PM Modi: India Moves Beyond Tech Adoption to Global Innovation
New Delhi, October 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is no longer confined to adopting science and technology developed by other nations. He said the country's objective is to develop future technologies, encourage innovation in them and find solutions to the problems of the world.
Modi was speaking at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave in New Delhi. He said the skill and confidence that India's young people are showing are a source of encouragement for the nation as a whole.
The Prime Minister described how, decades ago, India's approach to science and technology was largely about trying to move ahead of other countries. Technologies developed abroad would reach India after some years, and the country would try to adopt or upgrade them. He said the India of the 21st century is moving forward with a new way of thinking and self-assurance.
He said India's goal today is to create new technologies for the country and the world, determine their direction and acquire the ability to offer solutions to global issues. India, he said, must embrace future technologies, innovate with courage and lead the world in their creation.
In the field of space, Modi said India had reached Mars in its very first attempt. He added that the country also reached the southern polar region of the Moon, where no nation had previously succeeded. These achievements, he said, reflect India's growing capacity and confidence in science and technology.
Referring to the COVID-19 period, the Prime Minister said that while many countries faced challenges in securing vaccines, India developed its own vaccine. He said the country conducted a large-scale vaccination drive and also made vaccines available to other nations. He called it an example of the self-belief of 21st century India.
Modi said India's civilisation and culture are rooted in a long tradition of knowledge and inquiry. From the concept of zero and the development of the number system to progress in astronomy, he said, India has carried its scientific legacy forward into the modern era. With contemporary technology and renewed confidence, the country is working to raise that legacy to new heights.
The Prime Minister also emphasised nuclear energy, stating that large-scale nuclear power will be needed to build a developed India. To strengthen energy security, he said, India is developing its indigenous technological capabilities. As part of this effort, the country is working on fast breeder reactor technology. He said that a few months ago, India's 500 MW prototype fast breeder reactor achieved criticality for the first time, an important achievement on the path to long-term energy self-reliance.
He said that from nuclear energy to space, artificial intelligence and semiconductors, the needs of each sector may differ, but India is strengthening its technical capacity and confidence in all of them. Modi described India's capability to develop solutions and prepare skilled human resources as a major national strength. He added that a successful solution developed in India can open a path to resolving problems in many countries.
He cited India's digital stack and 5G technology as an illustration of this potential. The Prime Minister said the country's technological progress is not restricted to meeting domestic needs, but also includes the ability to deliver useful solutions on a global scale. Concluding his address, he urged continued efforts to lead in the development of future technologies and to make India self-reliant.