Systems developed by Indian scientists to forecast weather, tsunamis and cyclones benefitted the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by nearly Rs.134,000 crore, union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday.India has provided tsunami and cyclone warning systems to around 24 countries, which were reaping benefits of technology indigenously developed by Indian scientists, the minister said during the inaugural session of the 12th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Science held in Panaji on Sunday.
"The type of information our (science and technology) department gathers, analyses, and then transmits using the most modern communication tools, gives the GDP a benefit of Rs.100,000 crore. For the fishermen, the kind of information we provide through information systems... is something like (Rs.)34,000 crore. This is the impact of science," said Harsh Vardhan, who is also the minister for Earth Sciences.He said it was imperative to ensure that cutting-edge science is used to bring aid to humanity."We are helping over two dozen countries along the coast, giving them all the data, giving them all the early signals and we have used this science in the best possible manner to help our people," Harsh Vardhan said.