Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that independent India’s major share of technological transformation has happened in the last one decade due to decisive policy reforms, strong political support for science and technology, enhanced research freedom and increased participation of the private sector.
Addressing the inaugural session of “Vigyan TECH 2026” organised on the occasion of National Technology Day at BRIC-NII, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India always possessed scientific talent and capable human resources, but after 2014 science and innovation received unprecedented national priority, resulting in rapid technological advancement across sectors.
The Minister said, India’s startup ecosystem has expanded from barely 350-400 startups in 2014 to more than two lakh startups today, making India the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He said India’s Global Innovation Index ranking improved from 80 to 38, while the country today ranks sixth globally in patents with more than one lakh patents filed, over 55 percent of them by Indian residents.
He added that India has also emerged among the world’s leading nations in scientific publications and innovation-driven research. On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also inaugurated the exhibition and interacted with exhibitors participating in the day-long event themed “Building India’s Innovation Ecosystem for Viksit Bharat”.
The programme brought together fourteen Ministries and Departments associated with science, technology and research on a common platform for the first time. The event also featured release of the compendium “TECH-संग्रह”, showcasing indigenous technologies developed by autonomous institutes and laboratories of participating Ministries and Departments, besides technology transfer initiatives and exchange of MoUs.
Among those present on the occasion were Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood; Secretary Department of Biotechnology, DG BRIC and Chairman BIRAC Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale; Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr. M. Ravichandran, senior officials from DST, CSIR, ICMR, NITI Aayog and other scientific institutions.
A special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was read out by DBT Secretary Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, in which the Prime Minister extended his greetings on National Technology Day and appreciated the coming together of multiple science Ministries and Departments on a single platform to strengthen India’s innovation and research ecosystem.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said several landmark initiatives launched during the last decade have positioned India among frontline scientific nations. Referring to the National Quantum Mission, India AI Mission, Anusandhan National Research Foundation, Research Development and Innovation initiative, WISE-KIRAN scheme for women scientists and NIDHI programme for startups, he said the government has consistently expanded opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive scientific growth.
The Minister also highlighted administrative reforms undertaken to provide greater autonomy and flexibility to scientific institutions, including liberalised procurement norms and delegation of Global Tender Inquiry exemption powers to institute directors to accelerate research and innovation activities.
Calling for deeper collaboration among scientific institutions, Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed the need to move beyond intra-ministerial coordination towards wider inter-science integration so that institutions working on similar themes such as vaccines, genomics and emerging technologies can work together in a collaborative framework for larger national outcomes.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent seven-point public appeal, Dr. Jitendra Singh urged members of the scientific community to follow the appeal in letter and spirit, particularly emphasising the need to avoid unnecessary foreign travel and adopt more responsible and efficient practices wherever possible.
The Minister said every contribution towards Viksit Bharat in the coming years would, directly or indirectly, be linked with science and technology, making India’s scientific ecosystem central to the nation’s journey towards 2047.
In his address, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood described the event as a landmark “whole-of-government” initiative for Indian science and said the convergence of technologies across Ministries and institutions is essential to address national challenges relating to health, climate, defence, agriculture etc.