Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday pitched for making digital connectivity a "basic right" for children just as their right to schooling, and stressed the need to make school education more "creative".
"School education in science and mathematics should become more creative and stimulating. Let us also use the internet to bring the best of our scientists in direct contact with our children and our youth. Digital connectivity should become as much a basic right as access to school," Modi said, while inaugurating the 102nd Indian Science Congress here.
The university system in India, Modi said, must be placed at the cutting edge of the research and development activities in the country.
He called for broadening the scope of investment in science and technology that is at present focused on central government agencies.
"Our universities must be freed from the clutches of excessive regulation and cumbersome procedures. They must have a higher degree of academic freedom and autonomy, and, there should be as much emphasis on research as on teaching," he said.
Modi said India needed to foster a strong culture of collaboration between institutions and across disciplines to take advantage of developments, innovations and expertise in diverse areas.
Underscoring the importance of international collaboration in scientific research and the need to benefit from growing the trend of such endeavours, Modi said he "placed science and technology at the forefront of our diplomatic engagement".
"As I have travelled abroad, I have personally sought out scientists to explore collaborations in areas like clean energy, agriculture, biotechnology, medicine and healthcare.
"We have built excellent partnerships with all leading nations to address the grand challenges of the world today. I have also offered our expertise to our neighbours and other developing countries," he said.
Modi said India's global competitiveness depended not on reinventing the wheel but on sustained development and indigenous innovations.
"Our long-term global competitiveness will depend not on replicating what others have done, but through a process of sustained development and innovation."
Modi urged the domestic industrial sector to "step up investments in science and technology in its own interest" and make the practice a corporate social responsibility.
"India's own pharmaceutical industry has carved out a place for itself in the world, because it invests significantly in research," he said.
"For a safe, sustainable, prosperous future for India, or global leadership in a knowledge and technology intensive world, we need to put science, technology and innovation at the top of national priorities," the prime minister concluded.
The five-day conference at the University of Mumbai will see deliberations and presentation of papers by scientists and Nobel laureates from across the globe.
As the Science Congress returns to Mumbai after 45 years, the emphasis will be on showcasing the city as a science hub as well as being the financial capital of India.
ATS disclosure on Gorakhnath temple attack: Fearing arrest, Murtaza hurriedly planned a fidayeen attack, if weapons were not found, then bought Banka
Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi, who attacked the PAC jawans guarding the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur, was soon going to be shifted to Canada. He was trying to escape from Canada, the stronghold of ISIS,
In UP, Corona fails arrangements: patients are wandering for 3–3 days to be admitted to hospitals; If you are getting bed then you are not getting oxygen.
Uttar Pradesh has now moved up to number six in the list of coronavirus infected states, surpassing Delhi. Things are very bad in the capital Lucknow. There are 52 thousand such patients who are
Indian Economy: Indian economy came out of a bad phase, if there will be relief from retail inflation, then the trade deficit will be reduced
Morgan Stanley On Indian Economy: Indian Economy has come out of its bad phase. And from Retail Inflation to Trade Deficit, will gradually decrease in the coming days. Financial services company
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Deep Sidhu again, bail was granted today only
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu on Saturday, 26 January, accused of violence in the Red Fort. Deep Sidhu was granted bail by the Tis Hazari Court this morning.
Surgical safety checklist can prevent complications: Study
New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) The implementation of a surgical safety checklist can minimise post-operative complications, according to a study.To evaluate the impact of a surgical checklist, the
A | A- | A+ Himachal CM, governor greet people on New Year
Shimla, Jan 1 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Governor Urmila Singh greeted the people on New Year Thursday.In his message, the chief minister wished that the life of
Assam moves to raise force to protect Rhinoceros
Guwahati, Jan 30 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Friday announced that an 1,200 strong Rhino Protection Force will be raised "very soon" to protect the state's world famous one-horned
Mundra Port Heroin Seizure: NIA filed a charge sheet in the case of 3000 kg heroin recovered at Mundra Port, telling how and from where the drugs had reached.
Mundra Port Heroin Seizure Case: The NIA filed a second supplementary charge sheet on Monday (February 20) in the case related to the seizure of about 3000 kg of heroin at Mundra port in Gujarat. The
AAP leader releases audio of Kejriwal
New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) A former AAP legislator on Wednesday released an audio tape in which party chief Arvind Kejriwal was purportedly heard engineering defection in the Congress to form a
The Whole Country Was Welcoming The Health Workers Who Saved Lives from Corona, But Stones Pelted At The Doctors Who Went To Investigate In Indore
Indore. People stoned people on the team of Health Department, which arrived at Tatpatti Bakhal here to investigate the corona infected. Health workers ran away after saving their lives. The