A Decade of Science – Technology Panorama for Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Report Launched

Delhi: “A Decade of Science – Technology Panorama for Aatmanirbhar Bharat” report was unveiled by Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology (S&T), Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Space (DoS) Dr. Jitendra Singh, in the event held on 14^th March 2024 at Vigyan Bhavan. The Technology Panorama report captures the glimpse of technological advancements made by various Ministries and Departments of Government of India. The report is prepared by the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India (OPSA) under the leadership of Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood (PSA), in collaboration with the Foundation of Advancing Science and Technology (FAST) India with contributions from 22 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government of India.

The launch event was joined by Secretary (Earth Sciences) Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary (Biotechnology) Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, senior officials from various ministries, senior officials from PIB, media representatives, invited guests from academia and industry and colleagues from Office of PSA and FAST. ADG Press Information Bureau Shri Dhiraj Singh welcomed all the dignitaries and shared a few insights on India’s technology advancement journey in the last decade through some of the references from the “Technology Panorama” report.

“Advancements in science, technology, and innovation are powerful drivers for progress and it shapes economies, enhances quality of life, and propel nations toward a brighter future” – emphasised PSA Prof. Sood in his opening remarks. He also presented the highlights of the report and mentioned that this report captures key missions and initiatives by the Govt of India through the lens of (a) systematic capability building, (b) pushing frontiers of research for future preparedness, (c) enabling research and development in areas of national priorities, and (d) ensuring citizen impact through scientific improvement. In his presentation, Prof. Sood touched upon key highlights with respect to technological advancements in sectors including Energy, Exploration, Public Service, Agriculture, Livestock and Biotechnology, and Health.

Shri Varun Aggarwal, Co-founder, FAST, stated that while reports of similar nature usually look at S&T metrics of papers, patents, etc., the uniqueness of this report lies in looking at the impact of science on furthering India’s social and economic goals. He further mentioned that what is captured in this report is just the tip of the iceberg with respect to the actual scale and depth of impact that Indian S&T ecosystem has achieved in the last decade. He also expressed his aspiration that these achievements will have a multiplier effect in coming years and India is poised to become a top S&T nation globally.

Chief Guest, Hon’ble Minister Dr Jitender Singh, while delivering his special address, highlighted that there is a growing sense of esteem in Indian science and scientists, and our S&T ecosystem is poised to make the country a frontline nation in the world. Dr. Singh also recounted the immense contribution made by pioneering Indian science leaders such as Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. C V Raman, Dr. Homi Bhabha, and Dr. S.S. Bhatnagar in laying the foundation for India’s growth trajectory. He emphasised that our S&T advancements not only increase our national capabilities but also set global benchmarks. Dr. Singh talked in detail about success and impact of some of the key national missions such as Mission Covid Suraksha, and AROMA mission and underscored the importance of industry and private partnerships for success of many such missions. He also provided the anecdote of DBT and Bharat BioTech partnership during covid pandemic as a successful example of Government-Industry partnership.