Date: 2026-01-27Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh holds interactive meet with a distinguished group of around 500 StartUps, eminent scientists, and distinguished scholars from across the country, who were special invitees to the Republic Day celebrations
**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh held an interactive meet with approximately 500 StartUps, scientists, and scholars specially invited to Delhi as part of the Republic Day celebrations. The invitees participated in official engagements, including the Republic Day Parade and a reception at the President's residence. This initiative, started by PM Modi, aims to honour intellectual excellence and give national visibility to India's knowledge creators.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Event Overview:**
* Dr. Jitendra Singh hosted an interactive meet with around 500 specially invited individuals.
* The attendees included StartUps, scientists, and scholars from across the country.
* They were invited to participate in Republic Day celebrations.
* **Purpose of Initiative:**
* The initiative aims to honor intellectual excellence and give national visibility to India's knowledge creators.
* It reflects the government's commitment to recognizing intellectual capital as a pillar of national development.
* **Attendees & Participation:**
* Invitees were drawn from various scientific domains, including Space, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, and Earth Sciences.
* Approximately 100 invitees also attended the President's "At Home" reception.
* The overall initiative was a broad, inclusive engagement covering multiple scientific domains.
* **Government Support:**
* The Government of India reaffirmed its unwavering support for scientific research, innovation, and capacity building.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: StartUps, Scientists, and Scholars**
* **Impact:** Honoring intellectual excellence and giving national visibility to India's knowledge creators.
* **Action Required:** Participate in Republic Day celebrations.
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:** Recognition of support for promoting science, technology, and innovation.
* **Action Required:** Continued promotion of science, technology, and innovation.
Key Entities Referenced
Republic Day celebrations: The annual national holiday and associated events for which special invitees are selected.
Dr Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, key figure in organizing the event.
Delhi: The location where the Republic Day events and related engagements took place.
Ministry of Science & Technology: Government body under which this event was organized.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh holds
interactive meet with a distinguished group of
around 500 StartUps, eminent scientists, and
distinguished scholars from across the country,
who were special invitees to the Republic Day
celebrations
Around 100 eminent science experts among them attend
President’s at Home reception as part of Republic Day
celebrations
Scientists from Space, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Earth
Sciences, and other frontier research areas among 500
Republic Day special invitees
The practice to have such special invitees for Republic Day
celebrations began at PM Modi’s initiative: Dr Jitendra Singh
प्रव तथ: 27 JAN 2026 4:28PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister
of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and
Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, holds an interactive meet with a distinguished group of around 500 StartUps,
eminent scientists and distinguished scholars from across the country, who were specially invited to the
National Capital as part of the Republic Day celebrations.
The gathering comprised eminent scientists drawn from diverse scientific domains, including Space,
Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, and other frontier areas of research, along with
distinguished scholars and selected startup innovators representing India’s expanding scientific and
innovation ecosystem. A significant number of scientists from ISRO and other leading national institutions
formed a key part of the gathering, reflecting India’s growing global stature in science and technology.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that this diverse group of invitees had been specially called to Delhi to witness the
Republic Day Parade and to participate in official engagements conducted in an atmosphere of dignity and
national recognition. He informed that around 100 members from this larger group were also invited to the
At Home reception at the President’s residence in the evening, underscoring the national importance
accorded to their contributions.The Minister highlighted that this practice of inviting eminent academics, scientists, doctors, and
innovators as Special Invitees for Republic Day events has been initiated over the last few years through
the personal initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the objective of honouring intellectual
excellence and giving national visibility to India’s knowledge creators.
“This convention reflects the Prime Minister’s intent to accord due respect to the scientific and academic
community, while also providing them an opportunity to witness national ceremonies from a place of
dignity and to have an audience with the President of India,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
The Minister added that every year, a carefully curated group of eminent academics, scientists, medical
professionals, and innovators is invited to Delhi as part of this initiative, highlighting the government’s
continued emphasis on recognising intellectual capital as a pillar of national development.
Dr Jitendra Singh also clarified that while sector-specific engagements, including those related to Earth
Sciences, were held during the visit, the overall initiative was a broad, inclusive engagement covering
multiple scientific domains, and should be viewed in that comprehensive national context.
In addressing the assembled scientists, Dr. Singh reaffirmed the Government of India’s unwavering
support for scientific research, innovation, and capacity building that strengthens India’s global scientific
footprint and contributes to national development.*****
NKR/AK
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