walk-through. He additionally launched a commemorative stamp and coin on the event.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister stated that the Eleventh of May is among the most prestigious days within the historical past of India. He underlined that right this moment marks the day when India’s scientists achieved the stupendous feat in Pokhran which made all the nation proud. “I can never forget the day when Atal Ji made the announcement of India’s successful Nuclear Testing,” the Prime Minister remarked. He said that the Pokhran Nuclear Testing not solely helped India show its scientific capabilities but additionally gave a lift to the worldwide stature of the nation. “In Atal Ji’s words”, the Prime Minister stated, “We have never stopped on our journey and never surrendered to any challenge that has come our way.” The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to each citizen on the event of National Technology Day.         

Mentioning the futuristic initiatives which were inaugurated right this moment, the Prime Minister talked about the National Hadron Beam Therapy Facility, and Radiological Research Unit in Mumbai, the Fission Molybdenum-99 Production Facility, Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant in Visakhapatnam and the assorted Cancer Research Hospitals and stated that it’s going to give a push to the progress of the nation with the assistance of nuclear know-how. Talking about LIGO-India, the Prime Minister known as LIGO to be one of many foremost science and know-how initiatives of the twenty first century. The observatory will carry new alternatives for analysis for the scholars and scientists, he stated.

The Prime Minister reiterated that right this moment, on the preliminary interval of Amrit Kaal, the targets of 2047 are clear earlier than us. “We have to make the nation Viksit and Aatmanirbhar,” stated the Prime Minister emphasizing the necessity for creating an inclusive ecosystem for progress, innovation and Sustainable Development Goals. He underlined the significance of know-how at each step and stated, India is shifting ahead with a holistic and 360-degree strategy on this regard. “India considers technology as a tool of the nation’s progress, not a means to assert its dominance,” the Prime Minister stated.

Praising the theme of right this moment’s occasion ‘School to Start-ups – igniting young minds to innovate’, the Prime Minister stated that India’s future shall be determined by the youth and youngsters of right this moment. He stated that the eagerness, power and capabilities of the kids and youth right this moment are India’s large strengths. Quoting Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister underscored the significance of information and stated as India is creating as a Knowledge society, it’s taking motion with equal power. He elaborated on the sturdy basis that has been created within the nation over the last 9 years to ignite younger minds.

The Prime Minister stated that greater than 10 thousand ATAL tinkering labs in 700 districts have develop into innovation nurseries. More importantly, 60 % of those labs are in authorities and rural faculties. He knowledgeable that over 75 lakh college students are working laboriously on greater than 12 lakh innovation initiatives in Atal Tinkering Lab. This, the Prime Minister stated, is an indication of younger scientists coming proper out of faculties and reaching the far corners of the nation and emphasising that it’s everybody’s responsibility to handhold them, nurture their expertise and in addition help them in implementing their concepts. He famous the a whole lot of start-ups which were incubated at Atal Innovation Centres (AIC) and stated that it’s rising as the brand new laboratories of the ‘New India’. “The Tinker-preneurs of India will soon become leading entrepreneurs of the world”, the Prime Minister stated.

Quoting Maharishi Patanjali on the significance of exhausting work, the Prime Minister stated that measures taken after 2014 have resulted in large adjustments within the subject of science and know-how. “Start-up India Campaign, Digital India, and National Education Policy help India in gaining new heights in the field,” Shri Modi stated as he underlined that Science is popping out of the books and turning into patents by means of experiments.“The number of patents has increased from 4,000 per year 10 years ago to more than 30,000 today. Registration of designs has grown from 10,000 to 15,000 in the same period. The number of trademarks has grown from less than 70,000 to more than 2,50,000,” the Prime Minister knowledgeable.

“The India of today is moving forward in every direction that is necessary to become a tech leader”, Shri Modi stated. He famous that the variety of tech incubation centres within the nation has grown from roughly 150 in 2014 to greater than 650 right this moment. The Prime Minister additionally talked about that India’s Global Innovation Index Rank has gone from 81stto the 40thposition the place the youth of the nation are organising their very own digital ventures and start-ups. Drawing comparisons with 2014, the Prime Minister talked about that the variety of start-ups within the nation has elevated from roughly 100 to 1 lakh recognised start-ups right this moment and it has turned India into the third largest start-up ecosystem on the planet. Noting India’s functionality and expertise, the Prime Minister identified that the expansion befell at a time when the world is coping with financial uncertainty. Underlining that the current second is extraordinarily treasured for policymakers, the scientific group, analysis labs unfold throughout the nation and the personal sector, the Prime Minister reiterated that although the School to Start-up journey shall be made by the scholars, it’s the stakeholders who should information and encourage them always. The Prime Minister prolonged his total assist for the trigger.

The Prime Minister stated that after we transfer retaining in thoughts the social context of know-how, know-how turns into a robust instrument of empowerment. It turns into a instrument for eradicating imbalance and selling social justice. The Prime Minister recalled the time when know-how was past the attain of frequent residents and issues like debit, bank cards have been standing symbols. But right this moment, UPI has develop into a brand new regular attributable to its simplicity. Today India is among the many international locations with the very best knowledge use. Rural intent customers quantity has overtaken city customers. JAM trinity, GeM portal, CoWin portal, e-NAM are making know-how an agent of inclusion.

The Prime Minister stated that the appropriate use of know-how offers new power to society, right this moment the federal government is utilizing know-how for offering companies for each stage of life. Online delivery certificates, e-Pathshala and Diksha e-learning platforms, scholarship portal, Universal entry quantity through the job interval, e-Sanjeevani for medical therapy, and Jeevan Praman for the aged, such options are serving to the citizen at each step, stated the Prime Minister. He additionally talked about initiatives in straightforward passports, Digi Yatra, and DigiLocker as examples of making certain social justice and enhancing ease of dwelling.

Referring to the speedy adjustments going down on the planet of know-how, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the youth of India will lead the nation in matching this tempo and in addition crossing it. He talked about AI instruments which have emerged as the brand new recreation changers, the limitless potentialities within the well being sector, and new improvements going down in drone know-how, and the therapeutics sector and stated that India should take a lead in such revolutionary know-how.

Referring to India’s purpose of a self-reliant defence sector, the Prime Minister talked about Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and expressed delight that the Ministry of Defence has procured 14 improvements from iDEX value greater than Rs 350 crore. The Prime Minister talked about initiatives like i-create and DRDO younger scientists’ labs and stated that these efforts are being given a brand new route. Touching upon the brand new reforms within the house sector, the Prime Minister stated that India is rising as a world recreation changer and highlighted applied sciences like SSLV and PSLV orbital platforms. Shri Modi pressured the necessity to present new alternatives for the youth and start-ups within the house sector and in addition touched upon taking the lead in areas of coding, gaming and programming. The Prime Minister additionally highlighted policy-level initiatives just like the PLI scheme at a time when India is rising its presence in new avenues like semiconductors.

Throwing mild on the position of hackathons in innovation and safety, the Prime Minister underlined that the federal government is constantly selling the hackathon tradition the place college students take up new challenges and emphasised the necessity for hand-holding and making a framework for this. He steered that an institutionalised system be stored in place to handle the youth popping out of Atal Tinkering Labs. “Can we similarly identify 100 labs in the country in different areas, which should be made youth driven?”, the Prime Minister requested. Highlighting the particular focus areas of fresh power and pure farming, the Prime Minister pressured selling analysis and know-how. Concluding the handle, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that National Technology Week can play an necessary position in realizing these potentialities.

In his handle, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that the 1998 Pokhran nuclear checks gave a message to the world that though India is a peace-loving nation which believes in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’, it won’t let anybody to hurt the sovereignty, integrity and unity of the nation.

“India has not only wished for peace for itself, but given the message to the world. Visionaries like Lord Buddha and Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi are India’s gift to the world. We have never invaded any country nor enslaved it. But, the Pokhran tests gave a message that we will give a befitting reply to every step taken against our dignity,” the Raksha Mantri stated.

Shri Rajnath Singh termed National Technology Day as an inspiration to undertake a scientific strategy whereas acknowledging the nation’s technological achievements. He underlined the significance of science within the progress of a nation, describing it because the supply of energy. He emphasised that scientific strategy motivates the youth to contribute to nation constructing and ensures holistic growth.

The Raksha Mantri was of the view that India, passing by means of the section of demographic dividend, possesses a robust human useful resource, which has guided it to a decent place on the world stage. He known as for optimum utilisation of this human useful resource to realize the purpose of a powerful, affluent and developed India.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are moving forward with the resolve of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhan. We have risen in stature on the global stage and the world is witnessing a new ray of hope in India. We will be successful in realising our vision of building a strong and self-reliant ‘New India’,” Shri Rajnath Singh stated.

The venue of the occasion is Pragati Maidan (Hall no 5 & 4), New Delhi. Stakeholder ministries and departments specifically Atal Innovation Mission, NITI AAYOG, DST, DRDO, DOS, DAE, CSIR, DBT, MoES, DoT, MEITY, AICTE and DPIIT are collaborating on this grand expo.

A DRDO Pavilion has been arrange, whereby over 30 DRDO laboratories, 5 DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs), Technology Development Fund (TDF), DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) and BrahMos are showcasing a spread of indigenously designed and developed techniques, applied sciences and improvements in keeping with the theme of the occasion. Many DRDO developed progressive applied sciences & merchandise developed in affiliation with the business in recent times are being exhibited. 12 MSME and industries are collaborating beneath the TDF and DIA-CoE. 

In the celebrated Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the DRDO is displaying Exoskeleton developed by DEBEL Bengaluru, and AI primarily based Audio Transcription Translation for Airborne Communication System Measures (CSM) and related AI Toolboxes developed by CABS Bengaluru; Laser Based Underwater Communication System developed by SSPL Delhi; and Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) developed by DYSL-AI. The DRDO may also organise motivational talks on thirteenth May being delivered by DYSL Directors and audio system from Industry and academia.

(With Inputs from PIB)