India has not made big impact in field of science: PM

Addressing CSIR's 70th foundation day, Singh said conventional scientific disciplines were proving unequal to dealing with complex developmental challenges

Lamenting that India has not been able to make an impact on the world scale in the field of science, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked scientists to dream big and not to despair.

Addressing the 70th foundation day of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Singh said conventional scientific disciplines and approaches were proving unequal to dealing with complex developmental challenges.

"We have not been able to make an impact on a world scale commensurate with our large scientific manpower pool," Singh said addressing scientists.

In his address, which was webcast across all 37 CSIR laboratories, the Prime Minister lauded the achievements of the Council over its 70 years of existence but asked them not to rest on the laurels.

"However, with all our achievements, we cannot rest on our laurels. As a nation, we have not succeeded in mobilising enough private investment into science to raise our investment in scientific research to 2% of GDP," Singh said.

He said scientists need to recognise that excellence has not percolated across all the research and academic institutions.

Singh said CSIR needed to devote itself to these national challenges in the years to come and will have to take up national leadership in science, engineering and technology.

"Young scientists must dream big and refuse to despair," the Prime Minister said.