Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan to be renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan

The government has announced that the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan will be renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan in memory of the former president, who passed away yesterday.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani condoled Dr. Kalam's demise and said that the former president wanted India to progress and be self sufficient.

"We want to encourage students to take up science, technology and mathematics. Kalam had inaugurated this with the same vision so we want it to be renamed after him so that it is connected to Kalam. He wanted India to progress and be self sufficient. In the coming years we will try to encourage children to innovate through science and technology," said Irani.

Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan is a unique concept developed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development that aims to inculcate a spirit of inquiry, creativity and love for Science and Mathematics in school children.

Under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, the government schools will be mentored by Institutes like IITs/ IIMs/ IISERs and other Central Universities and reputed organisations through innovative programmes, student exchanges, demonstrations, student visits, etc to develop a natural sense of passion towards learning of Science and Maths.