PM announces another mission on high performance computing with an outlay of Rs 4500 crores (Update:PM)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced another National Mission on High Performance Computing with an outlay of 4500 crore rupees.

Inaugurating the 101st Indian Science Congress at Jammu University here, Dr Singh said: "Our government has invested in many areas to ensure that India remains at the cutting edge of science. I am happy to announce another National Mission on High Performance Computing with an outlay of Rs. 4500 crores. We are also considering establishment of a National Geographical Information System with an outlay of about Rs. 3000 crores. A National Mission on Teaching to enhance the esteem of our teachers is also being launched."

"I am also happy to announce that India will partner the international scientific community in the establishment of some of the world's major R and D projects. In the Gravitational Wave experiment, India intends to host the third detector. A Neutrino-based Observatory is proposed to be established in Tamil Nadu at a cost of about Rs 1450 crores. India is also joining the famous CERN institute as an associate member," he added.

Asserting that India needs to leverage the ability of modern science to deliver value to society, Dr. Singh said: "We must also seek global leadership in at least some research and development areas. Affordable innovations for human healthcare, sustainable agriculture, clean energy and total solutions for water-related challenges are some areas where Indian science can seek global leadership."

"Indian scientists have to learn from the past, they have to connect with the present, and they have to focus on the future. Our basic research must be directed to make new discoveries with innovative efforts to develop affordable solutions suited to Indian condition. Above all, our science should be a driving force propelling India as a resurgent civilization which holds out both hope and opportunity for our young citizens," he added.

Dr Singh further said that UPA government has worked hard to promote the use of Science and Technology as a key driver of development.

He said that 2013 Science Technology and Innovation Policy reflects government's approach to strengthen, research and academic base of the country as a critical foundation to achieve the goal.

" We have strengthened the research and academic base of the country as a critical foundation to achieve these goals. We have also taken a number of measures to make a career in science more attractive. We have worked to create a synergy of academia with research, research with industry, industry with economy and economy with the well-being of our people. All this has made our progress in science in the last ten years very substantial," he added.

The Prime Minister stressed an instilling a scientific attitude and temper in our population and said that it is essential for developing a progressive rational and human society.

" I would like to stress on something that has troubled me for some time. I worry some time that science has not yet got its proper due in our value system. I would like science to be high in our value system so that our entire society provides both moral and material support for its development," he said.

"This is not only necessary because our future depends on it, but also because instilling a scientific attitude and temper in our population is essential for developing a progressive, rational and humane society. I do hope that our scientists and educators will ponder seriously on how we can achieve this transformation in the mindset of our society," he added.