"India no longer a follower, it beckons others to follow," Jitendra Singh at YUGM Conclave

New Delhi [India], April 29 (ANI): Union Minister Jitendra Singh, addressing the YUGM Conclave in the national capital highlighted India's transformation into a global leader in science and technology over the past 11 years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
In his address, the Union Minister said, "Today, the picture has completely changed. India is now conducting successful experiments that the rest of the world follows. Whether it's the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, the success of Chandrayaan, or advancements in quantum technology, India is no longer a follower. On the contrary, it beckons others to follow. This remarkable transformation has taken place over the past 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. His government has given the highest priority to science, technology, and innovation."
Reflecting on the past, Singh recalled the iconic image of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai transporting scientific equipment on a bicycle, symbolising a time of limited infrastructure and political support.
"Remember that iconic photograph of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, where scientific equipment was transported on a bicycle? That image symbolised a time of scarcity--a lack of infrastructure and the necessary political support. That gap, that lack of systemic backing for science and technology, began to be addressed with the arrival of Prime Minister Modi. His leadership has provided the vision, resources, and commitment needed to build a robust scientific ecosystem in India," he said.

Further, he highlighted the significant increase in the Department of Science and Technology's budget over the past 11 years.
"The budget of the Department of Science and Technology used to be only Rs2,777 crores. Over the span of eleven years, it increased manifold to Rs28,509 crores. During this time, we also began supporting the private sector, though we initially faced setbacks along the way. At the same time, Prime Minister Modi recognised that India had the potential to play a significant geostrategic role on the global stage. He expressed confidence in India's capacity to emerge as a global leader in science and innovation. However, if we aspire to be a global player, we must rise to meet global benchmarks. We must adopt international strategies and best practices. This vision led to the conceptualisation of the National Research Foundation--an idea that was first suggested by Prime Minister Modi himself during his address at the Indian Science Congress." (ANI)