**Executive Summary**
On May 8, 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Lakshya 2047’ Centre for Future Skills and advanced medical facilities at Parul University, Vadodara. The event highlighted India’s rapid progress in emerging technologies, including achieving a 1,000 km secure quantum communication target in three years. The primary objective is to equip India's youth with future-ready skills to achieve the "Viksit Bharat" vision by 2047.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**New Infrastructure and Educational Initiatives**
* Inauguration of the "Lakshya 2047" Centre for Future Skills, a Cadaveric Centre, and Advanced Medical Simulation facilities.
* The Centre, a collaboration with NSDC, Ethnotech, and Cambridge University Press, provides training and global certification in nine future technology domains.
* Integration of higher education with emerging fields such as AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies.
**Technological and Research Milestones**
* India completed 1,000 km of secure quantum communication in less than half the projected timeline.
* The National Quantum Mission is advancing through four thematic hubs and nationwide institutional collaborations.
* India ranks third globally in the startup ecosystem and has surpassed 100,000 patent filings, mostly by Indian residents.
* The India AI Mission (launched in 2024) is establishing a robust ecosystem for compute infrastructure, datasets, and future skills.
**Government Policy and Inclusion**
* The government has adopted an integrated approach involving academia, startups, and the private sector via the National Education Policy 2020 and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
* Specific programs (PURSE, FIST, STUTI) are in place to support women scientists, school students, and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes.
* The nuclear sector has been opened for greater private participation, specifically in nuclear medicine research and advanced healthcare applications.
**Strategic Vision for 2047**
* Leveraging India’s demographic dividend, with 70% of the population under age 40, to become a global skilled workforce hub.
* Focus on "responsible AI" rooted in ethics, equity, and public good to serve underserved sections of society.
**Impact Analysis**
**Youth and Students**
**Impact**
They are positioned as the central drivers of the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision and the primary beneficiaries of new skilling initiatives.
**Action Required**
Engage in continuous skilling and re-skilling in domains like AI, Quantum Technologies, and Semiconductor Design through available certification programs.
**Academia and Private Universities**
**Impact**
Universities are being encouraged to move beyond traditional silos and participate in integrated research and innovation hubs.
**Action Required**
Align curricula with emerging technologies and collaborate with government bodies and private industry to host advanced research facilities.
**Private Sector and Startups**
**Impact**
The opening of the nuclear sector and the expansion of the India AI Mission create new vocational and innovation opportunities.
**Action Required**
Increase participation in nuclear medicine research and utilize the growing compute infrastructure and datasets provided by national missions.
**Women and Underserved Communities (SC/ST)**
**Impact**
Dedicated government schemes aim to democratize access to science and research infrastructure.
**Action Required**
Utilize support mechanisms and technology innovation platforms such as STUTI and dedicated programs for women scientists.
Key Entities Referenced
National Quantum Mission: An eight-year government initiative aimed at advancing quantum technologies, which has achieved targets like 1,000 km of secure quantum communication.
India AI Mission: A mission launched in 2024 to build a robust ecosystem for artificial intelligence, focusing on compute infrastructure, datasets, and innovation.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): A primary government body established to foster an integrated and collaborative approach toward innovation and research across academia and the private sector.
National Education Policy 2020: The national policy framework used to align higher education curricula with emerging technology domains such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat: The educational institution where the 'Lakshya 2047' Centre for Future Skills and advanced medical simulation facilities were inaugurated.
Ministry of Science & Technology
India moving at a “very fast pace” in Quantum, AI
and Future Technologies; youth to drive Viksit
Bharat by 2047: Dr. Jitendra Singh
India has already achieved 1,000 km secure quantum
communication target in just three years, says Dr. Jitendra
Singh
Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'Lakshya 2047' Centre for
Future Skills, Cadaveric Centre and Advanced Medical
Simulation facilities at Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
Government under PM Narendra Modi has adopted an
integrated approach and is encouraging greater participation
from academia, including the private Universities and
educational institutions
Posted On: 08 MAY 2026 6:16PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and MoS PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today inaugurated
"Lakshya 2047" Centre for Future Skills, Cadaveric Centre and Advanced Medical Simulation facilities at
Parul University here.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said India is moving at a “very fast pace” in emerging
technologies including Quantum, Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors and Deep-Tech, with the
country’s youth set to play the central role in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Minister outlined the government’s broader push to align higher education with emerging
technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cybersecurity and quantum technologies. He
said the Centre, developed in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC),
Ethnotech and Cambridge University Press and Assessment, would train students in nine future-
technology domains with globally recognised certifications. Highlighting progress under the National
Quantum Mission, the Minister said India has already completed 1,000 km of secure quantum
communication within just three years, achieving the target in less than half the projected timeline, and
added that the eight-year Mission is advancing rapidly through four thematic hubs and collaborations with
institutions across the country.The Minister said the India AI Mission launched in 2024 is creating a strong ecosystem around compute
infrastructure, datasets, innovation and future skills. Referring to India’s growing global standing in
innovation, he said the country today ranks third globally in the startup ecosystem and has crossed one
lakh patents, a majority of them filed by Indian residents. India also ranks among the top nations globally
in scientific publications, with Indian research increasingly receiving international citations and
recognition.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the pace of technological evolution has made continuous skilling and re-skilling
essential, especially in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum Technologies and
Semiconductor Design. He said India’s demographic advantage, with nearly 70 percent of the population
below the age of 40 years, presents a major opportunity to emerge as a global skilled workforce hub over
the next two to three decades.
The Minister said the Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has adopted an integrated and
collaborative approach towards innovation, research and skilling, moving beyond traditional silos and
encouraging greater participation from academia, startups and the private sector. He referred to initiatives
such as the National Education Policy 2020, the National Quantum Mission, India AI Mission,
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Atal Tinkering Labs and various startup-support
programmes aimed at nurturing innovation from the school level onwards.
Highlighting the Government’s emphasis on inclusive scientific growth, Dr. Jitendra Singh spoke about
dedicated programmes for women scientists, school students, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, as
well as support mechanisms for universities and young researchers through schemes such as PURSE,
FIST, STUTI and technology innovation platforms. He said these initiatives are designed to democratise
access to science, research infrastructure and innovation opportunities across the country.
On Artificial Intelligence, the Minister said India is pursuing an approach rooted in inclusion,
responsibility and public good. Referring to the Global South AI Summit hosted by India earlier this year
and the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on responsible AI, he said technology must serve the most
vulnerable and underserved sections of society. “One has to be intelligent enough to use Artificial
Intelligence,” he remarked, adding that AI guided by ethics and equity can become a powerful force for
healthcare, governance and social transformation.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also referred to the opening of India’s nuclear sector for greater private participation,
including in nuclear medicine research and applications, describing it as a major step towards expanding
innovation and vocational opportunities in advanced healthcare technologies.
Calling upon the youth to become active partners in the journey towards Viksit Bharat, the Minister said
the year 2047 will belong to the present generation of young Indians, who will be at the peak of their
energy, careers and capabilities when the country completes 100 years of Independence. He said the
Government’s responsibility is to build their capacity and create opportunities so that India’s growth story
is driven by innovation, science and skilled human resources.*****
NKR/AK
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