Introduction
India ranks third among the most attractive investment destinations for technology transactions in the world. Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Department of Science and Technology, has reiterated that technology is a strong priority area for the Government, and it aims to make people science centric. Modern India has had a strong focus on science and technology, realising that it is a key element for economic growth. India is among the topmost countries in the world in the field of scientific research, positioned as one of the top five nations in the field for space exploration. The country has regularly undertaken space missions, including missions to the moon and the famed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
India is likely to take a leading role in launching satellites for the SAARC nations, generating revenue by offering its space facilities for use to other countries.
Developments/Investments:
With support from the Government, considerable investment and development has incurred in different sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, space research, and nuclear power through scientific research. For instance, India is gradually becoming self-reliant in nuclear technology.
Recent developments
Some of the recent developments in the field of science and technology in India are as follows:
- India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched space technology incubation centre in Tripura, Agartala. ISRO has planned 36 missions including satellites and launch vehicles in FY21.
- In September 2020, India successfully flight-tested its hypersonic technology demonstration vehicle (HSTDV) and joined the list of few countries having capabilities for next-generation hypersonic cruise missiles.
- In September 2020, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology developed a technology to safely manage/handle the infected respiratory secretions via canister bags containing an effective disinfectant to safeguard health workers who are at high risk due to contagious diseases such as influenza, COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB).
- In September 2020, Tech Mahindra announced a strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build Blockchain technology solutions across verticals, including telecom, healthcare, aviation and aerospace.
- In September 2020, according to the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund, a team of 11 members (India-US scientists) will be collaborating to propose new innovative ideas to address coronavirus challenges.
- In September 2020, the US-India-Israel announced to collaborate on a trilateral partnership focused on developing a next-gen technology (5G communication network).
- In August 2020, Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, found a new way for quantum state estimation, ‘Quantum State Interferography’, to make crucial quantum operations simpler.
The Union Budget 2020–21
- Under the Union Budget 2020–21, the Government announced the largest ever allocation of Rs 6,302 crore (US$ 901.70 million) to the Ministry of Science and Technology. It has also allocated Rs 2,787 crore (US$ 398.77 million) to the Department of Biotechnology and Rs 5,385 crore (US$ 770.50 million) to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
The Road Ahead
India is aggressively working towards establishing itself as a leader in industrialisation and technological development. Significant developments in the nuclear energy sector are likely as India looks to expand its nuclear capacity. Moreover, nanotechnology is expected to transform India’s pharmaceutical industry. The agriculture sector is also likely to undergo a major revamp with the government investing heavily for a technology-driven Green Revolution. Government of India, through the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy-2013, among other things, aspires to position India among the world’s top five scientific powers. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its first Indian human mission by 2022.
Note: Conversion rate used for September 2020 is Rs 1 = US$ 0.01370
References – Media reports, Press Releases, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Union Budget 2019–20
