Science, Innovation and a Confident New India: NITI Aayog Member
NITI Aayog member Prof. Govardhan Das has said that India is now in an era where science, technology and innovation form the foundation of national progress. He made the remarks on Tuesday in New Delhi.
Describing ESTIC 2026 as a key forum for bringing together India's scientific and technological potential, Prof. Das said the conference would give researchers across the country a shared stage to present their work, innovations and achievements.
In a conversation with reporters, he said India is moving ahead with the idea of a 'New India', a country capable of leading in science and technology.
To illustrate his point, he referred to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said India not only developed vaccines for its own citizens but also made them available to more than 150 countries. In his view, this reflects both the depth of India's scientific capacity and its global contribution.
Prof. Das said good work is taking place at many levels across the country. The next step, he said, is to connect these efforts through collaboration, coordination and the sharing of knowledge. He believes conferences like ESTIC 2026 are therefore highly relevant.
He also noted that education was once seen as the backbone of any country, but both education and innovation now carry equal weight. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to development based on science, research and innovation, and is taking a leading role in this effort.
Under the Prime Minister's leadership, Prof. Das said, India's scientific ecosystem continues to strengthen, and its pace is expected to quicken in the years to come.
He said steps are being taken to bring science and technology into the mainstream of national development, a move that he believes will give India a fresh identity on the global map.
Separately, Dr. Anil Kumar Tripathi, Director of IISER Mohali, said ESTIC 2026 is an important occasion to display India's scientific and technological capabilities. He explained that global leadership requires confidence, and that this confidence grows from knowledge creation and scientific success.
Dr. Tripathi said the conference would unite scientists, researchers, industry and other stakeholders, creating more opportunities to work together on large and ambitious projects. Such events, he added, help strengthen the country's collective strength and inform its long-term strategy.
He acknowledged that moving scientific research into practical products and processes has long been a major challenge in India. Over the past decade, however, central government efforts to promote startups and innovation have produced a significant change.
According to Dr. Tripathi, various government schemes and incentives have helped the startup ecosystem grow fast, and more young people are now choosing entrepreneurship and contributing useful products and technologies for society.
He concluded that taking science out of the laboratory and into industry and society will be India's next major achievement.