The making of a new India, the Viksit Bharat of our dream is no longer debatable. The impressive growth of Indian economy and the rate at which the infrastructure push is being provided for the Viksit Bharat all goes to demonstrate a steely resolve of the Government of India to create robust contours of economic growth for the nation’s economy in the coming years.
Along with physical infrastructure of expressways, bridges, high-tech buildings and the increasing thrust on urbanisation of Indian habitat alongside with a major push to semiconductor technology, defence science and defence technology, world class manufacturing and green energy technologies is going to cause massive surge to already booming Indian economy.
Surely science and technology education and research shall play a highly important role in deciding the futuristic trends of development and shall have a profound impact on the contours of development of the economy.
Impressive Growth of Science Education and Research
It is worth recalling that of the 43.3 million students currently enrolled in over 1043 universities and 50,000 plus colleges in India, an estimated 5.72 million students were enrolled in 2021-22, at UG, PG and PhD levels in Science Stream, with female students (2.98 million ) outnumbering male students (2.74 million). The Government funded Universities constituting 58.6% of the total Universities in India , contribute 73.7% of total enrolment while Private Universities account for 26.3% . As such a much greater investment in science education and for scaling up the quality and quantum of scientific research in government funded Universities would be required in the coming years to empower talented youth of India who look towards cost effective quality science education and scientific research in public funded universities, that include the central and the state universities and also the institutions of national importance such as the IITs, IIITs and IISERs.
It is also heartening to note that there has been a significant growth of the IITs, from 7 in 2014 to 23 in 2024 and likewise from 7 AIIMS for medical education and research in 2013 to 23 AIIMS, a phenomenal growth in public sector during the last ten years. This gives clear signals of the government firm resolve to spend more on world class technical education and scientific research for which the IITs have a proven track record of accomplishments.
Likewise, world class medical education and research in AIIMs shall continue to empower India in the field of medicines and healthcare.
Aligning scientific research to National Development Goals a Must
It would however, be imperative for the IITs and other leading universities in public and private sectors to align their scientific research to national goals as also to address the global challenges. We are in great times as the Aatmanirbhar Bharat is providing positive impetus for great advancements in hitech areas like Semiconductor technologies, defence technologies and also new and renewable energy technologies besides AI applications in abundance in manufacturing as well as service sectors.
Investment in science education and scientific research in research intensive institutions like the IITs need to be carefully planned to address the immediate and future challenges facing a nation like India that aspires to leap frog, even pole vault in its developmental goals and acheive great economic growth along with ensuring it’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Redefine Meaning and Purpose of Science Education and Scientific Research:
The time is right for redefining the meaning and purpose of science education and research. We need to ask what science for society and science for national development means in the age of rapidly rising concerns for human development environmental health and economic prosperity. In this context it would also be important to realise that like technology science has its all pervading influence on the quality of life as well as wellbeing of people and of course, on the environmental health that decides the future of the planet.
Accelerated Economics Prosperity demands Compliance to SDGs
The new age of technology intensive and innovation driven industry and service sectors demand science education and research for achieving great goals of economic prosperity without sacrificing the interest of man and that of Mother Nature.
It would therefore be absolutely necessary to delink science from mere career aspirations or for that reason, achieving scientific breakthroughs for increased productivity and increased production to a caring pursuit and an inbuilt concern for the quality of life of the people and reduced dependence on fresh natural resources for production systems to save the enormous exploitation of limited natural resources that the planet has for human consumption.
This calls for creating a legitimate place in science education and scientific research for sustainability and sustainability sciences and technology innovations supportive of sustainable development.
Productive Engagement of Youth Must for fostering Increased Opportunities of Employment
As we move deeper into the 21st Century on the strength of increased automation and smart and intelligent manufacturing the service applications, it would be important to keep the productive engagement of people in mind to ensure that the intuitive and creative capabilities of people, in abundance in populous countries like India are given a focussed attention by the policy planners and those responsible to charting the contours of economic growth for a nation of 1.45 billion plus people the India.
The opportunity in this respect for creating productive employment is truly great, given the creative and innovative potential of young India. As we prepare to move mountains to take the near 4 trillion dollars GDP of India in 2024 to over 30 trillion dollars economy of Viksit Bharat @2047, the opportunity to harness the scientific creative and innovative talent of young India is truly great and must not be undermined now that the 21st Century is being increasingly identified as India’s century!
Pursuit of Pathbreaking Scientific Research be mandated in IITs and Other reputed universities in India
The scientific research in the new era of mind boggling technology innovations demand a sustained investment in path breaking scientific research and for creating interdisciplinary research clusters and international research coharts that would enable Indian scientists to devote their efforts for
achieving major breakthroughs in areas that matter most for economic prosperity, environmental health, and inclusive growth of the nation together. It is a complex challenge, but it’s not impossible. Here’s how these goals can work together:
Innovation for a Green Economy,Transition to Clean Technology
Investing in research and development of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency solutions, and sustainable materials can create new industries and new green jobs, while reducing environmental impact. Whole lot new rural enterprises based on pathbreaking green energy research in areas like solar energy harvesting, green hydrogen and low wind speed turbine based wind energy farms. But here also our scientists need to develop pathbreaking science that shall enable a solar plant to operate at 98% efficiency as against 16-18% as at present. Likewise, producing liquid hydrogen at room temperature as against the current technologies for liquid hydrogen at -254 degrees Celsius! The time to engage scientists in India in such miraculous and future sciences is now and India, the Bharat can not afford to miss the opportunity now that we have takena resolve for Viksit Bharat @2047. The National Research Foundation of Bharat should take such calls for supporting pathbreaking research now that Bharat is called upon to take leadership role in scientific research and technology innovations.
Making Circular Economy a big Business
Transitioning to a circular economy where materials are reused and recycled minimizes waste and resource depletion, fostering long-term economic stability. But to make a big business sense for the circular economy, we need major breakthroughs in design and development of new smart and intelligent materials, new age systems of design and manufacturing are needed that shall make a big sense of ‘design for life’ like humans and natural plants are designed through ‘molecular manufacturing’. It is then biodegradation shall become a rule for one and all and circular economy through recycle , reuse and remanufacturing shall become a revolution.
New Regulations and Incentives
Environmental Regulations: Setting clear regulations on pollution and resource use encourages businesses to adopt cleaner practices, leading to a healthier environment and potentially lower long-term healthcare costs. In India we need to revisit our Water Act of 1974, Air Act of 1981, last amended in 1987 and Hazardous Waste Act of 1986. We also need a new and effective e-waste Act for India to prepare India to take the monumental challenge of e-waste management. All these acts are to be redrafted in line with the current and future requirements of regulating air and water quality for a happy and healthy habitat for a populous nation like Bharat.
Green Incentives
Providing tax breaks or subsidies for businesses that develop or use eco-friendly technologies can accelerate their adoption and make them more competitive. We need to now on realise that investment in green incentives is for securing a green future and thus incentives to usher a new Green Revolution 4.0, this time beyond agriculture shall prepare Bharat to move forward along the Green Highways of sustainable development.
Empowering People
Education and Training: Investing in education and training programs focused on clean technologies and sustainable practices equips the workforce for the green economy and fosters innovation. Together, green technologies, green insentivesand peoplepropell Green businesses and create green and bright future for the people and the planet.
Social Safety Nets
Providing social safety nets like unemployment benefits or training programs during the transition to a green economy can ease the burden on workers and ensure inclusive growth.
Examples of Success
Many countries in Europe have successfully grown their economies on green highways of growth by reducing emissions through policies, incentives and innovations.
California’s cap-and-trade program has shown how environmental regulations can incentivize clean technologies and economic growth. European Union has decided to ban production of petrol and diesel cars from 2035. Singapore had demonstrated great capabilities of wastewater treatment. Here in Bharat too the phenomenal success of Swachh Bharat 2.0 in city waste management in the most efficient way has demonstrated that Swachh Bharat mission has created a great people’s movement. Further, the wastewater treatment plants at Kanpur and at Varanasi in UP under Namami Gange have demonstrated great capabilities of water technologies for cleaning our rivers and water bodies. These success stories need to be multiplied nationwide and with the pathbreaking scientific solutions, now that nanoscience and technology are opening up new horizons for clean water, clean air and clean energy technologies.
Challenges Remain ,Balancing Costs and Benefits
Transitioning to a sustainable economy requires upfront investment, and striking a balance between environmental protection and economic competitiveness. Pathbreaking scientific research and mind-boggling technology innovations can make it possible.
Global Cooperation: Effective solutions require international collaboration, as environmental challenges like climate change are global in scope. Coharts of scientists cutting across national boundaries need to be facilitated by policies and collaborative programs and these need to be supported to acheive big global goals of growth with sustainability.
Overall, achieving all three goals requires a major shift in mindset and a firm commitment and resolve to move along the strategic plans drawn by the innovative and enterprising minds and patronised by top leadership. By focusing on innovation, smart regulations, and empowering people, we can build a future where economic prosperity and environmental health go hand-in-hand, and everyone benefits from a rapidly growing economy, that India, the Bharat currently is.
Investment in science education and scientific research for nation’s development would necessitate much higher priorities now on as India prepares for Viksit Bharat @2047.
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*The author Prof PB Sharma is the founder Vice Chancellor of DTU and past President of AIU currently Vice Chancellor of Amity University Gurugram
