Why in News?

• Recently, the Indian PM addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• It aims to shape India’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) landscape to align with the nation’s goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
• The event replaces the Indian Science Congress, the oldest congregation of scientists in India (which had gone into oblivion, with its last session held in 2023), marking a significant milestone in India’s R&D journey.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Highlights of the Prime Minister’s Address
• Strengthening India’s Research and Innovation Framework
• Focus on Emerging and Sunrise Sectors
• Empowering Women in Science
• Nurturing Scientific Temper
• AI for All - Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Technology
• Future Vision - Key Focus Areas Proposed by PM
• Way Forward - Toward a Developed India through STI
• Conclusion

Key Highlights of the Prime Minister’s Address:

• Inspiration and national pride:
  • Congratulated India’s women’s cricket team on winning the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, calling it an inspiration for millions.
  • Celebrated the successful launch of India’s heaviest communication satellite (GSAT-7R/CMS-03), reflecting India’s growing technological prowess.
• 21st century as the age of innovation:
  • Described the century as one of “exponential transformation”, emphasizing the need for global collaboration in emerging technologies.
  • Highlighted that the idea of ESTIC emerged from the need for international cooperation in STI.

Strengthening India’s Research and Innovation Framework:

• Research funding and institutional reforms:
  • Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): Set up to boost research in universities.
  • ₹1 Lakh Crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund: To promote a private sector–driven R&D ecosystem, enabling funding for high-risk, high-impact projects.
  • Focus on ease of doing research: Reforms in financial rules, procurement policies, and regulatory frameworks to accelerate lab-to-market transition.
• Indicators of India’s R&D growth:
  • India’s R&D expenditure has doubled in the last decade, and the number of registered patents has increased 17 times.
  • India now ranks as the world’s 3rd largest startup ecosystem, with over 6,000 deep-tech startups working in clean energy, advanced materials, and semiconductors.
  • India’s bio-economy grew from $10 billion (2014) to $140 billion (2025).

Focus on Emerging and Sunrise Sectors:

• Key domains of progress:
  • India is advancing in green hydrogen, quantum computing, deep-sea research, and critical minerals.
  • Emphasis on inclusive technological transformation—“When science is scaled, innovation becomes inclusive, and technology drives transformation.”
• Digital public infrastructure (DPI):
  • Optical fibre connectivity to over 2 lakh gram panchayats; widespread access to mobile data and digital services.
  • DPI as the backbone for India’s large-scale policy implementation success.

Empowering Women in Science:

• In the field of patent filing, fewer than 100 patents were filed annually by women in India a decade ago, whereas today the number exceeds 5,000 per year.
• Women now constitute approximately 43% of STEM education enrolments in India, surpassing the global average.
• Women’s participation in space missions and scientific leadership cited as evidence of inclusivity.

Nurturing Scientific Temper:

• ATLs: Establishment of 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), engaging over 1 crore students; plan to expand to 25,000 labs.
• PM’s Research Fellowship: 10,000 new fellowships to be offered in the next five years.
• NEP 2020: Enabled STEM education in local languages for wider access.
• New institutions: Creation of hundreds of new universities, including 7 IITs and 16 IIITs.

AI for All - Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Technology:

• Launch of the India AI Mission with ₹10,000 crore investment for democratizing AI.
• India leading efforts toward a global framework for ethical and human-centric AI.
• Announcement of the Global AI Summit 2026 to be hosted by India.

Future Vision - Key Focus Areas Proposed by PM:

• India’s scientists should generate ideas to -
  • Move from food security to nutrition security.
  • Create biofortified crops to address malnutrition.
  • Develop low-cost fertilizers, bio-fertilisers and soil health enhancers as sustainable alternatives.
  • Better map India’s genomic biodiversity for personalised medicine.
  • Arrive at new and cheap innovation in clean battery storage.
  • Achieve Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in critical inputs and technologies.

Way Forward - Toward a Developed India through STI:

• Foster collaboration among government, academia, industry, and startups.
• Promote ethical, inclusive, and sustainable innovation.
• Encourage young scientific talent and enhance global partnerships in frontier technologies.
• Strengthen the link between research, application, and social impact.

Conclusion:

• The ESTIC 2025 conclave underscores India’s determination to lead the global discourse on ethical and inclusive science and innovation.
• By linking research with societal progress and empowering women and youth, India is moving from being a consumer of technology to a creator and exporter of innovation.
• The call of “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan” embodies India’s vision of a knowledge-driven, self-reliant, and technologically empowered nation.