Vardhan asks scientists to think a little out of box

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the vision to put India in the bracket of three top scientifically advanced nations by 2030.

To realise the dreams of the Prime Minister, our scientific community should think a little out of box, keep doing research targeted for the benefit of people, the Union Minister for Science and Technology said.

Vardhan said this after laying the foundation of Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Advanced Research & Training (SMART) centre of Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (IACS) here.

Vardhan, also the minister of Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said, "For the past four years under Modi's leadership our scientific community have been working to solve the common day problems of people with their works," and this is the area we should keep our focus on.

"We need to popularise science among the students and young generation," he said and called upon everyone to realise the goal to put India among the bracket of three top scientifically advanced nations by 2030.

Vardhan said after Jai Jawan Jai Kishan, the present government has coined the 'Jai Vigyan' slogan to give due emphasis on science education and scientific research.

Referring to India's progress in space research, he said, "We have made great strides in space research putting up 104 satellites in the orbit in 2017. We are launching Chandrayaan 2 mission to moon in 2019."
Vardhan said the present day scientists were availing the most modern instruments, equipment and laboratory unlike their illustrious predecessors "who had at times worked without amenities like ceiling fans."