essay on role of science and technology in development of india

Science and Technology in India, Progress, Achievements, and Concerns

Science and technology have played a pivotal role in shaping India's modern identity and driving its socio-economic development. Know all Achievements Science and Technology in India.

Table of Contents

Science and technology have played a pivotal role in shaping India’s modern identity and driving its socio-economic development. With a rich history dating back centuries, India has made significant strides in recent years, positioning itself as a global player in the field of science and technology.

Science and Technology in India

Science and technology have significantly influenced India’s development. With a rich historical legacy, India has made remarkable strides in recent times. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has gained global acclaim with missions to the moon and Mars, while the IT and pharmaceutical sectors are thriving. These advancements have driven economic growth, improved healthcare, and strengthened the agricultural sector. However, India must address funding, education, and digital access disparities to maintain this momentum and ensure technology benefits all.

History of science and technology in India

India’s history of science and technology is a tapestry of remarkable accomplishments spanning millennia. Ancient Indian mathematicians blazed a trail with the invention of the decimal system and the concept of zero, while astronomers made precise celestial observations. The “Sushruta Samhita” demonstrated advanced surgical knowledge, and India’s metallurgical expertise was renowned. The medieval period witnessed architectural marvels like the Taj Mahal. British colonialism influenced the growth of modern scientific institutions.

Post-independence, India prioritized education and research, giving rise to institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Contemporary India excels in space exploration, IT, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy, solidifying its global stature in science and technology. Science and technology have always been integral to Indian culture, with a rich tradition of natural philosophy. The Indian Renaissance, coinciding with the independence struggle, saw significant progress by Indian scientists. Post-independence, the government established robust S&T infrastructure, with the Department of Science and Technology playing a pivotal role.

Role of Science & Technology in India

The role of science and technology in India is pivotal, with significant contributions to the nation’s development and progress. This role can be understood through various dimensions:

Economic Growth

Science and technology play a critical role in driving economic growth. They underpin various industries, including information technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and manufacturing. India’s burgeoning software and IT services sector, in particular, has led to substantial foreign exchange earnings and job creation. The advancements in these industries have significantly contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and overall economic development.

Agricultural Transformation

Science and technology have been instrumental in transforming India’s agriculture sector. The Green Revolution, initiated in the mid-20th century, introduced high-yield crop varieties, modern irrigation techniques, and improved agricultural practices. These innovations increased agricultural productivity, ensuring food security for the growing population.

Healthcare Advancements

Technological advancements in the field of medicine have improved healthcare outcomes in India. Advanced medical equipment, telemedicine, and innovative treatment methods have enhanced the quality of healthcare services. India has also become a prominent player in pharmaceuticals, producing a wide range of affordable generic drugs and vaccines.

Education and Research

Science and technology have fostered a culture of innovation and research in India. The establishment of institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), and world-class research facilities has nurtured a new generation of scientists and engineers. These institutions have not only contributed to cutting-edge research but have also attracted international collaborations.

Space Exploration

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved significant milestones in space exploration. India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013 marked its entry into interplanetary space exploration. ISRO’s missions have contributed to advancements in communication, remote sensing, and global positioning systems, benefiting a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning.

Global Contributions

India has become a global contributor in science and technology. Its space missions and pharmaceutical industry have not only served domestic needs but have also had a global impact. India’s information technology sector provides crucial services to businesses and organizations around the world. The nation’s scientists and engineers are increasingly engaged in collaborative research projects with international partners, contributing to global scientific advancements.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Science and technology have fostered innovation and entrepreneurship. Start-ups in the technology, biotechnology, and clean energy sectors have gained prominence, attracting investments and generating job opportunities. India’s government and private sector actively support the growth of a vibrant start-up ecosystem.

Recent Developments of science and technology in India

India has a rich history of remarkable achievements in the field of science and technology, spanning from ancient innovations to modern breakthroughs. Here are some notable contributions:

Revolutionizing Agriculture

India’s Green Revolution, a monumental achievement, transformed the country’s agricultural landscape. Agro-scientists introduced high-yielding seeds, modern farming techniques, and improved irrigation practices. As a result, India became self-sufficient in food production, reducing reliance on foreign grain imports and ensuring food security.

Pioneering Satellite Communication

Under the visionary leadership of Vikram Sarabhai, India ventured into space technology. The successful launch of the Space Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) and the INSAT system in 1983 established India as a significant player in satellite communication. This achievement has had a profound impact on telecommunications, broadcasting, and weather forecasting.

Global Pharmaceutical Hub

India has earned its reputation as “the pharmacy of the world.” Government initiatives, including the establishment of Hindustan Antibiotics Limited and Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited, along with private sector contributions, have led to the production of affordable and effective drugs and vaccines with a global impact.

Indigenous Defence Advancements

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has been pivotal in developing indigenous defence systems, including advanced aircraft, weaponry, tanks, electronic warfare technologies, and missile systems. India’s successful nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998 have reinforced national security and sovereignty.

Space Exploration Excellence

The establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1969 marked a significant milestone. ISRO’s missions, including Chandrayaan (2008) and Mangalyaan (2014), have propelled India to the forefront of space exploration. India became the first nation to reach the orbit of Mars on its maiden attempt, expanding our knowledge of celestial bodies.

Global IT Dominance

The establishment of the Department of Electronics in 1970, coupled with the emergence of public sector companies like ECIL and CMC, challenged the dominance of global IT giants. Today, India stands as the world’s largest exporter of IT services, with companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) ranking among the top 10 IT firms globally, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic growth and technological prowess.

Achievements of India in Science and Technology

In the realm of space exploration, India has achieved notable milestones through the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). ISRO has successfully launched numerous satellites for communication, Earth observation, and navigation. The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), launched in 2013, marked a historic achievement, making India the fourth country in the world to reach Mars on its maiden attempt. Additionally, the Chandrayaan-2 mission was launched to explore the Moon, comprising an orbiter, lander, and rover.

Nuclear Technology

India has made significant strides in nuclear technology, developing capabilities for both civilian and military purposes. The Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 demonstrated India’s nuclear capabilities to the world. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have played pivotal roles in advancing nuclear science within the country.

Information Technology

India has established itself as a global IT hub, with companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro leading the industry. These companies have contributed to Silicon Valley and the global tech industry, while Indian engineers and entrepreneurs have made substantial contributions in the field of information technology.

Pharmaceutical and Healthcare

India is a major player in the pharmaceutical industry, producing a significant portion of the world’s generic drugs. Indian pharmaceutical companies have played a crucial role in the global fight against diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This contribution to healthcare has had a global impact.

Renewable Energy

India has made significant progress in the field of renewable energy, setting ambitious goals for solar and wind energy generation. The International Solar Alliance (ISA), initiated by India, promotes cooperation among countries in harnessing solar energy, contributing to sustainable development.

Biotechnology

In the field of biotechnology, India has made advancements through research institutions and companies. These advancements encompass genetic engineering, vaccine development, and crop improvement, making significant contributions to the global biotech sector.

Supercomputing

India’s indigenous supercomputer, Param, has been a valuable tool for scientific research and weather forecasting. It showcases India’s capabilities in high-performance computing.

Agriculture and Green Revolution

The Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, led by scientists like Norman Borlaug, transformed agricultural practices in India. It significantly increased food production and played a crucial role in improving food security.

Space Research and Navigation

India’s space research extends to navigation with the launch of its regional satellite navigation system called NavIC. NavIC provides accurate positioning information services to users in India and neighboring regions, enhancing navigation capabilities.

Science and Innovation

Indian scientists and researchers have made substantial contributions to various scientific fields, including physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Their work has elevated India’s standing in the global scientific community and contributed to scientific knowledge worldwide.

Concerns in Science and Technology in India

India’s science and technology landscape faces several concerns that impact its growth and competitiveness:

• Funding Challenges: The level of investment in research and development in India is often insufficient to support cutting-edge scientific endeavors and technological innovations. Inadequate funding hampers the country’s ability to tackle critical challenges and compete globally.
• Educational Variability: Disparities in the quality of science and technology education across the country hinder the development of a skilled workforce. Education reform is needed to make curriculum more relevant and equip students with practical skills.
• Brain Drain: The emigration of highly skilled researchers and scientists to foreign countries in pursuit of better opportunities results in a substantial loss of expertise and innovation within India.
• Innovation Ecosystem: Establishing a thriving innovation ecosystem with support for startups and entrepreneurship remains a challenge. Translating research into commercially viable products or services can be difficult.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Inadequate infrastructure, including state-of-the-art research facilities, hinders scientific progress and innovation.

Way Forward

To bolster India’s science and technology sector, key measures are vital. Firstly, an increase in research and development funding is imperative, with a greater budget allocation to support innovative projects and cutting-edge scientific endeavors. Concurrently, a focus on education reform is essential, enhancing the quality of science and technology education with modernized curricula and practical skill development.

Mitigating the brain drain necessitates incentives to retain talented researchers and scientists while nurturing an innovation ecosystem through support for startups and streamlined regulations promotes the commercialization of research. Infrastructure development, including state-of-the-art research facilities, will facilitate scientific progress. These measures collectively position India to contribute significantly to global scientific advancements and ensure socio-economic development.

Science and Technology in India UPSC

Science and Technology is a significant subject within the Civil Services Examination. It’s evident from the numerous questions related to this subject that appear in both the UPSC Prelims and Mains. To assist IAS aspirants in their exam preparations, this article offers downloadable PDFs of UPSC notes on Science and Technology. In the UPSC Mains, Science and Technology form part of the GS III syllabus. Additionally, science subjects such as Botany, Chemistry, and Biology are among the optional subject choices for the IAS Mains exam. These scientific subjects offer the potential for high scores, but often, aspirants face challenges in balancing static and dynamic aspects while making notes, especially when dealing with contemporary issues from the news.

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Science and Technology in India FAQs

What is the role of science and technology in modern india.

Science and technology in modern India drive economic growth, healthcare advancements, and agricultural transformation while fostering innovation, global contributions, and socio-economic development.

What is the future of science and technology in India?

India aspires for advancements in experimental physics, astrophysics, drug development, diagnostics, and biotechnology, aiming to push scientific frontiers.

How does science and technology contribute to economic growth in India?

Science and technology underpin various industries, such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology, contributing to GDP and job creation.

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…..India's Story Of Seven And A Half Decade

The Role of Technology in Nation-Building

Categories: Science & Technology: New frontiers & Beyond, Published: 15th Mar, 2022

INTRODUCTION:

• Science and Technology hold the key to the progress and development of any nation.
• Technology plays a fundamental role in wealth creation , improvement of the quality of life and real economic growth and transformation in any society.
• Science, technology and the development of nations and society are all proportional to each other.
• Development is always linked with technological disruption, and it happens when there is an advancement in the scientific field.
• Nation-building refers to how national identities are constructed and communicated. The term nation-building is often used simultaneously with state-building , democratization, modernization , political development , post-conflict reconstruction , and peacebuilding. Nation-building can take many forms, including education policies or major infrastructure development to trigger economic growth and political stability.
• Nation-building is a challenge in post-colonial states, especially in territories that were primarily used by the colonial power to extract resources or obtain other economic benefits.

Let us delve into the path that India has traversed in the journey of Nation-Building.

HISORICAL PERSPECTIVE:

• After nearly two centuries of despotic British rule , India gained independence in 1947. The British left India as a poor, dependent, underdeveloped, socially, and economically backward nation. A few hold this opinion that nation-building is an autonomous process that would develop itself after independence. But past and later experiences indicate that this was a complex challenge.
• Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India in his address to the Indian Science Congress said, “New-born India needed inputs of science not through hollow words, but through concrete efforts directed at building the necessary infrastructure from scratch.” The cultivation of science and its benefits to humanity were crystal clear to Nehru even before independence. He became the first non-scientist to preside over the Indian Science Congress.
• Some of the greatest names of the time, including Homi J Bhabha, Sir C.V. Raman, Satish Dhawan, Nalini Ranjan Sarkar, J.C. Ghosh, Meghnad Saha and S.S. Bhatnagar, were given a free hand in establishing the country’s best institutes of scientific learning. J.L. Nehru, in consultation with Bhabha, established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of the country on August 10, 1948, with Bhabha as its head .
• In India, science and technology have been given importance in nation-building since independence with the establishment of institutes like DRDO, IITs, CSIR labs and the establishment of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• It was the vision of Pandit Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, and the need of India at that time that led to the foundation of the Indian Institute of Technology in 1950 after only three years of independence. These institutes, with assistance from international institutes, promoted research in India. Nehru aimed to inculcate the scientific temper among the Indians. He also aimed “ to convert India’s economy into that of a modern state, and to fit her into the nuclear age and do it quickly”. The Department of scientific research and natural resources was also set up by him.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

• Science and technology have been central to the progress and development of virtually all the nations of the world. It contributes immensely to various sectors of the economy. Science and technology are intimately connected with development because and share a symbiotic relationship . It leads to healthier, longer, wealthier and more productive lives and alleviation of poverty becomes possible. The many ways in which science and technology impact poverty alleviation across various sectors and economic growth merit attention.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SPACE EXPLORATION:

• Dr Vikram Sarabhai, who is considered as founding father of the Indian space programme , quickly recognised the benefits of space technologies for India . With the help of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the Indian space research organisation (ISRO) was set up in 1969.

Since its inception, the Indian space programme had three distinct elements:

• Satellites for communication and remote sensing
• Space transportation system and
• Application programmes.

Achievements:

• Aryabhatta, the first Indian satellite , was launched by the Soviet Union in 1975.
• Lately, ISRO has conducted two successful space projects, Chandrayaan, and Mangalyaan in 2008 and 2014 respectively. At present, India’s main priorities are Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan mission”.
• GSLV Mk III: GSLV MkIII, chosen to launch Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, is a three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. This was the first testing of the indigenous cryogenic engine.
• Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM): Marking India's first venture into the interplanetary space, MOM will explore and observe Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and the Martian atmosphere.

ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL): NSIL, incorporated in March 2019, got mandated to undertake operational satellite missions on a demand-driven model, wherein it has the responsibility to build, launch, own and operate the satellite and provide services to its committed customer.

Application of Space Technology:

• Cyclone Warning Systems: The cyclone forecast accuracy has significantly improved in recent years as has been demonstrated during cyclones Phailin (2013), Hudhud (2014), Vardah (2016), Titli (2018), Fani& Bulbul (2019) and Amphan, Nisarga&Nivar (2020) and Tauktae, Yaas, Gulaab & Shaheen and Jawad (2021).
• Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS): It comprises a real-time network of seismic stations , tide gauges and a 24X7 operational tsunami warning centre to detect tsunamigenic earthquakes, monitor tsunamis and provide timely advisories to vulnerable communities.
• Remote sensing applications in India now cover diverse fields such as the agricultural crop acreage and yield estimation , drought warning and assessment , flood control and damage assessment, land use/land cover mapping, wasteland management, urban development, mineral prospecting, forest survey, etc.

Space technology can provide solutions to the problems of man and society . Space technology will enable e-Education, integrated healthcare schemes and connectivity to community activities for sustainable economic development. This will lead to employment generation, higher literacy, availability of clean energy and wealth generation for the welfare of the society with improved quality of life.

• Knowledge about space, gained through scientific studies can have enormous economic and social benefits that contribute to meeting many societal needs, from human security to sustainable development. It has the potential to contribute immensely toward the character building of people and thereby in nation-building.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE HEALTH SECTOR:

• Advances in scientific knowledge and its application have helped slow the trend of high fertility, high mortality and led to increasingly better health for people in India.
• In the Indian context, over the past century, science and technology provided the basis for the largest ever aggregate improvements in human health.
• In 1950-51, there were 725 Primary Health Centres and in 1999, these rose to 22,446 . As per the Rural Health Statistics-2019, a total of 30,045 PHC both in rural and urban areas have been functional in the country. It marks a big achievement for India.
• National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2019-21 has revealed a mixed picture in terms of the health indicators in the country . On the one hand, it observes a reduction in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) (40.7 in NFHS 4 to 35.2 in NFHS 5) and 0 (49.7 in NFHS 4 to 41.9 in NFHS 5) and on the other hand, there is an increase in anaemia among women and children, which in turn will have implications on malnutrition in the future.
• The life expectancy of an average Indian was 33 years in 1951 which increased to 69.66 years in 2019.
• Stronger primary health care is essential to achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and universal health coverage. It contributes to the attainment of other goals beyond the health goal (SDG3).

Control of Communicable Diseases:

• The number of deaths from diseases like Malaria, Smallpox, Tuberculosis, has been declined.
• Smallpox: India had eradicated this disease from the country since April 1977. It was a big achievement of the health care programme .
• Polio: India received 'Polio-free certification' from World Health Organization on 27 March 2014, with the last polio case being reported in Howrah in West Bengal on 13 January 2011.
• Malaria : At the time of independence malaria killed more than 10 lakh people every year. It is due to development in science and technology together with better planning we were able to control it. The government took a major step to address the disease by launching the National Malaria Eradication Programme in 1958.
• Tuberculosis: It is commonly called TB. To control TB, National TB Control Programme was started in 1955. A number of TB hospitals have been opened across the country. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme was launched in April 1977. National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017–2025) purposes to achieve a rapid decline in the burden of TB, morbidity and mortality while working towards the elimination of TB in India by 2025.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): It was launched in September 2021 is a necessary intervention to enable a National Digital Health Ecosystem. Implementation of this mission has manifold implications. Creating a digital health ecosystem , for one, will enable the creation of health provider registries, thereby aiding in the elimination of quackery . Digital prescriptions can help prevent unauthorised doctors from prescribing to patients.
• The provision of a unique health ID for every individual, there are benefits of tracking patient case history, diagnostic tests taken and their reports, interval between tests, etc., all of which is irretrievable in a pen-and-paper system and lack of awareness/knowledge among patients.
• With 5G on the anvil , the healthcare delivery will change forever and India may lead the way in showing the world how tech can transform healthcare and make it more outcome-driven.

Budget 2022-23 has acknowledged the real potential of information technology (IT) in addressing the gaps in the health system. Therefore, the CAPEX under the Department of Health and Family Welfare has gone up from Rs2,508 crore in FY2021-22 to Rs5,632 crore for FY2022-23 , a more than 100% increase to building strong foundations for the health system.

• ‘ Make in India’ initiative is encouraging domestic manufacture of medical devices and helping lower the prices patients pay for products such as stents and implants, which in the past were imported.
• India’s health care industry is becoming more and more attractive for investors, with technology-led innovations.

• Telemedicine: Development in ICT and the spread of internet connection has helped education reach the corners of the nation through video lectures, interactive sessions with distantly located teachers and educators. The health sector also reaps benefits from expanding its network through Telemedicine.
• CoWIN Platform: During the pandemic, the platform has proven to be successful in India where it has also handled 2.5 crore vaccinations in a day, with a load of over 800 vaccinations per second. Achieving the 100 crore vaccines milestone in record time would not have been possible for India in the absence of it.

India has made its digital platform ( CoWIN Platform) for Covid19 vaccination drive, CoWIN, open-source for all countries to access, adapt and use. This was perhaps the first time that any country is made a software platform developed by its public sector open for the world.

• Covaxin: The development of Covaxin has instilled self-confidence in us that India is now much more than the pharmacy of the world. It is also a vaccine superpower.
• Vocal for Patent Waiver: Despite not getting much support India's pushed for COVID vaccine patent waiver, medicines at WTO . This approach not only suggests the importance of healthcare in nation-building but also how India looks at the world as one family and translates the underlying principle of ‘ Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE:

• Advances in science and technology have facilitated higher yields , greater efficiency and greater nutritional content . Science and technology have played an important role in India’s evolution since its independence.
• India went through famine, starvation in many parts and national calamities and looked for ships to come to our ports with wheat from western countries . After Independence, India looked forward to development through Five Year Plans. Today India is in the knowledge age which provides an opportunity to become a developed nation with a strong economy.

The era of stagnation in agriculture (the 1950s): A period marked by limited or insignificant growth, agricultural production during this period witnessed.

• Low growth in crop and grain production (0.4 and 0.1 percent p.a.)
• Foodgrain production of 59.2 MT in 1952–53, with a yield of 579.8 kg/ha

The 1960s-1980s: A good transition from stagnancy to high agriculture production, this period was characterized by:

• Pioneering work of agricultural scientists and efforts of farmers that led to the Green Revolution
• High Yield Variety (HYV) of seeds , increased use of fertilizers and irrigation, resulting in a significant spike in production
• Food security and reduced import of food grains

The 1980- 2000s: Surplus production and exports: During this period, India transitioned from achieving just food security to surplus production. The key highlights of this period include:

• Expanding cereal production
• Economic reforms introduced that provided greater encouragement to exports
• Surplus of production of agricultural commodities over domestic demand
• India emerged as a net exporter of agricultural products
• Increase in population and strong income growth

2000 Onwards: Economic Reforms, Technological Advancements and Disruptive Transformation

2000 and beyond saw a great push to agricultural production with the introduction of supporting reforms, new policies and adoption of technology. Some key highlights from this period include:

• Better technology adoption
• Rise in institutional credit for agriculture
• NFSM to increase the production of commodities
• Schemes like National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BREI) helped achieve record production.
• The National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm
• Commodity exchanges that helped in fair pricing of commodities

Agricultural Progress under the various Five-Year Plans:

• Third Plan : The Government introduced the new agricultural technology known as the Intensive Agricultural District Programme of using improved seeds, viz., High Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP). The new agricultural technology was expected to usher in the green revolution.
• Fourth Plan: A systematic effort to extend the application of science and technology to improve agricultural practices
• Sixth Plan: It is hailed by the Indian Government as the second green revolution . The Second Green Revolution from 1983-84 was said to be from expansion in supplies of inputs and services to farmers, agricultural extension and better management.

Other applications of Technology in Agriculture:

• India’s Rainbow Revolution: The rainbow revolution concept is a combination of Green Revolution, White Revolution, Blue Revolution, Yellow Revolution and Brown Revolution. It was after these revolutions, that Indian agriculture slowly shifted from traditional behaviour to scientific behaviour.
• Soil Health Card: The campaign to provide soil health cards with nutrient information of soil would help the farmers to educate about the most viable and appropriate cropping pattern suiting the climatic conditions in the region. Shortage of infrastructure like soil testing labs is hindrances but it’s a move in the right direction.
• APMC farmers go cashless (2017): In January 2017, Indore Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) adopted a cashless payment policy and farmers started accepting alternative modes of payments such as cheques and RTGS.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM):
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan b Scheme for farmers for the installation of solar pumps and grid-connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.

Digital Initiatives By The Indian Government in Agriculture:

• E-sagu: One of the latest digital initiatives, it provides expert suggestions to the farmers. By leveraging the internet and audio-visual communication, insights from experts are provided to the farmers regularly on the various techniques to increase farm productivity
• Community Radio (CR): Community Radio fulfils the information needs of the farmers using radio station facilities by providing the latest information on weather and farming practices.
• Digital Green: The initiative disseminates agricultural information using online videos.
• National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): It provides an e-marketing platform at the national level and supports the creation of infrastructure to enable e-marketing. The platform also ensures better price discovery, brings in transparency and empowers farmers to get fair remuneration for their produce
• The Kisan Call Centre (KCC): This initiative provides information to farmers through a toll-free telephone helpline . Under this project, call centre facilities have been extended to the farmers by establishing call centres in different states so that farmers can get the information in their native language.

NEW-AGE AGRI REVOLUTION IN INDIA:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems :
• AI Systems are helping to improve the overall harvest quality and accuracy – known as precision agriculture. AI technology helps in detecting disease in plants, pests and poor nutrition of farms. AI sensors can detect and target weeds and then decide which herbicide to apply within the region.
• Accurate AI forecasts and analytical tools help farmers better plan their farming habits and help them avoid losses, while also helping them better their yields with crops that could thrive in particular weather.
• Kisan Drones: It will be used to boost the agricultural sector in the country, the use of Kisan Drones will be promoted for crop assessment, digitization of land records and spraying of insecticides and nutrients.
• Smart Farm Machinery: Smart Farm Machinery is about producing more with less. Smart machines and technological breakthroughs have the potential to increase output, lower costs and boost farm incomes.
• Micro Irrigation: frees the farmer from vagaries of seasonal monsoon while also conserving the limited water resources. With agriculture consuming about 80 per cent of the total renewable water resources, the adoption of micro-irrigation practices will help conserve our precious water reserves and also boost yields and productivity.
• Precision Farming: an approach to farm management that uses information technology to access real-time data about crops, soil, weather etc. to ensure crops and soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity.
• Digitization in agriculture is catching up fast. From platforms like eNAM to projects like Agri Udaan, the commitment to the use of technologies in agriculture is strong and clear. It is now important for investors and stakeholders to utilize this opportunity and ride the tide of long-overdue digital transformation in the agriculture sector.
• Earth Observation Satellites (EOS): These are nothing but another Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) . Land and forest mapping and monitoring, mapping of resources like water or minerals or fishes, weather and climate observations, soil assessment, and geospatial contour mapping are done through these satellites.

The agricultural sector plays a strategic role in the process of nation-building by:

• Contributing to National Income
• Ensuring Source of Food Supply
• Pre-Requisite for Raw Material
• Provision of Surplus
• Creation of Infrastructure
• Helpful to Reduce Inequality
• Source of foreign exchange
• Employment opportunities for Rural People

Numerous raw materials, regardless of whether it’s cotton, sugar, wood, or palm oil, come from the agriculture sector. These materials are fundamental for major industries. Adequate provision of Agricultural education programmes , also helps a nation meet the challenges of food insecurity, poverty and unemployment which has posed threats to the corporate existence and stability of the nation. We need a new phase in Indian agriculture that will be defined by innovation and technology; an age where we will look to balance productivity and economics with social and environmental considerations. This age will usher in an era of unprecedented productivity and prosperity for farmers.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN AFFORDABLE/CLEAN ENERGY:

• The power sector plays a vital role in the economic growth and human development of any country. It improves the quality of life of human beings and the biotics of this sphere. Electricity consumption is one of the most important indices for measuring the development level of a nation.
• The power sector in India has grown significantly since independence, both in the Installed Capacity and Transmission & Distribution (T&D) system. The total Power Generating Capacity has increased from a meagre 1362 MW in 1947 to about 393 GW at the end of March 2021.
• The Per Capita Electricity Consumption which was a mere 3 units in 1947 , has increased to 1208 units in 2019-20.

Renewable Energy (RE) Capacity of India:

• Production Linked Incentive Scheme “ National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules” was introduced to promote manufacturing of high-efficiency solar PV modules, including the upstage vertical components like cells, wafers, ingots and polysilicon in India and thus reduce the import dependence in Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) sector.
• National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM): India's ambitious goal of 175 GW by 2022 got an impetus in the 2021-22 budget which allocated Rs. 1500 crore for renewable energy development and NHM.
• Modern clean, renewable energy technologies (e.g., solar, wind, modern biomass) need to be developed further and there needs to be an increase in the efficiency and sustainability of energy use in transportation, industry, and housing. Power is one of the most critical components of infrastructure and crucial for making the process of “nation-building” steady and sustainable.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION:

• To make India a front-line country and economy , the government has launched schemes such as Digital India and Make in India , which require the education system especially higher education to gear itself to the task of realising these missions. Hence, education becomes the fuel to achieve the other goals in the process of nation-building.

“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”— Nelson Mandela

• One of the core principles guiding the education system would be the ‘extensive use of technology in teaching and learning, removing language barriers, increasing access, and education planning and management.
• With the internet penetration rate estimated to reach above 55 per cent by the end of 2025 in India, digitisation of education is the future of education. National Education Policy (NEP) emphasizes digitisation besides the use of technology in education. But increased use of technology in education also creates a digital divide, as not everyone has equal access to technology.

Initiatives by the Government:

• PM eVIDYA Programme: The government introduced the PM eVIDYA programme in May 2020 to make e-learning more accessible for Indian students and teachers and promote & strengthen digital education in India.
• DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing): National portal for school education, to offer school curriculum-based engaging learning materials to students, teachers, and parents. The portal supports >18 Indian languages and has been implemented by 35 states/UTs.
• SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds): It offers an integrated platform for online courses at affordable costs to all citizens, especially the underprivileged section in the country.
• SWAYAM PRABHA: In 2017, SWAYAM PRABHA, a group of 34 DTH (Direct-to-Home) channels dedicated to broadcasting educational programmes 24x7, was introduced.
• E-Pathshala Portal: In 2015, the government launched the ePathshala portal to build a resource store for educational videos, audios, flipbooks, etc.
• NISHTHA: In FY21, the National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) - Phase II was launched at the secondary level to tailor modules for online education.
• OLabs: To offer students a lab learning experience via the internet, the government introduced OLabs in November 2014 for those who do not have access to the physical lab.
• Virtual Labs: The Government of India introduced a pilot virtual lab in 2009 and the main one in 2010 to enable undergraduate and post-graduate students (pursuing science and engineering courses) remotely access the labs and enhance their study experience.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN ECONOMIC GROWTH:

In economics, it is widely accepted that technology is the key driver of the economic growth of countries, regions and cities. Technological progress allows for the more efficient production of more and better goods and services, which is what prosperity depends on. The role of technology in economic development can be summarised as follows:

• Time is Money: Technology can save the time it takes to produce a good or deliver a service, contributing to the overall profits of a business.
• Efficiency: Technology can contribute to the efficiency of a business's output rate, allowing for larger quantities of products to be moved or of services to be rendered.
• Specialization: Technology has to lead to an increase in the division of labour and specialization of jobs within a business, further contributing to the efficiency with which a business can run.
• Natural Resources: Technology has a huge effect on the ability of businesses and governments to access natural resources and use them in the most effective ways possible to benefit both the business and the economy.
• Industrial Expansion: Thanks to the increased efficiency of labour with the ever-improving state of technology, businesses can increase total output, which in turn leads to higher profits and greater economic development.
• Research: Better technology has led to further research into nearly every sector of business and science, meaning businesses can benefit from all sorts of technological advancements.
• The Internet and International Trade : Information technology is the single most important element in the success and growth of international trade and job market growth, allowing businesses to share information and conduct trade in less time than the blink of an eye.

Impact of Technology in Indian Economy:

Market Operations:

• The Telecom sector constitutes a critical building block of the country’s infrastructure . Broadband wireless is going to be the order of the day and mobile money transfer and mobile commerce are going to open up endless possibilities.
• Digital technology in capital markets is changing the market operations. The new technology-aided solutions are only adding to the human capacities in the capital market scenario. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are part of financial institutions among other aspects like investment trading.
• Technology is further democratizing trading. Investors no longer have to rely on experts as data science produces trading strategies that resolve investment challenges.

Banking Sector:

• The requirement for computerized banks in India was felt in the early 1980s. The Indian banks applied the process at the branch level. Various national committees were formed by the government to modernize the banking system in India.
• In the late 1980s, the then deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Dr C Rangrajan implemented the concept of core banking in India . It formed a platform for facilities like telebanking, off-site ATMs and customer terminals.
• In the 1990s, core banking was transformed when private sector banks and foreign banks started having access to the Indian banking industry.

• Advanced Self-Service Capabilities: With fintech banking solutions, self-service capabilities provide customers with operational processes that were previously only available via a physical branch.
• Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): A decade ago, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced NEFT and RTGS, followed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introducing IMPS. This was followed by API-led banking. In a nutshell, an API is a bridge that helps banks and third parties to connect safely and leverage each other’s offerings in real-time.
• Instant Payments: Point of sale or POS terminals had begun to see acceptance only around 2016, the rapid penetration of mobile internet services and demonetisation played a role in Indians’ larger acceptance of digital payments.
• BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) : It is an Indian mobile payment app developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
• RuPay Payment Network: RuPay is the first of its kind global card payment network of India with wide acceptance at ATMs, Point of Sale Devices, and e-commerce platforms across the country.

The government has recently approved a Rs 1,300 crore ($170 million) plan to promote domestic RuPay debit cards and low-value digital transactions to boost their use in marginalised populations, in a move that could challenge the clout of rivals like Visa and Mastercard.

• Aadhar: It is a 12-digit unique identity number that can be obtained voluntarily by the citizens of India and resident foreign nationals. Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric ID system. Today, 99% of Indian adults have an Aadhaar identity number. The government further interlinked the identity system with bank accounts and mobile numbers, resulting in the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-mobile phone) trinity. JAM has become the fundamental digital architecture ushering in holistic financial inclusion.

CONCLUSION:

Nation-building is constructing or structuring a national identity using the power and resources of the state. Nation-building aims at the unification of the people within the state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. Growth in GDP is not the real measure of a nation’s progress . The aspect that matters most is the rate at which economic wealth is translated into less poverty, more opportunities, better health etc.

Technology simply put is a means of harnessing and exploiting our understanding of nature and resources to improve the human condition, the natural environment or to carry out other socio-economic activities. Therefore, science and technology (S&T) intervention becomes even more relevant for any successful economy, especially today when knowledge-based economies are emerging stronger. In a nutshell, science and technology is associated with modernity by all means and is essential to nation-building and the rapid development of their subjects.

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Knowledge is Empower

Role of Science & Technology in development of India | UPSC – IAS

Table of Contents

India’s development in the fields of science and technology

Science and technology are widely acknowledged to be essential components of social and economic development. Scientific knowledge and new technologies can help tackle many of the problems that affect countries. Some of the global challenges science and technology could solve are as follows:-

• Providing Safe drinking-water and food supplies
• Grid-scale energy storage
• Energy-efficient desalination
• Cleaning up of Ocean
• Embodied Artificial Intelligence
• Universal flu vaccine
• Earthquake prediction
• Carbon sequestration

The World Bank’s World Development Report states that “Today’s most technologically advanced economics are truly knowledge – based  creating millions of knowledge related jobs in an array of disciplines that have emerged overnight,” and also says that ” the need for developing countries to increase their capacity to use knowledge cannot be overstated.”

• Scientific and technological knowledge,
• Physical capital,
• Human capital,
• Technological progress,
• Increase in labour force,
• Foreign investment and foreign trade.

Of these – Scientific and technological knowledge is the most important factor in economic development. And also considered as a critical determinant of economic growth. It is in this perspective that improving this capacity has become a prerequisite for sustained economic growth and improved quality of life. In the present context, the most important aspect of knowledge, of course is scientific and technological knowledge.

Developed vs Developing countries in science and technology | UPSC – IAS

While it is clear that the ability of a society to produce, select, adapt, and commercialise knowledge is critical for sustained economic growth and improved quality of life, in this respect the developing countries are in a disadvantageous situation.

• Today, a handful of the world’s richest countries produce the overwhelming majority of new scientific and technological knowledge, and they derive great benefit from its use.
• Countries in this exclusive group enjoy the fruits or a virtuous circle, in which the concrete benefits or research help produce the wealth and public support needed to continue the investigation of science’s “endless frontiers.”
• Their technological edge is the key to the continued dominance of the developed countries in the world economy. Whether it is Nobel Prizes in scientific areas or patents and new products, it is the developed countries that are dominant.

Meanwhile most other nations struggle with varying degrees of success, to establish scientific and technological research systems that can invigorate their economies and provide solutions to their social needs.

• Unfortunately for developing countries the logic of S&T research system favours the scientifically strong to become stronger. Countries that want to improve their S&T capacity have lo make extra efforts to gain and maintain the “critical mass” beyond which benefits can start to accrue. Another difficulty is that this process is long term and full of uncertainty, and scarce resources arc under pressure from a variety of competing needs.

There are other problem as well. Within developed countries, there is a widespread consensus that government policies should support R&D activities, whether in the public or the private sector. In many developing countries, however, doubts remain over whether such policies are needed. Several countries feel that they can’t afford to fritter away scarce resources on exotic research.

Nature of technological knowledge base needed for development

Role of science and technology in development of a country needs two types of knowledge; These knowledge Considered critical for development of countries.

• Typically developing countries have less of this know-bow than industrial countries, and within developing countries the poor have less than the non-poor. These unequal distributions across and within countries are called knowledge gaps.
• We call the difficulties posed by incomplete knowledge of attributes as information problems. Mechanisms to alleviate infonnation problems, such as product standards, training certificates, and credit reports, are fewer and weaker in developing countries. Information problems and the resulting market failures especially hurt the poor.

Despite the difficulties that we have mentioned earlier, there are some reasons to hope that aspiring countries can make progress in closing the gaps that separate them from scientifically-advanced countries.

• First , new information and communications technologies are providing unprecedented access to existing knowledge, and are virtually erasing the disadvantages of physical distance as a factor for research collaboration.
• Second , more is being learned about the process of innovation, and the policies and practices that make investments in S&T effective.
• Third , the international scientific community is by nature open, and marked by a culture of freely sharing basic knowledge. Within the community, tremendous goodwill exists to help strengthen science throughout the world. Among the developing countries, India with its tremendous manpower and institutional resources is in a good position to close the technological gap and emerge as a S&T power with a developed economy.

Significance of domestic technology base | UPSC – IAS

On another level, domestic technology recognizes the use of applied science to construct homes to achieve a particular goal, such as energy efficiency or self-sufficiency.

• Technological know-how can to some extent be bought or transferred from the developed countries. But this is not always either feasible or even desirable.
• Countries also need to develop their own technological base especially if they are large countries like India. At the same time, it also has to be appreciated that the most important technological breakthroughs occur because scientists are investigating nature-not because they are looking for applications of their research [e.g., Faraday’s and Maxwell’s work was pure science, but it facilitated Marconi’s and others’ work on wireless communication].
• However , because it is increasingly true that new technologies often give rise to new sciences and disciplines [e.g., chemical engineering]. it is most accurate to view science and technology as intertwined. According to many experts, this intertwining is the principal reason why technology is advanced through the work of academic researchers.
• It is also the principal reason why, in many fields, university research is an important contributor to technological advance, and universities as well as corporate labs are essential parts of the innovation system. Thus the problems that originate in industry are not explored only by industrial scientists. They feed into, and stimulate, the entire scientific community.”
• This provides the rationale for developing countries like india to emphasise basic science along with technology. India is too big a country to absent itself from any field of Science and Technology.
• Recognising that basic research is the foundation on which all technologies stand, that basic research is also a cultural necessity in any civilised country and that scientists must have the freedom to work on important problems of their choice, support to basic research needs to be substantially stepped up.

Role of Science and Technology in India | UPSC – IAS

Science and technology (S&T) is widely recognised as an important tool for fostering and strengthening the economic and social development of the country. India has made significant progress in various spheres of science and technology over the years and now has a strong network of S&T institutions, trained manpower and-an innovative knowledge base. The twenty first century marks the beginning of the knowledge era.

• Given the rapid pace of globalization, fast-depleting material resources, increasing competition among nations and the growing need to protect intellectual property, the importance of strengthening the knowledge base is an important issue that has been recognised in India.
• Major scientific discoveries in quick succession, new technologies arising out of these discoveries, a range of products and services based on these technologies. A technology driven economy across the world, all characterise this knowledge era.
• Scientific knowledge and expertise, high technology industrial infrastructure and skilled work force are the strengths of a country in the knowledge era. Following sustained efforts over period since independence and a more focused thrust during the recent period in higher education, scientific research, and technology development, the country has now attained a recognised potential lo emerge as a Global player in the knowledge era.
• At the same time modem technology development is increasingly becoming dependent on research inputs from a large number of disciplines. A seamless and multi-sectoral now of technologies and inputs from scientists and engineers from various disciplines is essential for making a visible societal impact and economic prosperity.

Efforts are being made to identify those S&T area, cutting across the traditional divides of sciences, engineering and medicine, where investments can pay rich dividends.

• One of the areas of weakness of Indian science in the past has been the lack of effective technology transfer mechanisms. Although we have a few success stories in Atomic Energy, Space, CSIR, etc . where there was successful interaction between academia (including both the university system and the national laboratory system) and industry, in general this has been lacking. Even in these cases the driving force for these interactions came from mission-oriented agencies.
• Globalisation and liberalisation have thrown up immense opportunities as well as some new challenges for S&T. ln an increasingly competitive world, Indian industry needs the support of indigenous S&T in a big way. Technology transfer to domestic companies from abroad is becoming more difficult because foreign companies can set up industries here and are, therefore, less willing to share technologies.
• Even in joint ventures, foreign companies are often trying to buy out the Indian partners. Secondly, Indian companies are becoming more and more globally competitive.
• Indian industry in the future will, therefore, have no option but to invest more and more in Indian R&D for new technology development.
• lt is against this background that it is being increasingly recognised that greater coordination and cooperation between industry on the one hand and the R&D/academic institutions on the other, is necessary for facing emerging challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities offered.
• If industry begins to interact actively with academia, it can also play a greater role in guiding academic activities in the direction of industry interests, be it human resource development, R&D prioritisation, or the choice of areas of international cooperation.

S&T Role at the macro level 

S&T management should focus on meeting the needs of the nation (including industry) and encompass a wide spectrum of activities, namely:-

• Basic research,
• Applied research,
• Technology transfer,
• design, development, fabrication, tests and trials,
• Manufacturing, marketing, maintenance and product support during tile life cycle.

S&T Role at the micro level 

R&D institutions and the academia must move to couple R&D and Engineering so that the indigenous technology can meet the specific requirements of the Indian industry. In order to strengthen the interface between industry, R&D and academia and to enhance the level of industry participation, appropriate steps need to be taken at various levels by all concerned – Government, industry associations, R&D institutions and universities.

• Given the range of problems involved with the development of S&T in the nation, it is important to take stock of the situation and develop strategies and plan to address them.
• It is important to find ways and means of strengthening the S&T system and also make efforts to provide synergy between S&T infrastructure and industry to tackle key issues affecting S&T including the education and research systems.

Society aspects of science & technology in india

Science and technology (S&T) is widely recognised as an important tool for fostering and strengthening the economic and social development of the country. There is an urgent need to make efforts to ensure that appropriate research outputs, which can be pot to use for the benefit of society, are generated and reach the people. It is, therefore, essential to evolve a mechanism and identify programmes for application of Science & Technology for .

• Improving the quality of life of the people (particularly the weaker sections and women).
• For the development of rural areas to reduce regional imbalances and
• For inculcating scientific awareness among the masses.

CSIR Milestones and Key Achievements  | UPSC  – IAS

CSIR was established by the Government of India in September 1942 as an autonomous body that has emerged as the largest research and development organisation in India . The research and development activities of CSIR include:- Aerospace engineering, Structural engineering, Environmental science, Ocean sciences, Life sciences, Metallurgy, Petroleum, Chemicals, Leather, Food and Mining.

• Developed India’s first synthetic drug,  methaqualone  in 1950.
• Developed Optical Glass at CGCRI   for defence purposes.
• Developed first Indian tractor Swaraj  in 1967 completely based on indigenous know-how.
• Achieved the first breakthrough of   flowering of Bamboo  within weeks as against twenty years in nature.
• First to analyse genetic diversity of the indigenous Andamanese tribes and to establish their origin out of Africa 60,000 years ago.
• Developed the first   transgenic  Drosophila   model for drug screening for  cancer  in  humans .
• Invented, once a week non-steroidal  family planning pill  Saheli  and non-steroidal herbal pill for asthma called Asmon.
• Designed India’s first ever   parallel processing computer, Flosolver.
• Rejuvenated India’s one-hundred-year-old refinery at  Digboi  using the most modern molecular distillation technology.
• With TCS, developed a versatile portable PC-based software ‘Bio-Suite’ for  bioinformatics .
• Design of 14 seater plane ‘ SARAS ‘.
• Established first ever in the world ‘Traditional Knowledge Digital Library’ accessible in five international languages, English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish.
• Successfully challenged the grant of patent in the US for use of haldi ( turmeric ) for wound healing and  neem  as  insecticide .
• In 2007, under the NMITLI program, began the study of  Sepsivac , a drug for gram-negative sepsis.
• In 2009, completed the   sequencing of the Human Genome .
• In 2011, successfully tested India’s 1st indigenous civilian aircraft,  NAL NM5   made in association with   National Aerospace Laboratories   and  Mahindra Aerospace .
• In 2020, initiated clinical trials to evaluate Sepsivac’s efficacy to reduce mortality rate in COVID – 19 patients.

Conclusion and A Way forward | UPSC – IAS

India must try to become “Global innovation Leader” across the board in all S&T areas. India will certainly become a ”Developed Country” sooner or later, but we can achieve this much faster if we use ‘technology foresight’ to make the right technology choices and introduce ‘coherent synergy’ in our S&T efforts. Technology Foresight helps in the selection of critical technologies for development at any point of time. india is a large country and its technology requirements also correspondingly span a wide range from nuclear to rural. It has to continue to develop strategic technologies- in nuclear, space and defence related areas.

• The sustained efforts over years since independence and a more focused thrust during the recent period in higher education, scientific research, and technology development, India has now attained a recognised potential to emerge as a Global player in the knowledge era.
• We now need to focus on enlarging the pool of scientific manpower and strengthening the S&T infrastructure and converting our potential into reality, pushing india into the knowledge era as a global player and raising the Indian economy to the level of developed nations.

Technologies related to energy security, food and nutritional security, health and water security, environmental security, advanced manufacturing and processing, advanced materials, etc., are all important for us. So are the so-called “knowledge based” technologies (Information Technology, particularly hardware, Nanotechnology. particularly Nanoelectronics; Biotechnology; and convergence of these technologies like Nanobiotechnology for drug delivery.

• Scientific knowledge and expertise,
• High technology industrial infrastructure and
• A technically skilled workforce are the currencies of the knowledge era.

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Development of science and technology in India after Independence

Developing India the country of Kanad, Vishwamitra, C.V Raman, and last but not least, India, the country of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Comprising 17% of the world population, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. After nearly two centuries of despotic British rule, India gained independence in 1947. The British left India as a poor, dependent, underdeveloped, socially, and economically backward nation. It was the vision of Pandit Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, and the need of India at that time that led to the foundation of the Indian Institute of Technology in 1950 after only three years of independence. These institutes, with assistance from international institutes, promoted the research in India. Nehru aimed to inculcate the scientific temper among the Indians. As per Nehru, “Science was not merely an individual’s search for truth; it was something infinitely more than that if it worked for the community”. He also aimed “to convert India’s economy into that of a modern state, and to fit her into the nuclear age and do it quickly”. The Department of scientific research and natural resources was also set up by him. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) also expanded during this time due to the initiation of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, who is popularly known as the father of Indian research laboratories.

Development in defence technology:

Vulnerable India-China and the India-Pakistan border were the real concern for India. To secure borders, more advanced defence technology is needed. Thus, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was set up in 1958. After its formation, it has developed several large programs and essential technology, including aircraft, small and large arms, artillery systems, electronic warfare (EW) systems, tanks, and armored vehicles, sonar systems, command and control systems, and missile systems.

Development in the nuclear energy sector:

The nuclear energy program of India has its origin in 1944. Dr. Homi Bhaba approached the Tata trust and, with their financial support, TIFR was founded in Mumbai. TIFR later conducted a number of studies in the fields of physics, nuclear energy, and cosmic rays. In 1954, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was established by the government of India. India successfully tested the first nuclear bomb in 1974, under the guidance of nuclear physicist Raja Ramanna at Pokhran. Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam describes nuclear power as the “gateway to a prosperous future”. India is currently suffering from electricity shortages. Even now, a large number of the population lacks access to electricity. To meet the rising demand, the country will need to produce even more power as the economy grows and the population grows. Energy supplies are being exhausted to satisfy current demand. We need to produce more energy for our prosperous future. Electric energy can be generated from the heat generated by nuclear fission.

Development in space technology:

For more advanced scientific research, with the help of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the Indian space research organization (ISRO) was set up in 1969. Aryabhatta, the first Indian satellite, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1975. In recent times, ISRO has conducted two successful space projects, Chandrayaan, and Mangalyaan in 2008 and 2014 respectively. At present, our main priorities are Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan mission”.

This is the history of scientific research programs in India, but after digging into the past, let’s come to the present. Due to the initiation and vision of some great scientists and leaders, renowned institutes have been established in India, but today, students passing from these institutes are migrating to foreign countries and many Indian researchers are working with non-Indian research centers. If this process continues, this could prove to be a huge setback for the scientific development program in India. We are not far behind in terms of ability. If we take visionary steps, we can surely get positive outcomes.

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Developments in Science and Technology and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life

Last updated on March 3, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Science and technology have given rise to several machinery and tools in different fields.

The use of these tools and machinery has helped in reducing the time, effort, and energy required in doing different works.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Science and technology (S&T) is universally acknowledged as a crucial tool for supporting and enhancing the nation’s economic and social growth. Over the years, India has made major advancements in many fields of science and technology, and now we can be proud of its robust network of S&T institutions, skilled workforce, and cutting-edge knowledge base.

The significance of bolstering the knowledge base has grown due to the rapid pace of globalization, the quick depletion of material resources, the rising competitiveness among states, and the increasing necessity to protect intellectual property.

• Strengthening application-oriented research and development (R&D) for technology generation, fostering the development of human resources, particularly by enticing bright students to pursue careers in science, encouraging research into and application of science and technology (S&T) for predicting, preventing, and mitigating natural disasters, integrating S&T developments with all facets of national activities, and utilizing S&T to improve quality of life are all priorities today.
• S&T is crucial to both macroeconomic growth and the microeconomic development of business competitiveness. For science and technology, globalization and liberalization have created both great potential and significant difficulties.

Developments in Science and Technology

Indians, like people in every other region of the world, have a rich tradition of scientific thinking. Science has traditionally been characterized by a curiosity for the unknown, together with experimentation and observation. The implication that truth could only be found in the real world with all of its richness and complexity resulted from this.

In the context of research and development, communities of people, institutions, and organizations exchange visions for the future of technology. They extrapolate the concepts into the not-too-distant future based on the consensus regarding their desirability and viability.

These goals, therefore, take on a flexible, dynamic nature and have a significant impact on how innovation processes develop. They influence the intricate multi-actor process of choosing whether to pursue particular technical choices while excluding others from research and development initiatives.

Popular visions like the “information superhighway,” the “cashless society,” or the “paperless office” gain strength by combining institutions with the experience and knowledge of the people involved, fusing what is possible with what is desired in a unique and quite effective way.

Science and Technology in Ancient and Medieval India

India has a strong scientific and technological heritage. In India, scientific advancement is an outdated practice. India has had rapid advancements in science and technology since the time of the Indus Valley Civilization . If one were to evaluate advancement in antiquity, investigations have shown that,

In India, science and religion were closely related. The various fields of science underwent several advancements in antiquity. In the fields of astronomy, mathematics, medicine, metallurgy, geography, biology, chemistry, agriculture, etc., we discover advancements in various aspects of science.

Mathematics

• Ancient India’s contributions to mathematics are profound and well-documented. Aryabhata, one of the earliest Indian mathematicians, introduced the concept of zero as a number and made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry and algebra.
• His most famous work, Aryabhatiya, details astronomical observations and theories that suggest the Earth’s rotation on its axis.
• Another notable mathematician, Brahmagupta, provided rules for arithmetic operations involving zero and negative numbers, and he also worked on equations that were to become the basis for algebra.
• Indian astronomy was highly advanced for its time, with scholars like Aryabhata and Varahamihira making significant contributions.
• The concept of a heliocentric solar system, as well as the understanding of eclipses and the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, were subjects of study.
• The Surya Siddhanta, a treatise on astronomy, contains remarkably accurate calculations of the lengths of the solar year and the sizes and distances of the planets from the Earth.
• The craft and science of metallurgy were highly advanced in ancient India, with the most famous example being the Iron Pillar of Delhi.
• This pillar is a testament to the high skill level in ironworking and corrosion resistance.
• The wootz steel, produced in India since ancient times, was exported across the world and is the precursor to modern high-quality steel alloys.

Medical Science (Ayurveda)

• Ayurveda , the traditional system of medicine in India, was highly developed in ancient times.
• Texts like the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita are foundational works that detail surgical procedures, medicinal plants, and a holistic approach to health and wellness.
• Sushruta, known as the father of surgery, described surgical techniques and instruments that are astonishingly advanced for their time.

Architecture and Engineering

• The architectural and engineering achievements of ancient and medieval India are seen in its temples, palaces, and urban planning.
• The concept of Vastu Shastra, an ancient Indian science of architecture and building, guided the construction of buildings and cities harmoniously integrated with nature.
• The step-wells of Gujarat and Rajasthan are examples of advanced engineering and water management systems.
• The ancient Indians also made significant strides in chemistry, known as Rasashastra.
• It involved the extraction of metals, the manufacture of alloys, and the preparation of medicinal compounds. This knowledge was applied in various fields, including medicine and metallurgy.
• India’s contribution to textiles, particularly cotton and silk weaving and dyeing, was significant.
• Techniques for spinning, weaving, dyeing, and printing were highly sophisticated, contributing to a flourishing trade both within and outside India.

Developments in Science and Technology in Modern India

The government of India has adequately acknowledged the contribution that science and technology have made to the country’s progress. The Second Five-Year Plan emphasized that “the community’s readiness to apply modern science and technology is the most significant single component in supporting economic development.”

• To support emerging fields of research and technology, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) was established in 1971. At the state level, State Councils of Science and Technology have also been established.
• India has advanced greatly in many other domains in addition to these important ones. These include the exploration and refinement of oil by the Oil and Natural Gas Commission and the production of solar energy by the National Committee of Environment Planning.
• To control pollution in the Ganga River , the Central Ganga Authority was established. The nation currently has a solid foundation in modem technology.
• The relatively strict intellectual property laws in India will help the country become a significant R&D hub.

Space Research

India’s space program, spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), stands out as one of the most successful in the world.

• ISRO’s achievements include the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) , which made India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit and the first in the world to do so in its maiden attempt.
• The Chandrayaan missions aimed at exploring the moon have placed India among the elite group of countries that have mastered the technology for space exploration. Additionally, ISRO has developed a series of indigenous satellites and launch vehicles, such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) , enhancing India’s capability in remote sensing, communication, and navigation.

Information Technology and Software Services

R&D projects are increasingly being outsourced to India. More than 1,100 R&D centers have been established by multinational corporations (MNCs), including IBM, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Lupin, Wockhardt, and others. Information and communication technologies, biotechnology, aircraft, automotive, chemicals, and materials technology are all covered by these R&D facilities.

• India has emerged as a global hub for information technology (IT) and software services, contributing significantly to the global IT workforce.
• Indian IT firms like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro are recognized globally for their software development, IT services, and outsourcing solutions.
• The country’s IT sector has been a critical driver of economic growth, generating millions of jobs and significantly contributing to India’s GDP.

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry

• India’s biotechnology sector has grown exponentially, with advancements in genetic engineering, stem cell research, and the development of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals.
• The Indian pharmaceutical industry , known as the “pharmacy of the world,” is a leader in the production of generic drugs, supplying affordable medicines to various countries.
• Indian companies like Biocon and Serum Institute of India play crucial roles in drug development and vaccine production, contributing to global health initiatives.

Renewable Energy

• India’s commitment to renewable energy is evident in its ambitious targets and projects in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) , co-founded by India, aims to harness solar energy globally, especially in countries rich in solar potential.
• The country’s push for renewable energy is part of its broader efforts to combat climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Nuclear and Defense Technology

• India has made significant advancements in nuclear technology and defense. It has developed nuclear reactors for energy production and is a member of the select group of countries with indigenous capabilities to design and build nuclear-powered submarines.
• In defense, India is focusing on self-reliance through the development of various indigenous systems, including missiles (Agni and Prithvi series), fighter jets (Tejas), and other advanced military technologies.

Digital India Initiative

• The Digital India initiative aims to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
• It focuses on improving online infrastructure, increasing internet connectivity, and making government services electronically available to citizens. This initiative has led to significant advancements in digital payments, e-governance, and internet accessibility across the country.
• In terms of the number of startups , India is currently the third-largest nation. In the upcoming years, it is anticipated that this number will increase tremendously.
• The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) was established by the government to drastically change the nation’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and start-up ecosystems.

Global participation

The government is sponsoring numerous research and development programs as part of the national policy to boost scientific activities. Thus, we discover that scientific knowledge and modern technology have had an impact on practically every field, including ocean development, nuclear energy, space technology, electronics, agriculture, and industry.

• Leading some groundbreaking research being done around the world are scientists from India. It has been exciting to see recent advancements in frontier science and technology made by Indian scientists.
• For instance, 37 Indian scientists from nine Indian institutes were instrumental in the gravitational wave discovery that won the 2017 Physics Nobel Prize .
• The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) , located in the United States, discovered a neutron star merger with the assistance of Indian scientists.
• Additionally, it boasts the third-largest technical and scientific labor force in the entire world.

Developments in Science and Technology-Effects in Everyday Life

Every day of the year, from the moment we wake up until the time we go to bed, science and technology have an impact on all of us. Science has given us many things, including our digital alarm clock, the weather report, the cars we drive and the buses we ride, our choice to eat a baked potato rather than fries, our cell phones, the antibiotics that treat sore throats, the clean water, and the light. Developments in Science and technology have impacted both Socialization and productivity.

• Because of the internet’s strength, it is now easier to share ideas and resources and to create global communities. Without the knowledge and technologies made possible by science, the modern world would not even remotely be modern.
• Science has a rising impact on people’s lives. Even while the benefits to humanity in recent decades have been unsurpassed in the history of the human species, there have been certain cases where the influence has been negative or the long-term implications raise grave concerns.
• Today, there is a sizable amount of popular skepticism about science and anxiety around technology. This is partly due to the perception held by some people and communities that they will be the ones to experience the unintended negative effects of technological advancements made to benefit a wealthy minority.
• Because research can effect change, scientists have a responsibility to act and speak with extreme prudence. Scientists ought to consider the social repercussions of technological applications or the dissemination of incomplete information resulting from their work, and they ought to explain to the general public and decision-makers the level of scientific uncertainty or incompleteness in their conclusions.
• To help people adapt to environmental change, they should also not be afraid to fully utilize the predictive capacity of science when done right, especially in situations where there are immediate concerns like natural disasters or water shortages.
• The S&T sector offers straightforward, reasonably priced scientific solutions that enable people to save time and effort and increase their revenue. Technologies provide value to the goods produced by the cottage and small-scale industries, boosting their competitiveness.
• By focusing on computer literacy and making IT accessible to individuals without formal schooling, S&T can, in general, play a significant role in bringing IT to the most isolated regions of the nation.
• Thus, via skill development and training that is activity-oriented, supporting the growth of entrepreneurship, and promoting self-employment using new technologies, the “problem population” can be transformed into an important “human resource.”
• S&T provides solutions for short-term issues like switching to non-conventional energy sources and product packaging as well as long-term issues like drought, epidemics, drinking water shortages, nutrition, sanitation, health, and housing.
• Through the use of environmentally friendly technology, S&T knowledge can be used to create ways to encourage people to develop the habit of using natural resources like wood, bamboo, medicinal plants, etc. more wisely.

Developments in Science and Technology and Society

In the past 200 years, the wealthier sectors of the human race have primarily exploited science as a tool for military might and economic advancement. It is increasingly obvious that the existing use of natural resources and growing strains on the local and regional environment cannot go on indefinitely without the breakdown of the natural support systems that enable current civilizations.

Science, which played a role in creating this scenario, now bears the primary duty of assisting societies in moving away from a fixation with growth and toward the development of an ecological and economic system that is dynamically stable and sustainable.

An alliance between contemporary technical science with the universal knowledge of indigenous societies and philosophers from all cultures can be crucial throughout this transition.

The pace of change in both natural and human conditions and problems is predicted to increase in the twenty-first century.

Scientists have a growing responsibility to work with policymakers and the general public to find and implement solutions or means of adaptation to issues that are both local and global, such as balancing the current competitive profit motive with the common good; allowing contributions from and benefits to marginalized elements of society and minority cultures; justifying current expenditures to avoid costs or damages to future generations; and rewarding scientific achievement.

There has never been a more crucial time for Developments in Science and Technology to influence and progress society and government.

Article written by Aseem Muhammed

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• Science and Technology Essay

Essay on Science and Technology

Science and technology is the ultimate need of an hour that changes the overall perspective of the human towards life. Over the centuries, there have been new inventions in the field of science and technology that help in modernizing. Right from connecting with people to using digital products, everything involves science and technology. In other words, it has made life easy and simple. Moreover, humans now have to live a simple life. There is modern equipment explored by tech experts to find something new for the future.

Science and technology have now expanded their wings to medical, education, manufacturing and other areas. Moreover, they are not limited to cities, but also rural areas for educational purposes. Every day new technologies keep coming, making life easier and more comfortable.

Brief about Science

Throughout history, science has come a long way. The evolution of the person is the contribution to science. Science helped humans to find vaccines, potions, medicines and scientific aids. Over the centuries, humans have faced many diseases and illnesses taking many lives. With the help of science, medicines are invented to bring down the effect or element of these illnesses.

Brief of Technology

The mobile, desktop or laptop which you are using for reading this essay, mobile you use for connectivity or communication or the smart technology which we use in our daily life, are a part of technology. From the machinery used in the factory to the robots created all fall under tech invention. In simpler words, technology has made life more comfortable.

Advancement in science and technology has changed the modern culture and the way we live our daily life.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Science and Technology

Science and technology have changed this world. From TV to planes, cars to mobile, the list keeps on going how these two inventions have changed the world we see through. For instance, the virtual talks we do use our mobile, which was not possible earlier. Similarly, there are electrical devices that have made life easier.

Furthermore, the transportation process we use has also seen the contribution of science and technology. We can reach our destination quickly to any part of the world.

Science and technology are not limited to this earth. It has now reached mars. NASA and ISRO have used science and technology to reach mars. Both organizations have witnessed success in sending astronauts and technologies to explore life in the mars.

Other Benefits

Life is much simpler with science and technology

Interaction is more comfortable and faster

Human is more sophisticated

Disadvantages

With the progress in science and technology, we humans have become lazier. This is affecting the human mind and health. Moreover, several semi-automatic rifles are created using the latest technology, which takes maximum life. There is no doubt that the third world war will be fought with missiles created using technology.

Man has misused the tech and used it for destructive purposes.

 Man uses them to do illegal stuff.

Technology such as a smartphone, etc. hurts children.

Terrorists use modern technology for damaging work.

Science and Technology in India

India is not behind when it comes to science and technology. Over the centuries, the country has witnessed reliable technology updates giving its people a better life. The Indian economy is widely boosted with science and technology in the field of astronomy, astrophysics, space exploration, nuclear power and more. India is becoming more innovative and progressive to improve the economic condition of the nation.

The implementation of technology in the research work promotes a better life ahead. Similarly, medical science in India is progressing rapidly, making life healthy and careful. Indian scientists are using the latest technology to introduce new medical products for people and offer them at the lowest price.

The Bottom Line

The main aim of writing this essay on science and technology is to showcase how humans have evolved over the years. Since we are advancing, the science and technology industry is also advancing at a faster pace. Although there are challenges, the road ahead is exciting. From interaction to transportation and healthcare in every sector, we will witness profitable growth in science and technology.

FAQs on Science and Technology Essay

1. How technology changed humans?

Technology has certainly changed the way we live our lives. Not a single piece of technology has failed and is continuously progressing. Be it the small industry or large, technology is a boom to your society. Technology can encompass ancient technologies like calculators, calendars, batteries and others. In future, the technology worlds include Blockchain technologies, smart cities, more advanced intelligent devices, quantum computers, quantum encryption, and others. Humans are updated with technology. This is a good sign for the coming generation.

2. What are the top technologies?

In the last few years, there has been a massive update in technology. From individuals to companies, everywhere, the use of technology is required. Some of the top technologies we are witnessing are

 Data Science

 Internet of Things

 Blockchain

 Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

 Virtual Reality

 Edge Computing

Intelligent apps

Artificial Intelligence

Each of these technologies is in the use of daily life and even in making products. However, to use this technology, there is a requirement of skilled professionals and they need proper training to use them.

3. Is the topic Science and Technology an appropriate topic for students?

Yes, Science and Technology are one of the most important topics every student should know in their schooling. The world is growing rapidly at an increasing rate where one should be equipped with minimum knowledge about these concepts. Science and technology have become a part of everyone’s life today. Therefore understanding them is definitely important.

4. Does writing essays improve English?

Yes, of course it does. Writing is absolutely fundamental to language learning. As with anything, however, it is important to learn when and what you write. If you do it all the time, your writing might sound forced. If you only do it when you don't have anything better to do, you might find yourself procrastinating, and not do it at all. It's also a lot more effective to compose essays when you are in that mindset of an essay. So, to answer your question, yes.

Essay on Role of Science in Making India

Science is involved in everything we do in our life. The development of scientific research and technologies is the reason for the advancement of India. The newly developed defense techniques, medical equipment, medicines, developed infrastructure, etc in the country owe its gratitude to science. Every day we hear some of the other news related to new discoveries and inventions in the country. The pen and paper mode of life has been replaced by the advent of computers in the era of science.

Short and Long Essay on Role of Science in Making India in English

There are many more things explained in the long essay below. It will provide a detailed concept of the topic that might be an aid to students and readers.

Role of Science in Making India Essay 10 Lines (100 – 150 Words)

1) All the sectors of India are benefitted from the emergence of science.

2) The advancement of tools and machines made the agricultural process easy.

3) Medical field is doing a great job with the emergence of science and technology.

4) People of India are now connected with the advent of science.

5) Science is helping in the development of space and research fields.

6) New applications of science are making our daily life easy and comfortable.

7) We can also see the advancement of the Industrial sector using science and its application.

8) Science is majorly contributing to the upliftment of the country’s economy.

9) New job opportunities helped in making India.

10) Science plays an important role in the development of India.

Short Essay on Role of Science in Making India (250 words)

Introduction

Science has a major role in shaping the world as it is today. Science enables us to know more and more about the things that exist around us. It is because of science that we have been able to make use of the resources present in nature. If we compare the present with five years back period, we will certainly notice the change in the discoveries and technological inventions. This could be impossible without science in our life.

There is an immense contribution of science in the progress and development of India. India is on the way to becoming a digitalized nation at present that is a notable contribution of science and technology in the nation.

Contribution of Science in the Development of India

Science has lead to numerous inventions and technological advancements in different sectors of the nation. The agricultural sector has been gifted with enormous tools and machines that had greatly helped in reducing the labour of people in fields. Science has given rise to the invention of high-yielding crop varieties and newer techniques of crop production. In this way, science is a boon for the agricultural sector in India.

Medical science has greatly improved because of the development of science and technology. At present there are different machines to detect diseases and cure is also available for untreatable diseases. The industrial sector in the nation has also progressed because of the innovation in science and technology. This has led to the creation of several new employment opportunities for the people of India. Science has helped in making the life of people more easy and comfortable. The invention of scientific tools and machinery has contributed to reducing the time and energy in doing different works.

There is a very important role of science in making India as it is today. Science has enormously helped in uplifting the economy of India. There have been various inventions from the early man era to this science era that have been possible because of science and technology.

Long Essay on Role of Science and Technology in National Development (500 – 600 Words)

Science is the backbone for the growth and development of India. There is an immense contribution of science and technology in our daily lives. The application of the different technologies which resulted due to scientific methods has made our life easier.

Role of Science and Technology in Various Sectors

The growth and progress of a nation are only possible when all the sectors are flourishing. Science and innovative technologies have helped in reducing the work-oriented labor. There are different sectors in India which had made a lot of growth and progress due to scientific Inventions.

Development in Agricultural Sector

Agriculture is the basic strength of India. More than 60% of people are dependent on agriculture. Earlier there were no facilities in this field. People have to work for a longer duration and agricultural practices required intensive labor. The application of scientific methods leads to the development of machines; new methods of farming, irrigation facilities, different tools of farming, etc replaced the older farming practices requiring more labor with lesser yield.

 The new farming practices and technologies favor different methods and techniques of farming. This also helps in increasing the yield of the crops. The developed technology for farming helps in practicing sustainable agricultural practices. The higher yields of different crops benefit the farmer financially. The scope of trade will also enhance due to better production. It will also boost India’s economy as the agricultural sector is helping in the economic development of India.

Development in Medical Field

Science has emerged as a great weapon in the field of medical science. It has helped in developing newer methods to combat various incurable diseases. There are different machines and instruments developed because of science and technological developments. These instruments have made the diagnosis easier. In older days there were insufficient machinery and methods to diagnose the medical conditions of a person. People would die at their earlier ages as there was no cure available. Chronic diseases sometimes would spread in larger areas due to less knowledge and cure availability.

The present scenario has changed a lot. There are good hospitals, better techniques, and specialized doctors available in India. The researches and innovations are carried on regularly in our country for developing medicines and cures to incurable diseases.

Development in Communication

The development of mobile phones, computers, and the internet is of utmost importance to mankind. During the older times, there were no means of communication. People used to convey messages by hanging letters on pigeon’s necks and sending them or would send them by some person. The message which has to be delivered immediately would not happen. It would reach after a week or month depending upon the distance.

The development of means of communication helps us getting information about different things happening worldwide. This has helped in conveying messages anywhere in India and outside our nation too.

Development of Industries in India

India before independence was lacking in industrial development. After independence, there was a great innovation in the industrial sector. The old cotton mills and handicraft businesses were transformed into better industrial units with effective machinery. These machines made the work of the industries easier. The greater yield of finished goods also increases the export business of India. This also helped in enhancing the Indian economy.

Development of Space and Research Technologies

India has been excelling in space and research due to several inventions and discoveries which had been made possible by the research and development in science. The country has made greater achievements in developing chandrayaan-2 a successful to the moon in October 2008 and has launched different satellites like PSLV, Rohini, etc. India along with its own progress in this field is also providing space facilities availability to several other countries.

India is making progress in different sectors and this has been made possible due to the contribution of science and technology.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans . India is ranked at the fifth position in the world for scientific research.

Ans . CV Raman was the first scientist of India and he was the first Asian to receive the Noble Prize in Physics in 1930.

Ans . It gave a new height to space technology in India and inculcated the ideas of scientific research in minds of youths.

Ans . India spends 0.7% of its GDP on science research and development.

Ans . The word science is derived from the Latin word Scientia which means knowledge, about knowing. It is the study of facts with explanations.

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75 Years of Indian Science and Technology: A Mission in Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency

Rachana bhattacharjee.

Image for representational purposes only

At the start of India’s 75th year of Independence, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, said , “We are a frontline nation in various fields in the world, and a lot of credit for this goes to the hard work and dedication of our scientific fraternity. They have contributed enormously to India’s rapid ascent in the last 75 years.” A year later, as India celebrated the completion of 75 years of Independence and looked towards the future with new inspiration, this pride in the nation’s achievements, this belief in the country’s people, continued to ring true. 

Indeed, in 1947, after a war for independence, India found itself socio-economically broken and in need of rapid reconstruction. The government and the people came together across various fields, and through policy and innovation, step by step, India grew stronger, achieving many milestones and becoming recognised globally. 

The Foundations

The story broadly begins with the formulation of the first 5-year plan in 1951 , which focused on agriculture, science, infrastructure, and education, and importantly, on laying the foundation for fundamental research. Over the first few decades, India built and improved academic institutes, laboratories, and research centres across the country. To augment these efforts and provide direction to the research in the country, several government organisations were also set up , such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1942, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1954, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1958, the departments of Electronics and Science and Technology in 1971, Department of Space in 1972, and Department of Environment in 1980. In addition, in 1976, another crucial step was taken: India adopted a “scientific temper” in its Constitution , declaring the development of a scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry to be the duty of every Indian citizen. 

Agriculture

By 1976, India had already achieved two major milestones in self-sufficiency, the Green Revolution and White Revolution. In the 1960s, research on high-yielding wheat varieties at the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, supported by the indigenous development of technology such as tractors and agri-pesticides by CSIR and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), helped India increase its wheat and rice production significantly. This enabled the country to move away from large-scale imports permanently. At the same time, Dr. Verghese Kurien and his team at Anand, Gujarat, revolutionised the milk industry and removed the need for milk imports by proving, for the first time in the world, that buffalo milk could be processed and stored as milk powder . Dr. Kurien was instrumental in creating nationwide dairy cooperatives that ensured no milk went to waste. 

This was followed by the Yellow Revolution and Blue Revolution in the late 1980s, which boosted the production of edible oilseeds and made India the second largest fish producing country, respectively. In the 1990s came the Golden Revolution , which aimed at scaling up honey and horticultural production. 

Through these years and into the 21st century, India has grown to become self-sufficient in the cultivation of various spices, medicinal plants, and aromatic plants that are an important presence in Indian culture and lifestyle, such as asafoetida, mentha, lavender, and saffron. And true to a legacy that began with the Green Revolution, India continues to advance in agri-genomics and genome editing to improve yields and adapt farmed varieties to the changing times.

The 1960s—the time of the Green Revolution—is also the decade in which India reached its first defence milestone: the launch of the first indigenous naval submarine, INS Kalvari . This was the start of a long list of ‘Made-in-India’ technologies not just in defence but across fields. However, in the defence sector, India went on to successfully build, test, and deploy the Agni and Prithvi missiles , supersonic fighter aircrafts such as Tejas, nuclear missiles (Pokhran II) , the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile of its kind BrahMos , ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant , and aircraft carrier INS Vikrant , to name a few. These have been possible through the indigenous development , often from scratch, of individual state-of-the-art technologies for defence aircraft and equipment components, such as Autoclave Technology to process lightweight composites used in modern-day civil and military airframes, and head-up displays (HUDs). 

In addition to aircraft, missiles, and submarines, there have been several other key developments in the recent past , such as the anti-satellite technology developed under Mission Shakti, which has made India the 4th nation to demonstrate this capability based on indigenous technology; Astra, the first indigenous beyond visual range air-to-air missile, which has placed India among a select few nations that possess this technology; the ATAGS 155 mm gun, which has the longest firing range in the world; radars like the weapon locating radar Swathi and low-level tracking radars for applications in mountains; electronic warfare systems; underwater weapons and countermeasure systems; and drones and anti-drone systems.

At present , the DRDO is conducting research on ways to integrate technologies such as quantum systems, hypersonic systems, advanced materials, and artificial intelligence into the defence sector. In fact, the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSDTV) was successfully tested in 2020, making India the 4th country to showcase the use of this technology.

The space sector is another area where India has built technology indigenously and received global recognition. This saga begins in 1975 with the launch of Aryabhata , the first Indian satellite—which was equipped with instruments for conducting experiments in x-ray astronomy and solar physics—and the launch of SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment), which brought community TV sets even in remote areas of India. These, and later, the launch of the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) in the 80s, ushered in an era of prosperity through mass communication, remote sensing, weather prediction, atmospheric and space research, and more. 

In 1980, India successfully launched its first Satellite Launch Vehicle, SLV-3. In 1984, India sent Rakesh Sharma , its first astronaut, into outer space. In the 2000s, India began to build its own rockets, which not only carried indigenous satellites and research instruments, but also sent instruments from other developed nations into space. Notable among missions run by Indian rockets are Chandrayaan 1 (India’s first mission to the moon; through which India became the 4th country to send a probe to the lunar surface; and in which, India made the pathbreaking discovery of water molecules on the lunar surface), the Mars Orbiter Mission (where India became the first nation to enter the Martian orbit in its maiden attempt), launch of GSLV-D5 (which was powered by the first Indian made cryogenic engine), and the world record set by successfully placing 104 satellites in orbit during a single launch. 

In addition to these missions, in the 21st century, India continues to develop its space sector through the creation of organisations like the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) under the Department of Space, to promote greater private and citizen participation in the sector—this has led to the successful launch of four student satellites—and institutes to train engineers for the Indian Space Programme, such as the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram. 

In the coming years, India is gearing up for several ambitious missions, including a soft landing on the moon (Chandrayaan 3), a human spaceflight mission (Gaganyaan), a solar mission (Aditya L1), and a Venus orbiter mission (Shukrayaan). In an exclusive interview for the PSA Office, Mr. S. Somnath, Secretary, Department of Space (DoS) and Chairperson, ISRO, talked about how these missions “define our identity as a technology-creating nation striving to lead one of the most powerful and influential space programmes in the 21st century world.” The nation also remains immersed in research to build small satellite launch vehicles, air-breathing rocket propulsion systems, reusable rocket technology, and more. “These missions are opportunities to train a young scientific workforce that looks beyond routine tasks and drives fundamental knowledge creation. We aim to involve engineers, mathematicians, astronomists, astrophysicists, and entrepreneurs for building capacity for national missions and commercial economic ventures,” said Mr. Somnath.

Societal welfare and sustainability

From the 1980s and 90s, India made many achievements in various fields of science and technology where progress was focused solely on improving lives on the ground. At the turn of the decade in the 80s, India adopted Mark-II handpumps across rural areas, countering drought in a major way. In 1983, the first Indian scientific base station was set up in Antarctica . In 1984, the setting up of C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) pooled the nation’s telecom researchers and resources under one roof, kickstarting the telecom revolution. In 1986, the first Railway passenger reservation system was set up, which was the largest such project demonstrating the application potential of information technology. 

The year 1986 also marked the birth of the country’s first test tube baby , Harsha; this feat, in combination with the pioneering of in vitro fertilization by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) earlier in the decade, placed India on the world map in the field of assisted reproduction. In 1991 , DNA fingerprinting was first used as evidence in a legal dispute—opening doors to new possibilities in forensics, genome research, and genetic testing in healthcare—and PARAM, India’s first supercomputer, was built. In 1998, Kalpakkam , India’s nuclear power generation and fuel reprocessing plant, was established. 

Kalpakkam has gone on to achieve considerable significance in terms of the nation’s sustainability goals in the decades since its opening. Recently, it became the location for two water desalination plants built by DAE, which supply potable water to a nearby township. It is also the location for a novel sewage treatment plant by DAE. In a way, it is becoming the site that recalls the wide array of research work that the DAE conducts , from developing research nuclear reactors to discovering effective isotopes for radiotherapy, and inventing low-cost water purification systems that require no electricity.

Heading into the 21st century , India conducted its first electronic-voting-machine-based elections in 2004; developed Aadhar, a unique identification number for all residents, in 2009; was declared polio-free in 2014; and set up an arctic observation station, IndARC, in 2015. In the 2020s, the momentum continues with the development of a hydrogen-powered car , the first indigenous social humanoid robot , the first indigenous server RUDRA , a manned submersible Samudrayan , and indigenous COVID-19 vaccines , among other innovations. 

Today, India has to its credit several indigenous diagnostic kits , including those for HIV; several vaccines , such as those for rotavirus, multibacillary leprosy, dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and influenza; drugs , such as anti-fungal compositions and affordable generic versions of western brands; and medical devices, such as Sohum , for the early detection of hearing impairment in children, and NeoBreath , a foot-operated resuscitation device for neonatal care. These, supported by healthcare-focused policies, have contributed greatly to the improvement in life expectancy from 32 years in 1947 to 69.4 years in 2021. They have also helped reduce maternal mortality from 2000 to 113 per 100,000 live births and infant mortality from 145 to 28.7 per 1000 live births, during the same time period. 

Overall, India is one of the top nations in terms of renewable energy installations , has nurtured the 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world, and houses the world’s largest vaccine producer . The nation is well-known globally for participation in international mega-science projects such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), Large Hadron Collider (LHC, CERN), International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), and Square Kilometre Array (SKA). 

On the road to India@100

The foundations set up in the early years after independence—which have been bolstered and upgraded through the establishment of new institutes and laboratories, new and evolving policies and initiatives, and new targets in the form of national goals—have played a crucial role in setting the nation’s course towards self-reliance and sustainability, resulting in the achievements we celebrate today.

With these achievements have come learnings, skill, and development, which have prepared us to take on the grand challenges that remain to be solved in our country. Now, at the beginning of what the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, has termed ‘Amrit Kaal ’—or the auspicious era of the 25 years remaining until India@100—several cogs have already been set in motion towards achieving India’s developmental goals. The Atal Innovation Mission has set up incubation centres for start-ups in a wide range of fields; scientific exploration missions, such as the Deep Ocean Mission or space missions have opened doors to new discoveries; the Digital India movement has been launched to develop semiconductors, spread the network of optical fibres for 5G to rural areas, and drive transformation in education, healthcare, and agriculture through digitalisation; production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes have been set up to boost manufacturing and bring in technologies from abroad; and progressive policies regarding drones have opened up a myriad of possibilities for goods deliveries, digital mapping, surveillance, and flying taxis. This list is not exhaustive. 

In his speech on India’s 76th Independence Day, the Prime Minister urged the nation to work towards self-reliance in renewables in terms of harnessing solar and wind energy, producing hydrogen fuel and biofuel, and promoting electric vehicles. He emphasized the need for more sustainable practices in agriculture, such as using nanofertilizers and shifting to organic and chemical-free farming. He also hailed the technological successes of the country and highlighted our power to become a technology hub in the coming decades.

Indeed, it is only on the back of science, technology, and innovation that India will grow to become a force to reckon with on the global stage.

If you would like to dive into 75 years of Indian science, technology, and innovation in further detail, read the curated list of articles below:

• Science Reporter Issue 2021 ,  http://nopr.niscair.res.in/jinfo/sr/2021/Science%20Reporter%20August%202021.pdf

o “Some Leaders Who Helped Shape Science in India, and Who Left us Recently” by Prof. K. VijayRaghavan o “Celebrating 75 Years of India’s S&T Journey: Major Recent Contributions of DST” by Ashutosh Sharma, Akhilesh Gupta, and Jenice Jean Goveas o “From Sounding Rocket to Launch Vehicles: Achievements of Department of Space” by K. Sivan o “Changing the Tide in Public Health Systems in 75 Years: Role of ICMR” by Balram Bhargava and Rajni Kant o “The Journey of Building Defence Technological Capability” by G. Satheesh Reddy o “75 Years of India’s Independence and 80 Years of CSIR” by Shekhar C. Mande, Geetha Vani Rayasam, and G. Mahesh o “Indian Agriculture: Journey from Begging Bowl to Sustainable Food Security” by Trilochan Mohapatra and P. K. Rout o “Department of Atomic Energy: A Proud Symbol of AatmaNirbhar Bharat” by K. N. Vyas and M. Ramanamurthi o “DBT: Building a Strong Biotechnology Research and Translation Ecosystem” by Renu Swarup and A. Vamsi Krishna o “Ministry of Earth Sciences: Contributing Towards a Weather-Ready and Climate-Smart India” by M. Rajeevan, Gopal Iyengar, and Bhavya Khanna

• “India Today 41st anniversary: A look at science and technology from 1975–2016” by India Today Desk. https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20161226-india-today-41st-anniversary-science-technology-progress-830064-2016-12-15 • “Seven defining scientific contributions that impact every Indian” by Dinesh C. Sharma for Down To Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/science-technology/seven-defining-scientific-contributions-that-impact-every-indian-58467 • “India at 75 | Timeline: Science” by R. Ramachandran for Frontline. https://frontline.thehindu.com/science-and-technology/india-at-75-timeline-science-and-technology-75-years-of-independence/article65731123.ece • “India’s key scientific and technological milestones since independence” by the Ministry of Culture. https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/blogdetail.htm?67 • “India’s Scientific Growth Story” by the Embassy of India Moscow. https://www.indianembassy-moscow.gov.in/pdf/snt/India@75%20Science%20Technology%20Innovation%20Growth%20Story.pdf • “India at 75: High points in science, technology and innovation” by Shekhar Mande for The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/high-points-in-science-technology-and-innovation/article65775873.ece • “IIA explores stellar mysteries over 75 years” by the Department of Science and Technology. IIA explores stellar mysteries over 75 years | Department Of Science & Technology (dst.gov.in) • “Indian Agriculture After Independence” by H. Pathak, J. P. Mishra, and T. Mohapatra. Indian-Agriculture-after-Independence.pdf (icar.org.in) • “First in their field: women who led the way” by the Ministry of Culture. https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/blogdetail.htm?74 • “A Brief history of vaccines and vaccination in India” by Chandrakant Lahariya in the Indian Journal of Medical Research . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4078488/#:~:text=The%20Pasteur%20Institute%20of%20India,(OPV)%20in%20197030  • “English Rendering of Prime Minister’s Address from the Ramparts of Red Fort on 76th Independence Day” by Pravishti Tithi for PIB Delhi. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1851994 • “Scientific fraternity in the country celebrated 75th year of India’s Independence with the rendering of the National Anthem” by PIB Delhi. https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1745501 • Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). https://www.psa.gov.in/pm-stiac    

Rachana Bhattacharjee is an author, creative lead, and one of countless chroniclers of the information age.

The Government of India established the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) in November 1999. The PSA's office aims to provide pragmatic and objective advice to the Prime Minister and the cabinet in matters of Science and Technology.

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Essay on Technology Development in India

Students are often asked to write an essay on Technology Development in India in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

100 Words Essay on Technology Development in India

Introduction.

India has seen rapid technology development. This growth has improved lives and boosted the economy.

Technology in Education

Technology has transformed education in India. Digital classrooms and online learning have made education accessible to everyone.

Healthcare Technology

Technology in business.

Businesses have benefited from technology, with e-commerce and digital payments becoming popular. This has boosted the economy.

250 Words Essay on Technology Development in India

India, a country known for its rich cultural heritage, has been making significant strides in technology development. The rapid advancements have not only revolutionized the urban landscape but also penetrated the rural regions, transforming the nation into a digital powerhouse.

Information Technology and Software Services

India’s Information Technology (IT) sector has been a major contributor to the country’s economic growth. The IT-BPM (Business Process Management) industry has made India a global outsourcing hub, creating millions of jobs and contributing significantly to the GDP. The development of software services, IT parks, and special economic zones has fostered innovation and entrepreneurship.

Telecommunication

Space technology.

India’s space technology, spearheaded by ISRO, has garnered international acclaim. The successful missions to the moon (Chandrayaan) and Mars (Mangalyaan) have positioned India as a formidable player in space exploration.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

India is making significant strides in the field of AI and ML. With a plethora of startups focusing on AI-based solutions, India is poised to become a global leader in this domain.

500 Words Essay on Technology Development in India

India, a country with a rich history and a fast-growing economy, has made significant strides in the field of technology. The country’s tech development has been marked by a series of remarkable achievements, from the establishment of prestigious institutes like the Indian Institutes of Technology to the launch of the Mars Orbiter Mission. This essay delves into the development of technology in India and its implications for the country’s future.

The Emergence of the IT Sector

India’s technological journey began in earnest with the emergence of the Information Technology (IT) sector in the 1990s. The liberalization of the Indian economy played a crucial role in this development, attracting foreign investments and paving the way for the growth of IT companies. Today, India’s IT sector is a global powerhouse, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP and providing employment to millions.

Start-up Ecosystem

The start-up ecosystem in India has also witnessed exponential growth, driven by technological innovation. With the government’s supportive policies and initiatives like ‘Start-up India’, young entrepreneurs are leveraging technology to solve a myriad of problems, from healthcare to education. This has led to the birth of several unicorns and has positioned India as a global innovation hub.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite these achievements, India faces several challenges in its technological journey. Issues such as digital divide, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate investment in research and development pose significant hurdles. However, these challenges also present opportunities for growth. For instance, the digital divide can be bridged through initiatives like the Digital India campaign, which aims to make government services digitally accessible to all citizens.

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Essay on Science and Technology for Students and Children

500+ words essay on science and technology.

Essay on Science and Technology: Science and technology are important parts of our day to day life. We get up in the morning from the ringing of our alarm clocks and go to bed at night after switching our lights off. All these luxuries that we are able to afford are a resultant of science and technology . Most importantly, how we can do all this in a short time are because of the advancement of science and technology only. It is hard to imagine our life now without science and technology. Indeed our existence itself depends on it now. Every day new technologies are coming up which are making human life easier and more comfortable. Thus, we live in an era of science and technology.

Essentially, Science and Technology have introduced us to the establishment of modern civilization . This development contributes greatly to almost every aspect of our daily life. Hence, people get the chance to enjoy these results, which make our lives more relaxed and pleasurable.

Benefits of Science and Technology

If we think about it, there are numerous benefits of science and technology. They range from the little things to the big ones. For instance, the morning paper which we read that delivers us reliable information is a result of scientific progress. In addition, the electrical devices without which life is hard to imagine like a refrigerator, AC, microwave and more are a result of technological advancement.

Furthermore, if we look at the transport scenario, we notice how science and technology play a major role here as well. We can quickly reach the other part of the earth within hours, all thanks to advancing technology.

In addition, science and technology have enabled man to look further than our planet. The discovery of new planets and the establishment of satellites in space is because of the very same science and technology. Similarly, science and technology have also made an impact on the medical and agricultural fields. The various cures being discovered for diseases have saved millions of lives through science. Moreover, technology has enhanced the production of different crops benefitting the farmers largely.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

India and Science and Technology

Ever since British rule, India has been in talks all over the world. After gaining independence, it is science and technology which helped India advance through times. Now, it has become an essential source of creative and foundational scientific developments all over the world. In other words, all the incredible scientific and technological advancements of our country have enhanced the Indian economy.

Looking at the most recent achievement, India successfully launched Chandrayaan 2. This lunar exploration of India has earned critical acclaim from all over the world. Once again, this achievement was made possible due to science and technology.

In conclusion, we must admit that science and technology have led human civilization to achieve perfection in living. However, we must utilize everything in wise perspectives and to limited extents. Misuse of science and technology can produce harmful consequences. Therefore, we must monitor the use and be wise in our actions.

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CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Introduction

Several scientific and technological developments have touched the lives of common people in the last seven decades.

In the past seven decades, India has built satellites and sent probes to the moon and Mars, established nuclear power stations, acquired nuclear weapon capability and demonstrated firepower in the form of a range of missiles. Undoubtedly these are all fabulous achievements of Indian scientists and technologists.

At the same time, scientific research – combined with favourable public policies - has made India self-sufficient in production of food, milk, fruits and vegetables, drugs and vaccines. All this has had great social and economic impacts and directly and indirectly touched the lives of ordinary Indians. Developments in communications and information technology have enabled timely forecast of weather and early warning of cyclones, saving thousands of lives.

These are all results of investments made in scientific research soon after the independence and science-politics network built in decades prior to that. Investment in scientific research was 0.1 percent of GNP in 1947. It went up to 0.5 percent in less than a decade. Scientists like Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis not only built scientific institutions but also helped shape policies.

Contribution

Here are some defining contributions of Indian science and technology since 1947:

Green Revolution

In 1947, India produced about 6 million tonnes of wheat which was grossly inadequate to meet the total demand forcing the country to depend on large scale imports. With measures such as land reforms, improvements in irrigation facilities, fertilizer production and Intensive Agriculture District Programme, wheat production rose to 12 million in 1964 – which was still insufficient to feed all Indians. While all this was going on, plant breeder Benjamin Peary Pal at the Indian Agriculture Research Institute was working on improving wheat varieties to achieve disease resistance and yield.

The first breakthrough came in 1961 when a dwarf spring wheat variety with the Norin-10 dwarfing gene – developed by Normal Borlaug in Mexico- was grown in IARI. It had reduced height but long panicles. Later semi-dwarf varieties were grown in farmers’ fields, yielding great results. These developments led to launch of the Hugh Yielding Varieties Programme covering not just wheat but rice, maize, sorghum and pearl millet. The All India Coordinated Wheat Research Project under Pal remains an outstanding example of agriculture research. By 1970, wheat production went up to 20 million tonnes and rice production to 42 million tonnes. Thus began the Green Revolution, making India self-sufficient in foodgrain production in the decades to come.  

White Revolution

At the time of the independence, India was not only importing foodgrains but also milk products like baby food, butter and cheese. In 1955, India was importing 500 tonnes of butter and 3000 tonnes of baby food from dairy companies in Europe. The dairy movement had started in 1946 with the founding of the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited under the leadership of Tribhuvandas Patel.

In 1949, Verghese Kurien arrived in Anand to fulfil the condition laid down in the bond he had signed with the government at the time of going to America for higher education with government scholarship. He stayed back and became General Manager of the cooperative in 1950. The dairy faced a problem of fluctuating milk production as surplus milk would find no takers. European dairy companies were not willing to part with milk powder technology and were of the view that buffalo milk can’t be converted into milk powder.

H M Dalaya, a young diary engineer working with Kurien at Anand, demonstrated with experiments that buffalo milk can be converted into milk powder. Dalaya assembled a device using a spray paint gun and an air heater to make powder from buffalo milk, for the first time in the world.

Later he showed that a commercially available machine, Niro Atomizer, could do the same. This laid the foundation for a dairy revolution in India and a national milk grid, making the country self-sufficient. 

Satellite and communication revolution

When Vikram Sarabhai, as chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research, in mid-1960s envisioned the use of satellite technology for communication, remote sensing and weather prediction, few people believed him because India then did not possess any capability in building a rocket or a satellite. He wanted India to use space technology for education, health and rural development.

Within a decade, India not only developed such a capability but demonstrated to the world peaceful use of space technology with the success of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), and the launch of Aryabhata satellite from the Soviet Union.

In another decade, Indian scientists launched the landmark INSAT and IRS series of satellites, bringing communication and television services to millions of people across the country. Timely prediction of weather events like cyclones using India-made satellites has helped save lives. Through pioneering use of the VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology, banking and other services were revolutionized in the 1980s.

Drugs and vaccines manufacturing

India today is known as ‘pharmacy of the world’ as Indian companies are supplying affordable drugs and vaccines to not only developing but also to developed countries. It has been a long journey from the time when Indian drug industry was dominated by foreign companies whose drugs were prohibitively costly.

In order to break the hold of multinational corporations, the central government established Hindustan Antibiotics Limited in 1954 and then the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL) with Soviet assistance. These public sector units – along with national laboratories like National Chemicals Laboratory (NCL), Regional Research Laboratory Hyderabad (now known as Indian Institute of Chemical Technology) and Central Drug Research Institute – played a central role in generating necessary knowledge base and human resources needed for Indian industry to grow.

The Patent Act of 1970 recognised only process patents, paving the way for Indian companies to make copies of patented drugs using alternative processes. CSIR labs developed processes for a range of drugs – ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, salbutamol, omeprazole, azithromycin etc. – and transferred the technology to private companies. Over next two decades, all this helped develop indigenous capabilities in both R&D and manufacturing.

C-DOT and telecom revolution

Like most other sectors, telecom sector too was dependent on supplies from multinational corporations, and due to high costs as well as shortage of foreign exchange new technology could not come in. The switching technology was considered strategic and only a handful of companies possessed it.  The waiting period for a telephone line in India in the 1970s was several years, and connectivity in rural areas was extremely poor.

The first attempt to develop an indigenous electronic exchange was initiated at the Telecom Research Centre (TRC) in the 1960s and the first breakthrough was a 100-line electronic switch developed in 1973. Around the same time, scientists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), along with those from IIT Bombay, developed a digital Automatic Electronic Switch for the army. These efforts got a boost in 1984 when the government established the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) by pooling scientific teams from TRC and TIFR under the leadership of Sam Pitroda.

The rural telephone exchange developed by Indians could work under harsh conditions and without air conditioning. The technology developed in public sector was transferred for free to private companies, ending the monopoly of multinational giants and rapidly bringing connectivity to rural areas. C-DOT exchange became popular in dozens of developing nations.    

IT revolution and railway computerisation

The data processing industry in India during the decades after the independence was dominated by two multinationals - IBM and ICL. The data processing machines of these two firms were in use in the government, public sector, armed forces as well as research institutes.

These companies brought old and discarded machines to India and leased them at high rentals. India needed latest computers for applications like National Sample Surveys, nuclear reactor development and other research. In order to break the monopoly of big companies and spur indigenous software and hardware development, the Department of Electronics was established in 1970.

Public sector companies like Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Computer Maintenance Corporation (CMC) and state electronics development corporations were established. The skills and knowledge thus developed got transferred to private industry.

The first major application of information technology was the passenger reservation project of the Railways launched in 1986. It was the largest such project which demonstrated how technology can improve efficiency, cut corruption and touch the lives of millions without the need for them owning a digital gadget.      

Blue Revolution

The ‘blue revolution’ refers to adoption of a set of measures to boost production of fish and other marine products. It was formally launched with the establishment of the Fish Farmers’ Development Agency during the Fifth Five-year Plan in 1970. Later on, similar development agencies were set up for brackish water development to boost aquaculture in several states.

The objective of all this was to induce new techniques of fish breeding, rearing and marketing, as well as initiate production of other marine products like prawns, oysters, seaweeds, pearls and so on, using new techniques and scientific inputs. Scores of new technologies developed by research institutes under the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) have been transferred to fish farmers all over the country. 

Some specific milestones of India in Science and Technology

Aryabhata- Once an astronomer, then a satellite

India launched its first satellite into space on April 19, 1975. Named after the ancient Indian astronomer, Aryabhata was constructed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics and opened new possibilities for ISRO.

Test tube baby: The birth of Durga

The first test tube baby in India-and the second one in the world-was born in Calcutta on October 3, 1978. This was just 67 days after the world's first test-tube baby, Marie Louise Brown, was born in the UK.

India developed an indigenous seeker for Brahmos for the first time.

Brahmos is the world’s fastest and most formidable anti-ship cruise missile. This marks a big achievement and breakthrough for the supersonic missile as this is the first time the country has developed a seeker for a missile of this calibre and class.

Antarctic research: Gangotri at the South Pole

In 1983, India's first scientific base station in Antarctica was established, about 2,500 kilometres from the South Pole. Named Dakshin Gangotri, it was constructed during the third Indian expedition to Antarctica.

The base hosted an automatic weather recording station, and was also used to perform scientific tests on radio transmission. It also served as a hub for experiments in physical oceanography, chemical analyses of freshwater lakes in the area, as well as geology, glaciology and geomagnetism.

After the base was rendered inoperable, a new research station, Maitri-which also served as India's first permanent station at the South Pole-was constructed about 90 km away, in 1988 . It serves as a base for front-ranking research and developments in basic and environmental sciences.

The Agni missile was not India's first ballistic missile. That distinction belonged to the Prithvi short-range ballistic missile first tested in 1988. But over the years, the Agni, now the name for a family of missiles of various ranges, has come to be the mainstay of India's strategic arsenal, capable of carrying nuclear warheads to targets over 5,000 kilometres away.

The missile was first test-fired on May 22, 1989. An 18 metre long, 7 tonne Agni missile with a range of 2,500 km was successfully launched into the Bay of Bengal from the interim test range in Chandipur, Orissa, in 1983.

It was one of the Indigenous Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) missiles. Since 1995, five variants of the Agni missile family have been deployed and can be carried on road and rail mobile launchers. Key breakthroughs made in the programme include an all-carbon composite heat shield to deal with the temperatures of re-entry, solid rocket fuel, manoeuvrable thrusters as well as a guidance system.

Param A home-made, super supercomputer (1991)

The PARAM supercomputer began its life as a result of a technology embargo that had been placed on India. In 1987, during a high-technology meet between India and the US, the then US president Ronald Reagan refused to sell to then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi the latest CRAY supercomputers being developed in America.

Instead, the Indian premier was offered an outdated machine, and also warned against its use for any purposes other than weather forecasting. This was not without good reason-supercomputers are an essential step toward modern weapons systems. For example, the calculations required to construct an intercontinental ballistic missile cannot be performed on an ordinary computer; it would take far too long. 

In 1988, for the purposes of developing self-sufficiency in such matters, India established the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, or C-DAC. With a deadline of three years, and a budget of around Rs 30 crore, PARAM 8000 was born in 1991.

Pokhran-II: Building up a nuclear muscle

On May 13, 1998, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announced India's new status as the world's sixth nuclear weapons armed power. Two days before the prime minister's announcement, on May 11, 'Operation Shakti' had been initiated. India had stunned-and somewhat alarmed-the world community with a series of five nuclear weapons tests. The weapons were of three different kinds-one fusion or thermonuclear weapon, two fission devices and two sub-kiloton devices-which indicated the flexibility and range of India's nuclear arsenal, slowly built up over the years. Pokhran-II was the first Indian test of a nuclear weapon since 1974. Post-1974, bomb technology had been placed on the backburner, until Pakistan came close to acquiring a nuclear weapon with Chinese assistance. Faced with the twin threats of a Chinese and Pakistani nuclear weapons arsenal and a closing global window-the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty was opened for signatures in 1996-the strategic community was left with no other option but to hit the test button.

2008 Chandrayaan-1

India's space programme came of age in 2008, with the first unmanned space mission, Chandrayaan-1, reaching the moon. It included a lunar orbiter and an impactor, and was launched by a modified version of the PSLV.

The goals of the mission included high-resolution mapping of the moon in visible, near infrared, low energy X-ray and high-energy X-ray spectra, and the preparation of a three-dimensional atlas of regions of scientific interest. This mission gave momentum to plans for a modified GSLV for India's proposed manned mission.

2009 INS Arihant

In 2009, India formally launched its first indigenously designed and constructed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), the INS Arihant, the culmination of a project that began in the 1960s. The INS Arihant's nuclear reactor, developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, gives it almost indefinite underwater endurance. Its four indigenously 'K-4' nuclear-tipped submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) have a range of over 3,000 km making it the third and most lethal leg of the triad declared in India's nuclear doctrine of 2003.

2014 GSLV-D5

It took exactly 25 years for India, after developing a rocket that could lob a satellite successfully into orbit, to develop an indigenous cryogenic engine. In 2014 the GSLV-D 5 rocket, which launched the GSAT-14 communications satellite, was powered for the first time by an Indian-made liquid fuelled cryogenic engine. It is a rocket engine that uses a cryogenic, or super-cooled, fuel or oxidiser, which are gases liquefied and stored at very low temperatures. These are super-cooled, comparatively lighter engines than those which use solid fuel propellant, allowing heavier payloads to be delivered into high geostationary orbits or farther into space. In fact, engines such as these were one of the main factors in NASA's success in reaching moon on the Saturn V rocket. When it comes to India, ISRO scientists and engineers, after beginning work at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, spent more than two decades developing cryogenic engineering technology.

2016 LIGO-INDIA

To foster cutting-edge research, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory in India (LIGO-India) project is setting up a state-of-the-art gravitational wave observatory in collaboration with the LIGO Laboratory in the US, run by Caltech and MIT. The Department of Atomic Energy has identified Aundha, in Hingoli district of Maharasthra, as the preferred site. Topographical, seismological and geotechnical assessments are vital, as the location must be one of low seismic disturbance.

Almost 100 years after Albert Einstein first predicted them, researchers detected gravitational waves-ripples in the fabric of space-time that had radiated out from the merging of two black holes. While this confirms Einstein's general theory of relativity, it also provided evidence that the theory breaks down at the 'event horizon' of black holes. The first research operations will begin only in 2024, for which the DAE and Department of Science and Technology have reached an agreement with the US's National Science Foundation.

India's Achievements in Technology in the last two decades

The HAL Tejas, India's single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light fighter, takes its first flight.

EVMs become the standard for voting across the country, reducing both the time taken to vote and declare results.

BrahMos enters into service in the Indian Navy. It is the world's fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation.

Chandrayaan-1, India’s first unmanned space mission to the moon.

India becomes one of five nations in the world to launch a nuclear submarine named INS Arihant.

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) was successfully launched in 2013, making India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit and the first nation in the world to do so on its maiden attempt.

The GSLV-D 5 rocket was powered for the first time by an Indian-made liquid-fueled cryogenic engine. ISRO scientists and engineers spent over two decades developing cryogenic engineering technology.

PSLV-C37 was launched from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in 2017. At the time, the rocket carried a record-breaking total of 104 satellites.

ISRO made a path-breaking discovery, inventing the atomic clock. The clock is useful in navigating satellites and measuring the precise location data.

India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) prototype vehicle undergoes successful trials. The vehicle was developed by The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and KPIT, a Pune-based multinational corporation.

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Science and R&D

Science and technology development in india, in fy23, india’s technology industry revenue including hardware was estimated to cross us$ 245 billion (8.4% y-o-y growth), an addition of us$ 19 billion over last year., advantage india, robust demand.

* As per the Economic Survey 2022, India’s GERD as a percentage of GDP stood at 0.66%.

* Expanding middle-class and increasing affordability are demand drivers for technologically advanced products.

* There are 1,30,000 startups (besides unicorns) in December 2023 from 350 startups in 2014.

* As of September 2023, India was placed at 40th position among the top innovative economies globally as per Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023.

Attractive Opportunities

* India is the top exporter of IT products, has the third-largest pharma sector and a fast-growing contract research segment.

* State University Research Excellence (SERB-SURE) to create a robust R&D ecosystem in state universities and colleges; Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (SERB-FIRE) to support research and development to solve critical problems that are relevant to industries in a public-private partnership mode.

* DeepTech increasingly becoming mainstream in the Indian tech start-up ecosystem with DeepTech startups raising US$ 586 million in funding in calendar year 2023.

Policy support

* In September 2021, India published the amended Patents Rules (2021) and reduced fees by 80% for educational institutions.

* DST has been a pioneer in establishing a network of Technology Business Incubators (TBI) and Science & Technology Entrepreneur’s Parks (STEP) across the country under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) program.

Rising Private Activity

* Establishment of CoEs in various areas. NMITLI initiative on PPP basis.

* Increased investment by private players. Setting up R&D centres.

* India has witnessed an investment of over Rs.1,000 crore (US$ 120.21 million) in Space Startups in the last nine months between April to December 2023.

Science and R&D Industry Report

Introduction.

Modern India has had a strong focus on science and technology, realizing that it is a key element for economic growth. India ranks third among the most attractive investment destinations for technology transactions in the world. With more and more multinational companies setting up their R&D centres in India, the sector has seen an uptrend in investment in recent years.

India is among the top countries globally in the field of scientific research, positioned as one of the top five nations in the field of 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.

The government has introduced multiple policies aimed at projecting India as a science and technology powerhouse and promoting both public and private sector involvement in the R&D practice. As a result, India’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) has been consistently increasing over the years. The government has also implemented several fellowship schemes to nurture the human capacity for advanced research in the country.

Market size

The engineering R&D and product development market in India is forecast to post a CAGR of 12% to reach US$ 63 billion by 2025, from US$ 31 billion in 2019. As per the Economic Survey 2022, India’s gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP stood at 0.66%.

There are 1,30,000 startups (besides unicorns) in December 2023 from 350 startups in 2014. India has witnessed an investment of over Rs. 1,000 crore (US$ 120.21 million) in Space Startups in the last nine months between April to December 2023.

India's gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP has remained stagnant at around 0.7% for about a decade, lower than Brazil (1.16%), South Africa (0.83%) and others.

IT spending in India will grow 10.7% YoY to reach US$ 124.6 billion in 2024, as forecasted by Gartner. India’s bioeconomy was valued at US$ 137 billion in 2022 and aims to achieve US$ 300 billion mark by 2030.

In FY21, the science and technology sector added 1,497,501 employees, becoming India’s top employment generator.

Under the Interim Budget 2024-25, the government announced an allocation of Rs. 8,029 crore (US$ 966 million) to the Department of Science and Technology and Rs. 16,604 crore (US$ 2 billion) to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

• In the Interim Budget 2024-25, the government announced corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore (US$ 12 billion) to promote Innovation and StartUps coupled with a new scheme for Deep Tech StartUps in Defence.

According to Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr. Piyush Goyal, the Indian patent office has granted the "highest" number of 41,010 patents till November 15th, 2023.

In the year 2023, an all-time high of 90,300 patent applications were received. The Indian patent office granted more than 1 lakh patents during March 15, 2023, to March 14, 2024, reflecting the government efforts to enhance the intellectual property rights framework.

In India, there are more than 1,580 Global Capability Centres (GCCs), where companies can outsource their product development and receive product engineering services, with the GCC market size crossing US$ 46 billion (as of FY23). These GCCs are home to some of the largest companies, many of which have their largest or second-largest R&D centres located in the country.

Accenture offers a framework for assessing the economic effect of AI for selected G20 countries in its latest AI research studies and forecasts that AI will raise India's annual growth rate by 1.3% by 2035. India's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy prepared by NITI Aayog outlined a way forward to harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in different fields. State University Research Excellence (SERB-SURE) to create a robust R&D ecosystem in state universities and colleges; Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (SERB-FIRE) to support research and development to solve critical problems that are relevant to industries in a public-private partnership mode.

Developments/Investments

Some of the recent developments in the field of science and technology in India are as follows:

• Tata Electronics, with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC) Taiwan, will establish a US$ 11 billion (Rs. 91,000 crore) semiconductor unit in Gujarat, generating 20,000 skilled jobs. Additionally, Tata's TSAT, along with two large American conglomerates, will invest US$ 3.3 billion (Rs. 27,000 crore) in a semiconductor plant in Assam, creating 27,000 jobs. CG Power, in partnership with Renesas Electronics Corporation, Japan, and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand, will set up a semiconductor unit in Gujarat with an investment of ~US$ 915 million (Rs. 7,600 crore).
• In November 2023, Lupin Ltd. unveiled world’s first fixed-dose triple combination drug for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• In October 2023, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals introduced Zita, a cost-effective triple combination drug for Type 2 diabetes treatment, enhancing glycemic control in diabetic patients.
• Under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System (NM-ICPS), 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) have been established in the areas of advanced technologies which carry out their activities under 4 major categories, i.e. Technology Development, Human Resource Development, Entrepreneurship Development and Industrial Collaborations. Mission has developed 311 technologies, 549 technology products, 63000+ Human Resource, 1200 Jobs creation and nearly 124 international collaborations till December 2023.
• A total of 192 training programs were organized under this Scheme during the year 2022 and around 8,573 researchers have been trained under Synergistic Training program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure (STUTI).
• In October 2023, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) will promote the culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories and give further impetus to clean energy research in India and Mission Innovation, according to Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh.
• In September 2023, Agri-startups were recommended for technical & financial support from pool of Rs. 20 crore (US$ 2.40 million).
• The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) have joined hands and have launched the ‘NCGG – INSA Leadership Programme in Science & Technology (LEADS). Recognizing the critical role played by the scientific leadership in driving scientific progress, this joint initiative seeks to empower them with the tools and capabilities required to effectively lead and navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of science and technology.
• In November 2022, Norwest Venture Partners agreed to invest US$ 32 million in Cerebral Technologies, which specialises in AI, big data, and enterprise cloud among other technologies. In exchange, Norwest Venture Partners will acquire a minority stake in the company.
• In August 2022, a centre of excellence (CoE) for the Metaverse and Web3 technologies was opened in India by Coforge, a provider of digital services and solutions. Over 1,000 people will be trained and upskilled by the company.
• In August 2022, Samsung announced that it was expanding its industry-academia program PRISM (Preparing and Inspiring Student Minds) across 70 engineering colleges in India. The program will help educate students in the domains of artificial intelligence, machine learning and IoT.
• Technology incubator T-Hub launched the semiconductor companion of the AIC T-Hub Foundation programme to develop innovation and entrepreneurship across the semiconductor sector startups.
• Actis, a global investor in sustainable infrastructure, is planning to invest over US$ 700 million to acquire and expand assets for its platform aimed at offering real estate to tenants in the life sciences and allied sectors in India.
• In March 2022, Toyota launched its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car in India. The Indian Oil Corporation would be supplying hydrogen to power the car.
• India's Top 5 IT firms (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL and Tech Mahindra) added more than 122,000 employees in the first six months of FY22, nearly matching the 138,000 employees hired in the entirety of FY21.
• In October 2021, Biz2Credit, a fintech company, announced a plan to invest US$ 100 million in India over the next five years in research and development activities and expansions.
• From 2014 to 2021, India recorded a 572% growth in patent approvals.
• To accelerate digital innovation in India, NITI Aayog, Amazon Web Services and Intel have come together to develop a new experience studio to boost problem-solving and innovation between government stakeholders, start-ups, enterprises, and industry experts. The new experience studio will use technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things, augmented reality, virtual reality, blockchain and robotics to accelerate their use in the public sector.
• TechnoPro, a Japanese tech firm, plans to hire 10,000 engineers and researchers in India by 2022-23.
• Qualcomm plans to invest US$ 8.5 million on design initiatives in India, which would include funding its innovation labs at Hyderabad and Bangalore for R&D.

Government Initiatives

Some of the recent initiatives taken by the Government of India to promote science and technology in India are:

• In 2023, The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was launched with a budget of ~US$ 726 million (Rs. 6003.65 crore) spanning from 2023-24 to 2030-31 aimed at fostering scientific and industrial R&D in Quantum Technology, propelling India's leadership in Quantum Technologies & Applications.
• In October 2023, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched state-of-art latest National Survey Network; the nationwide "Continuously Operating Reference Stations" (CORS) Network that will be operated by the Survey of India. The Survey of India has set up more than 1,000 CORS stations across India.
• Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector in India and Scheme for promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP) in September 2023.
• The Indian Space Policy-2023: It was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 6, also permits non-government entities (NGEs) to offer national and international space-based communication services, through self-owned, procured or leased geostationary orbit (GSO) and non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) satellite systems. NGSO is a reference to low earth orbit or medium earth orbits that are home to satellites providing broadband internet services from space.

The policy also encourages NGEs to establish and operate ground facilities for space object operations, such as telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) Earth Stations and Satellite Control Centres (SCCs).

• Technology delivery & enterprise creation model for improving the efficiency of the livelihood system.
• Technology interventions for Addressing Societal Needs (TIASN)
• Capacity Building of Community-based organizations (CBOs), NGOs, Knowledge Institutions (KI) & Social Start-ups
• The Technology Interventions for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE) programme is a unique initiative of DST to create inclusiveness and universal accessibility for Divyangjan and the Elderly, through the promotion and development of various assistive tools, technologies, techniques, affordable & adaptable to the Indian milieu.
• In November 2022, India announced an additional contribution of US$ 5 million to the ASEAN-India Science and Technology fund to increase cooperation in sectors of public health, renewable energy, and smart agriculture.
• In November 2022, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) decided to work together to build a platform to support the development of new electric vehicle (EV) batteries that meet Indian regulations.
• A MoU was signed between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Ministry of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences, and the Ministry of Ayush. The MoU outlines potential research areas to investigate collaboration, convergence, and synergy for an evidence-based scientific intervention in the Ayush sector and further integration of these into the public health care system.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has received 31 bids from manufacturers showing interest in developing the vaccine for the monkeypox virus after the medical body put out an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of vaccine and diagnostic kits.
• In 2021-22, African Centers of Excellence in a few specific scientific fields were strengthened by twinning with Indian institutes to carry out the Africa-India S&T Initiative Program by the Department of Science and Technology.
• The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has revamped the FIST (Fund for Improvement of S & T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions) programme to align it with the objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat by developing R&D infrastructure for use by start-ups, manufacturing companies, and MSMEs, in addition to R&D operations in academic organisations.
• The Women Science programme of DST has started a new initiative to support women PG colleges under the CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities) Program and invited proposals for the same.
• Under the Union Budget 2023-24, the government announced the allocation of Rs. 16,361 crore (US$ 1.99 billion) to the Department of Science and Technology.
• To further India with High-Performance Computing (HPC), four new Supercomputers have been installed since July 2021 - one each at IIT-Hyderabad, NABI-Mohali, CDAC-Bengaluru, and IIT Kanpur.
• Synergistic Training Program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure (STUTI), a new initiative, was recently unveiled to enhance human resource development and capacity building through nationwide open access to science and technology infrastructure.
• The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has partnered with Intel India to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative to advance deep tech-based research in India.
• In November 2021, the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, in association with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), launched the India International Science Festival 2021, a unique platform, with its theme being a celebration of creativity in science, technology and innovation for a prosperous India.
• In November 2021, Atal Innovation Mission and Vigyan Prasar collaborated to drive synergies between Atal Tinkering Labs and Vigyan Prasar’s unique platform, Engage with Science.
• In October 2021, the government announced plans to establish 75 science technology & innovation hubs in India for scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) and empower them to contribute to the socio-economic improvement of the country.
• In October 2021, the government launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA) to accelerate technology advancements and strengthen the space sector in the country.
• In October 2021, India and Denmark agreed to a five-year plan to implement a green strategic partnership for enhancing collaboration in various areas including science and technology.
• In October 2021, India and Europe held discussions to review the progress of science and technology bilateral cooperation and strengthen efforts on research and innovation.

India ranks third among the most innovative lower-middle-income economies in the world. Rising per capita income in India will bring a boom in R&D investment in the country with multiple foreign players shifting R&D bases to India. R&D investment and multiple government policies have helped Indian companies overcome tight competition with affordable products internationally.

India plans to move forward with developing its science and technology sector by collaborating with other countries. India has active bilateral science and technology (S&T) programs of cooperation with more than 45 countries, including dedicated programs for Africa, ASEAN, BRICS, EU and neighbouring countries. In 2021, India also collaborated with Denmark and agreed to a five-year plan to implement a green strategic partnership for enhancing partnerships in various areas, including science and technology.

India is aggressively working towards establishing itself as a leader in industrialization 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 in a technology-driven green revolution. The 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.

References - Media Reports, Press Releases, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Union Budget 2022-23/ 2023-24

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Industry Contacts

• National Academy of Sciences
• Indian Science Congress Association
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• Indian Academy of Sciences
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• Indian National Academy of Engineering

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Science and Technology Essay

Science is a systematic way which involves observation and experimentation in order to get knowledge and improve skill; whereas, technology is the practical application of science which helps in improving the quality of life. Science is a systematic study and technology is what comes out of it. Science and technology go hand in hand, that is, scientific progress is always followed by technological advancements and the latter is only the implication of former.

Today, Science and Technology plays a very significant role in the overall development of a country. The two define the progress made in almost every field i.e. infrastructure development, communications, defence, industrialization etc. the world is developing fast, at an unprecedented rate because of scientific and technological developments. Anyone who lags behind in science and technology will be left behind by ever progressive world.

Long and Short Essay on Science and Technology in English

New inventions in the field of science and technology play great role in the daily lives of people and making their life style advance.

In order to keep students up-do-date and check their general knowledge about new inventions, they are given this topic to write essay on science and technology.

Here we have provided some simple science and technology essay to help students to do better in their essay writing competition.

Science and Technology Essay 1 (100 words)

Advancement in the science and technology in many areas has made the lives of people more advance than the ancient time. Advancement in the science and technology is directly and positively affecting the people’s way of living on one hand however it is also affecting indirectly and negatively on the people’s health on the other hand. New inventions in the field of science and technology are very necessary in such a modern world for a country to be strong and well developed country than other countries. In this competitive world, we need more technology to go ahead and become a successful person in the life.

Science and Technology Essay 2 (150 words)

Development, whether it is human development or country development, is linked to the proper growth and development of the technology in many ways. Technological advancement happens when there become new inventions in the science by highly skilled and professional scientists. We can say that technology, science and development are equally proportional to each other. Development in the science and technology is very necessary for the people of any nation to go hand in hand together by the people of other countries. Development of the science and technology depends on the analysis and proper understanding of facts. Development of technology depends on the way of application of various scientific knowledge in right direction.

In order to enhance the economy and betterment of the people of any nation, up-to-date knowledge, technology, science, and engineering are the fundamental requisites. A nation can be backward and the chances of being developed country become minimal in the lack of science and technology.

Science and Technology Essay 3 (200 words)

As we all know that we live in the age of science and technology. The life of every one of us is highly depends on the scientific inventions and modern day technologies. Science and technology has changed the lives of people to a great extent. It has made life easy, simple and fast. In the new era, the science development has become a necessity to finish the era of bullock cart and bring the trend of motorized vehicles.

Science and technologies have been implemented to the every aspect of modernization in every nation. Modern gadgets have been introduced to every walk of life and have solved almost all the problems. It was not possible to have all the benefits of it without implementing it in the sectors like medicines, education, infrastructure, electricity, aviation, information technology and other field.

What improvement we are seeing in our life on daily basis is because of the science and technologies. For the proper growth and development of the country, it is very necessary to go science and technology hand in hand. Villages are getting developed to towns and towns to cities thus expanding the greater horizons of economy. Our country India is a fast developing country in the sense of science and technology.

Science and Technology Essay 4 (250 words)

Science and technology has become a debated topic in the society. On one hand, it is necessary for the modern life where other countries are continuously developing in the field of science and technology. It becomes very necessary for other countries too to grow in the same way to be strong and well developed like other countries for the future safety and security. It is science and technology which helps other weak countries to develop and be strong.

We have to take support of science and technology forever to improve the way of life for the betterment of mankind. If we do not take the help of technologies such as computer, internet, electricity, etc we cannot be economically strong in the future and would be backward forever even we cannot survive in such a competitive and technological world.

Advancement in the field of medical, agriculture, education, economy, sports, games, jobs, tourism, etc are the examples of science and technology. All such advancements show us that how both are equally beneficial for our life. We can see a clear difference in our life style while matching the ancient and modern way of life. High level of scientific and technological advancement in the field of medicine has made easy the treatment of various lethal diseases which was earlier not possible. It has helped a lot to the doctors to find effective ways to cure diseases through medicine or operations as well as research vaccines to cure diseases such as cancer, AIDS, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Leukemia, etc.

Science and Technology Essay 5 (300 words)

The implication of science and technology to the people’s life is very old from the time of Indus Valley Civilization. It was almost first invention when came to know about fire and wheel. Both of the inventions are considered as the mother of all the technological innovations of the modern time. Through the invention of fire people knew about the power of energy first time. Since then, people’s curiosity was increased and they started trying their hard to research about various measures to make life style easy and simple.

India is a most famous country all over the world from the ancient time however after its slavery by the British rule, it had lost its recognition and strength. After getting freedom in 1947, it again had started getting its lost recognition in the crowd. It is the science and technology which has helped India to get its real recognition all over the world. India has become a highly growing country through the new inventions in science and technological advancement. Science and technologies are playing great role in meeting the needs and requirements of the modern people.

Some examples of the advancement in the technologies are establishment of railway system, metro system, railway reservation system, internet, super computers, mobiles, smart phones, online access of people in almost every area, etc. Government of India is creating more opportunity to the space organization and several academic institutions (Indian Association for the Advancement of Science) for the better technological growth and development in the country. Some of the renowned scientists of the India who have made possible the technological advancement in India (through their notable scientific researches in the various fields) are Sir J. C. Bose, S. N. Bose, C. V. Raman, Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, Srinivasa Ramanujan, father of India’s nuclear power, Dr. Har Govind Singh Khorana, Vikram Sarabhai, etc.

Science and Technology Essay 6 (400 words)

Science and technology plays vital role in the modern life and profoundly influenced the course of human civilization. Technological advancement in the modern life has provided us lots of remarkable insights all over the world. Scientific revolutions has taken its full speed from the 20 th century and has become more advance in the 21 st century. We have entered to the new century in new ways and with all the arrangements for well being of the people. Modern culture and civilization has become dependent over the science and technologies as they have become integral part of life according to the need and requirement of the people.

India has become an important source of the creative and foundational scientific developments and approaches all across the world. All the great scientific discoveries and technological achievements in our country have improved the Indian economic status and have created many new ways to the new generations to grow in the technologically advanced environment. There are many new scientific researches and development have been possible in the field of Mathematics, Architecture, Chemistry, Astronomy, Medicine, Metallurgy, Natural Philosophy, physics, agriculture, health care, pharmaceuticals, astrophysics, nuclear energy, space technology, applications, defense research, biotechnology, information technology, electronics, oceanography and other areas.

Introduction of scientific researches, ideas and techniques to the field of education has brought a huge level of positive change in the new generation and provided them variety of new and innovative opportunities to work in the field of their own interest. Modem science in India has been awakened by the continuous and hard efforts of the outstanding scientists. Scientists in India are great who have made possible the scientific advances of highest international calibre.

Technological development in any filed enhances the economy of any nation. In order to improve the power of science and technology in India, Indian government has made Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in the year 1942 and Board of Scientific and Industrial Research in the year 1940. In order to emphasize the growth of science and technology in the country, Indian government has established a chain of national laboratories and research institutes in various regions.

After the independence, our country has been involved in the promotion of spread of science for the national development. Variety of policies made by the government has emphasized the self-sufficiency and sustainable growth and development all through the country. Both science and technology have impacted the economic growth and social development in the country in extraordinary manner.

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• The Role of Technology in Driving Progress and Development

The Role of Technology in Driving Progress and Development  Blogs Home

• 11 May 2023

In this era of 2023, it's hard to imagine life without technology. Whether we want to make a quick call from smartphones or update an event status on social media, we couldn't have done it without the high technology we are blessed with today. It has become an integral part of our daily routine. But did you know that technology has also revolutionized various industries? That's right! Due to the power of technology, industries have been transformed in ways that were once unimaginable. From healthcare to finance, and agriculture education, technology has transformed the way we work and live, bringing convenience, efficiency, and innovation to every aspect of our lives. So, let us explore the exciting ways that technology has helped shape some of the world's most significant industries.

Advancements in Healthcare Technology

There are uncountable instances where technology has brilliantly transformed the healthcare system. Medical technologies such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs have revolutionized the way we diagnose and treat diseases. It helps doctors to see inside the human body without the need for invasive procedures, making diagnosis quicker and less painful. Also, the development of medical robots and telemedicine has made healthcare more accessible, especially in remote areas where healthcare facilities are limited. Now patients can get medical consultations and treatment from the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for travel and wait times.

Electronic health records (EHRs) have enabled doctors to access patient records quickly, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and better patient care. EHRs also facilitate communication between healthcare providers, enabling them to work together to provide the best possible care for their patients.

Online Learning and Education Technology

Online resources, such as e-books, podcasts, and video lectures, have made education easily available to students. Due to the development of online learning platforms and virtual classrooms, they can learn from anywhere in the world. People living in remote areas who rarely get opportunities greatly benefit from this.

The all-time availability and convenience let students pause, rewind, and repeat lessons as often as possible until they are sure about the concept. The personalized learning experience has improved learning outcomes and student engagement to a massive extent. Also, the use of technology in classrooms, such as interactive whiteboards and educational software, has made learning more engaging and interactive for students.

Wearable Technology and Communication

Wearable technology is a category of electronic devices that are designed to be worn on the body, either as an accessory or as a part of clothing. These devices often include sensors and other advanced technology that can monitor and track various aspects of the wearer's health and fitness, as well as provide information or assistance with daily tasks. It can be in the form of smartwatches that can make calls and send texts to fitness trackers that can monitor heart rate and calorie burn.

Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, have made it easier for people to connect with each other, share information, and form communities. Because of this, now it's easier for businesses to reach their target customers. Also, one can connect with like-minded people with much ease now, as many platforms have community-driven features. The development of video conferencing technologies, such as Zoom and Skype, has made it easier for people to communicate with each other, regardless of their location. This has enabled businesses to conduct meetings with remote employees and for families to stay in touch with loved ones who live far away.

Technology and Sustainable Energy

Current and advanced technology has the potential to significantly reduce our environmental impact by enabling the development of renewable energy sources and reducing waste and emissions. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower can replace traditional energy sources that generate harmful emissions, contributing to climate change. The adoption of renewable energy technologies has increased in recent years, with countries setting targets to reduce carbon emissions and shifting towards renewable energy sources. More energy-efficient buildings, transportation systems, and manufacturing processes, have also been developed.

The Impact of Technology on the Global Economy

Technology has massively helped, particularly in creating new industries and employment opportunities. The development of the latest tech-rich products and services, such as smartphones, social media platforms, and e-commerce platforms, has transformed how we live and work. Many job or study opportunities can be found on these platforms. Also, these are great sources to market and expand the business.

Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities

With the help of technology, various services are more accessible to people with disabilities, greatly improving their quality of life and helping them participate more in society. For example, text-to-speech software and screen readers enable visually impaired individuals to access written content, while hearing aids and cochlear implants improve the hearing of those with hearing impairments. Assistive technologies, such as motorised wheelchairs and prosthetics, enable individuals with physical disabilities to move around and perform daily tasks with greater ease.

Personalized Marketing and Targeted Advertising

The development of personalized products and services has progressed in efficiency and customer satisfaction. Consider how personalized medicine uses genetic information to develop individualized treatment plans based on a patient's needs and characteristics. Targeted advertising uses data analysis to deliver personalized ads to consumers, based on their preferences and interests. In both cases, technology has enabled a more personalized approach, which can improve outcomes and enhance the user experience.

The Importance of Big Data in Decision Making

Big data and analytics have revolutionized how organizations make decisions, leading to improved outcomes and increased efficiency. Now healthcare providers can use data analytics to predict patient outcomes and identify potential health risks, enabling them to provide more personalized and effective care. Businesses can use data analytics to identify trends and patterns in customer behavior, helping them develop more effective marketing strategies and improve customer satisfaction. Furthermore, data analysis has enabled the development of new technologies, such as self-driving cars and predictive maintenance systems, which rely on complex algorithms and machine learning.

Disruptive Technology and Innovation

Many significant innovations in entertainment, gaming, transportation, and medicine have occurred lately. Virtual and augmented reality technologies have enabled new entertainment and immersive experiences. At the same time, the development of electric cars and hyperloop transportation systems has the potential to revolutionize how we travel. In medicine, technology has helped in areas such as genomics and precision medicine, leading to more personalized treatment options and improved health outcomes. It has also helped develop new materials and manufacturing processes, which can improve efficiency and reduce waste.

The Future of Technology and Progress

Technology has increased efficiency in various fields, such as manufacturing and agriculture. The use of automation, robotics, and machine learning has significantly improved productivity, reduced costs, and increased output.

As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more noteworthy improvements in various areas of human life. For example, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) can transform healthcare, enabling doctors to make more accurate diagnoses and create personalized treatment plans for their patients. Or the development of autonomous vehicles can reduce traffic accidents and improve transportation efficiency.

However, it is essential to recognize technology's potential risks and challenges, such as privacy concerns and job displacement. It is crucial to work to mitigate these risks as we continue to harness the power of technology to drive progress and development.

Poonam Sharma

Poonam Sharma is a graduate in civil engineering. She is an old soul who loves music, dance, and art! Apart from these, she likes to immerse herself in writing, singing and sketching; this is how she expresses art.

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Essay on Role of Science in Making India for Students

Table of Contents

Science has played a major role in making India. The scientific discoveries and inventions made in the country as well as in other parts of the world have helped in the development of the country.

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Science offers an all new way of looking at things. It widens the scope of the things available around and thus aids in the growth and development of any nation. Science Day speech gives us importance by reminding us of the pivotal role science plays in unraveling the mysteries of the universe, solving global challenges, and empowering societies through innovation and knowledge. Here are essays on Role of Science in Making India of varying lengths to help you with the topic in the exam. Select anyone of these as per the need:

Essay on Role of Science in Making India

Below we have provided long and short essay on role of science in making India. These role of science in making India essay have been written in simple English yet effectively enough to leave a mark on the audience/reader.

After going through the essays you will acknowledge the role that science plays in the overall development of India.

You can chose any of the essays and use them during essay writing competition, debate or speech giving in your school, college or community.

Role of Science in Making India 1 (200 words)

Science has played a big role in making India what it is today. Scientific devices have helped our country develop in every sphere. Be it the agricultural sector, industrial sector, health, infrastructure or any other sphere – the development of each of these can be attributed to science.

The mundane farming techniques that were being used in India since ages required a great deal of labour yet yielded very little. With the study of science, researchers have come up with newer equipments and techniques of farming that have been employed in the agricultural sector in India. This has helped in increasing the crop yield to a great extent. The new age machinery and equipments employed in various sectors have enhanced with time and this has changed their way of working. A number of new sectors such as telecom and information and technology have also come into being in the last few decades. These are all a gift of scientific inventions.

The establishment of new sectors and industries has not only introduced various new goods and services but has also increased the employment opportunities in the country. Besides, the process of export, import, beginning and managing business and communicating with people around the globe has become quicker and easier with the help of science.

All in all, science has played a big role in making India.

Role of Science in Making India 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Science has helped in the growth and development of India to a great extent. There are many institutes in the country that train the students in this subject. Many of these students come up with newer scientific inventions while others work on the already available ones to improve their way of working. We, as a country, have benefited a great deal by these inventions. Scientific inventions made in other parts of the world have also been implemented for carrying out various tasks in India. These inventions have played a vital role in making India.

Role of Science in Improving Infrastructure

The infrastructure of a country plays an important role in its development. India’s infrastructure has enhanced over the last few decades owing to the implementation of high tech scientific techniques. Several roads, bridges and flyovers have been constructed to ease the process of transportation. It takes lesser time to commute to different places. Goods can now be transported to different places in the country in lesser time. The automobiles, that are again a gift of science, help in the process. Everything is available readily in every part of the country owing to this quick facility.

Role of Science in Export Market

Science has also played an important role in strengthening the export market in the country. The production of various goods has been increased owing to the implementation of scientifically advanced techniques and machinery. There are various agricultural and industrial products that our country can now produce in abundance. Besides fulfilling the requirement of the people dwelling here these are also be exported to other countries. The process of import and export has also been smoothened with the enhancement in the means of communication and transportation. This has helped in the economic development of the country.

India has no doubt benefited a lot with the growth and development in the field of science. Scientific inventions have played a major role in making India.

Role of Science in Making India 3 (400 words)

Man has evolved over the ages. He has enhanced his way of living and all this has been possible with the help of scientific inventions. It started with the discovery of fire went on to the invention of wheel, bullock cart and stone tools and then there was no stopping. Man has been inventing newer things by applying science and has enhanced his lifestyle to a great extent ever since.

Role of Science in Building Economy

The Rise of Industries

Gone are the days when people in India were mainly confined to cottage industries and handicraft businesses. With the growth in science many new businesses have been formed. Several industries have seen a boom because of the new age scientific equipments and machinery. Science has thus played an important role in the growth of the industrial sector in the country.

Growth in Employment Opportunities

The establishment of greater number of industries and businesses in the country has increased the employment opportunities. A number of skilled professionals get a chance to fill various positions in these businesses. Many people are trained on the job to carry out different tasks. They aid in the growth of the businesses that in turn helps in the overall economic growth of the country.

Better Export Market

Newer scientific formulas and techniques have benefited the agricultural as well as industrial sector in India. Better produce has given rise to the export of various food items. Similarly, the use of advanced equipments helps in the production of various goods that are exported to other countries. Thus, science has helped in improving the condition of the export market in the country thereby benefitting several businesses as well as the country’s economic condition.

Better Communication

If there is one scientific invention that everyone on this planet is thankful for then that is the means of communication. With the invention of mobile phones, internet and other cost effective mediums of communication, it has become quite easy to exchange ideas with people living in far-away lands. Best practices used across the globe can thus be implemented. Just as many other countries, India has also benefited because of it. We are updated with the latest in the world of science and technology and continually adopt the practices that help in boosting the country’s economy.

Science has played a major role in making India. Without using scientific methods and techniques we would not have been able to develop the country to the extent it has developed today.

Role of Science in Making India 4 (500 words)

Science plays a major role in making India a better place to live. Scientific inventions have helped in the growth of almost every sector in the country. With the help of these inventions people today have become better equipped to handle various tasks – be it the small household tasks or the big corporate projects.

Role of Science in the Agricultural Sector

Among the various sectors that have benefitted with scientific discoveries is the agricultural sector. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for people living in the rural areas of India. Since centuries the farmers in our country have worked hard day in and day out but still not able to make enough. However, the condition has improved over the last few decades with the advancement in science. The agricultural sector in India has benefitted a great deal with the new scientific techniques to grow and raise the crops.

It has been accepted that the age old farming techniques used in our country have become almost mundane. They require the poor farmers to put in more labour and yield less. More and more farmers are adopting the new scientific methods of farming. Newer soil health management methods, improved irrigation facilities, advanced fertilizers, pesticides and newer equipments to tow the land, sow seeds and harvest the crops are all gifts of science. These are helping in the development of the agricultural sector in India. The crop production has increased drastically due to the use of these new techniques. The harvesting time has also been reduced and the process requires less labour. The export of various food items has also increased since the introduction of scientific methods of farming in the country. This has not only helped in strengthening the financial position of the farmers, traders and others involved in the process but also that of the country as a whole. Science thus plays an important role in making India agriculturally strong.

Artificial Rains – A Boon for the Farmers

Another problem faced by the farmers in India is the erratic climatic condition. While one year there is abundance of rain that creates a flood like situation in a particular area, the next season the rainfall is scanty to the extent that the same region may experience drought. However, thanks to science and technology, drought like situation can now be curbed with the help of artificial rains. Certain states in India have adopted this method and many others are planning to do so in case the need arises in future.

It is sad to see how the farmers work hard on their lands. They sow the seeds and wait for the rains so that the crops yield properly. However, many among them are disheartened because the problem of drought has grown over the years in many parts of the county. Many of these get under heavy debts as their crops do not yield and are left with no other option but to suicide. Artificial rains are a boon for such farmers and their families.

Scientific inventions have helped the country grow economically in the past and continue to do so. These have had a positive impact on the growth of every sector particularly agriculture.

Role of Science in Making India 5 (600 words)

Just like other nations around the world, science has played a big role in making India too. Scientific inventions have enhanced our standard of living and eased numerous tasks that earlier required a lot of labour.

Indian Scientists’ Contribution to the World

While we have borrowed various scientific ideas from the first world countries to develop our country, Indian scientists have also made great contribution to the world when it comes to the field of science. Some of these scientists include Salim Ali, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Homi Bhabha, C.V. Raman, Satyendra Nath Bose, Meghnad Saha, S.S. Abhyankar, Birbal Sahni, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. Their research in the field of science and scientific inventions did not only benefit the country but also the rest of the world. They have made us proud with their inventions. Indians are known for their genius minds. Many of them have contributed to the field of science and technology in the past and several others continue to do so.

Medical Science is a Boon

The role of medical science in making India cannot be denied. There was a time when diseases spread like epidemics and several lives were lost in the event and their family members were left mourning. We lost several children, many young talented individuals and many established businessmen due to these deadly diseases. However, today medical science has advanced a great deal. Several medicines have been invented to cure various diseases. Scientists across the globe are busy researching and inventing new treatments and medicines to cure various other chronic and deadly diseases.

A number of hospitals and nursing homes have been established in various parts of the country to provide treatment to people suffering from various illnesses. These hospitals boast of good infrastructure and advanced equipments to treat the patients. They have a team of doctors specialising in various fields.

The country also has several well-established medical institutes and colleges that offer medical courses. These institutes train several students each year to help them take up the noble profession of medicine and contribute towards making our country a better place to live.

Role of Science in Enhancing Life Style

Science is used in all our daily tasks. Our lifestyle has enhanced over the years. All this is because of the use of various scientific inventions. From the gas stove we use to cook the food to the refrigerator we use to store it – everything is an invention of science. Some of the other examples of scientific inventions used in our routine lives include washing machine, car, bike, micro wave oven, tube light, bulb, television, radio, computer and mobile phone.

These things help in carrying out various tasks easily and quickly. One of the best examples of this can be the change in the means of communication. Earlier it was extremely difficult for people to reach out to their relatives and friends living in far-away lands. They had to send letters to share important messages. These letters took weeks to reach the recipients and the reply could not be expected any sooner.

This problem was curbed to some extent with the invention of telephones. However, this was quite an expensive affair. Today, the advancement in science and technology has given birth to mobile phones and internet. Communicating with people around the world has become easier. These sources help in knowledge sharing and aid in the growth of the country.

Scientific inventions have helped the country boom economically and continue to do so. Many of these inventions have been employed in various sectors as well as in household tasks to grow businesses and enhance the lifestyle of people.

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Women in Science - Famous Women Scientists in India and their Roles

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Science and Technology

Prelims: General Science

Mains: Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.

India has a large number of talented women who have made and continue to make significant contributions to the advancement of science and technology. From vaccines to space, Indian women are breaking scientific stereotypes and paving the way for others to follow. India's history is filled with examples of women scientists who have held top positions in institutions, many of whom have innovated and led cutting-edge technologies. One such example is that of Dr. Tessy Thomas, also known as "The Missile Woman of India" , who is a prominent scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

Prominent Indian Women in Science

Women scientists in India play an important role in the socio-economic development of a nation. For over 100 years, women scientists in India have proven their strength and made great contributions to the scientific growth of the country.

The below table mentions the famous women scientists of India:

Contribution of Women in Science

According to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), women made up 28% of participants in 2018-19 in extramural Research and Development (R&D) projects, up from 13% in 2000-01.

• The proportion of women primary investigators in R&D increased more than fourfold, from 232 in 2000-01 to 941 in 2016-17.
• The proportion of female researchers increased from 13.9% in 2015 to 18.7% in 2018. 

Participation of Women in Space Programmes

• Ritu Karidhal, Nandini Harinath, Anuradha TK , Moumita Dutta and Minal Rohit etc., were some of the women who played a crucial role.
• While Vanitha Muthayya headed the mission as project director, Ritu Karidhal (Rocket Woman of India)was the mission director.
• Chandrayaan 3 :The mission was led by India's rocket woman, Ritu Kridhal Shrivastava, and deputy project director Kalpana Kalahasti.

Women in STEM: a CSIR Survey, 2022

The survey on gender parity revealed that:

• A significant number of CSIR labs lacked female chief scientists, highlighting a two-decade trend of male-dominated leadership positions.
• Across various levels and clusters, the proportion of women scientists and technical staff remained notably low, comprising only about 18% of total scientists and 15% of technical staff within the CSIR labs examined.
• Project funds allocated to women Principal Investigators were considerably lower than their male counterparts in specific clusters.

Challenges in Gender Disparity in Indian Science

• Low Representation of Women in Indian R&D Workforce
• According to the 2018 National Task Force on Women in Science report, only 15% of the Indian R&D workforce are women, against the global average of 30%.
• Similar gender disparities exist in S&T teaching institutions.
• Root Cause: Gender Mindset
• Gender bias starts from infancy, reinforced by academic books and societal norms.
• Parents, teachers, and educational institutions often contribute to discouraging girls from pursuing science.
• Institutional Barriers
• Fewer institutions in India offer science programs compared to arts and commerce.
• Peer recognition is often limited.
• For example: In 2021 and 2022, all 23 winners were men, and CSIR didn't recognize any women scientists for their contributions.

Government Initiatives for Promoting Science Among Women

The government has launched programs and initiatives to provide women with access to education and training in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as to support their professional development and advancement.

• ‘Women Scientists Scheme’ under WISEKIRAN provides various opportunities to women scientists and technologists, especially those who had a break in their careers, to pursue research.
• Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine): It encourages women scientists and technologists to conduct international collaborative research at prestigious US institutions.
• Vigyan Jyoti : Programme launched by the DST for meritorious girl students of Class 9-12 to encourage them to pursue education and careers in science and technology, particularly in the areas where women are under represented.
• Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI): It aims to transform institutions for a more gender-sensitive approach and inclusiveness with the ultimate goal of improving gender equity in S&T.
• SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research):  It aims to address the lower participation of women scientists in research activities and to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering.
• “National Award for Woman Scientist”: The Ministry of Earth Sciences has initiated this award since 2018 which is being conferred to one woman scientist each year.
• The programme will cater to women with a STEM background and empower them to contribute to the technology and innovation ecosystem.

FAQs on Women in Science

What is the empowerment of women in science and technology.

Increasing the participation of girls and women in STEM disciplines is one way to empower women. It creates opportunities for girls and women to redefine and transform our economies and societies when they are empowered to take on leadership roles and contribute to the development of the nation.

Who is the First Woman Scientist in India?

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to get a PhD in a scientific discipline . She received the Rashtrapati Award for her work on the nutritional benefits of the palm extract called ‘Neera’.

What is the Contribution of Women to Technology?

Inspiring women working in tech have made significant contributions to the IT world. They were leaders in building the early foundations of modern programming. Their work inspired environmental movements and led to new technological discoveries.

Who were the Famous Female Scientists in India?

Women scientists of India who made history are Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi, Janaki Ammal, Kamala Sohonie, Asima Chatterjee, Rajeshwari Chatterjee, Kalpana Chawla, Dr. Indira Hinduja, Tessy Thomas etc.

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