Date: 2026-05-11Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Independent India’s Major Share of Technological Transformation Happened in the Last One Decade, says Dr. Jitendra Singh while addressing the 'National Technology Day' programme
**Executive Summary**
On May 11, 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the "Vigyan TECH 2026" programme to mark National Technology Day and highlight India’s decade of technological transformation. The event brought together 14 science ministries to promote inter-ministerial convergence and showcased indigenous innovations via the "TECH-संग्रह" compendium. Key goals include aligning the scientific community with the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision and implementing the Prime Minister’s seven-point appeal for efficient research practices.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Global Standing and Economic Growth**
* India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, growing from approximately 400 startups in 2014 to over two lakh today.
* The nation’s Global Innovation Index ranking improved significantly from 80 to 38 over the last decade.
* India currently ranks sixth globally in patents, with more than one lakh filings, over 55 percent of which are by Indian residents.
**Strategic Landmark Initiatives**
* The government has launched several critical missions, including the National Quantum Mission, India AI Mission, and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
* Specific programs such as the WISE-KIRAN scheme for women scientists and the NIDHI programme for startups have been established to ensure inclusive growth.
* Research Development and Innovation initiatives are being prioritized to position India among frontline scientific nations.
**Administrative and Policy Reforms**
* Reforms have been implemented to provide greater autonomy to scientific institutions, including liberalized procurement norms.
* Powers for Global Tender Inquiry (GTI) exemptions have been delegated to institute directors to accelerate research and innovation activities.
* The government emphasizes a "whole-of-government" approach, integrating 14 ministries on a common platform for the first time.
**Inter-Science Integration and Future Goals**
* The Minister called for deeper collaboration beyond intra-ministerial coordination to address national challenges in health, climate, defense, and agriculture.
* Scientific institutions are urged to work together on shared themes such as vaccines, genomics, and emerging technologies.
* The scientific ecosystem is designated as central to the nation's journey toward "Viksit Bharat" by 2047.
**Impact Analysis**
**Scientific Community & Researchers**
**Impact**
They are granted enhanced research freedom, increased national priority for their work, and access to landmark missions like Quantum and AI.
**Action Required**
Must follow the Prime Minister’s seven-point appeal in letter and spirit, specifically avoiding unnecessary foreign travel and adopting more efficient practices.
**Startups and Entrepreneurs**
**Impact**
They benefit from a rapidly expanding ecosystem supported by the NIDHI programme and increased opportunities for innovation-driven research.
**Action Required**
Should engage with the "TECH-संग्रह" compendium to explore indigenous technologies, technology transfer initiatives, and the exchange of MoUs.
**Scientific Institutions and Directors**
**Impact**
Institutes gain greater flexibility and autonomy through administrative reforms and delegated exemption powers for procurement.
**Action Required**
Directors must utilize new delegated powers to accelerate research activities and move toward a collaborative framework for larger national outcomes.
**Government Ministries and Departments**
**Impact**
Fourteen departments are now required to operate on a common platform to ensure the convergence of technologies and resources.
**Action Required**
Must transition from siloed operations to wider inter-science integration to address complex cross-sectoral challenges.
Key Entities Referenced
Vigyan TECH 2026: A collaborative platform and programme bringing together fourteen Science Ministries and Departments to showcase indigenous technologies and foster inter-ministerial scientific integration.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation: A landmark national initiative and statutory body established to provide strategic direction, oversight, and funding for scientific research and development in India.
National Quantum Mission: A flagship initiative launched to build and scale scientific and industrial R&D in quantum technologies, positioning India as a global leader in the field.
India AI Mission: A major national program aimed at strengthening India's artificial intelligence ecosystem through innovation, research, and cross-sectoral technological application.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The primary Union Ministry responsible for policy formulation and the promotion of scientific research, innovation, and technological development across the country.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Independent India’s Major Share of Technological
Transformation Happened in the Last One
Decade, says Dr. Jitendra Singh while addressing
the 'National Technology Day' programme
India emerges as world’s 3rd largest Startup ecosystem; calls
for greater convergence among scientific institutions and
technologies
India Climbs from Rank 80 to 38 in Global Innovation Index
Over the Last Decade: Dr Jitendra Singh
Union Minister calls for greater inter-ministerial scientific
integration; urges scientific community to follow PM’s seven-
point appeal in letter and spirit
Fourteen Science Ministries and Departments Come Together
at ‘Vigyan TECH 2026’ on National Technology Day
Posted On: 11 MAY 2026 4:45PM by PIB Delhi
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.******
AK/NM
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