Innovation is the key to realizing the dream of a new India”, the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi resonated with the masses. The vision is to encourage the younger generation to develop technological wonders and stimulate rational and analytical thinking. To enable this, the Government has implemented numerous Schemes and programs all aimed at encouraging and even rewarding creativity and innovations to strengthen the scientific turf of modern India.
As per United Nations Population Fund, India presently has its largest ever adolescent (ages 10-19) and youth (ages 15-24) population so far and projects that it will continue to do so till the year 2030. This offers the country an unprecedented opportunity to leverage this demographic benefit to make waves during ‘Amrit Kaal’— the next 25 years up to the 100th year of Independence.
This young population is also benefitting from the indigenous progress that India has made in various scientific and technological avenues. More and more children in India can now dream of becoming astronauts, thanks to the continuous notable advancement being made by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Such goals were out of reach for our youth till even a decade ago.
Key schemes and programmes
MANAK is a program under DST that aims to generate one million innovative ideas relating to science for instilling a creative thinking culture among students (Classes 6 to 10). The objective is to provide innovative science and technology ideas a chance for development, especially those under themes such as Digital India, Swachh Bharat, and Make in India.
PRISM Scheme provides grants, technical guidance, and mentoring to individual innovators and perpetuates their ideas, thus creating new enterprises.
The ACROSS Scheme is an initiative by the Ministry of Earth Sciences concerning atmosphere science-related projects and covers several other aspects of weather and climate services. The eight sub-schemes under ACROSS may potentially generate many new ideas and future employment.
YUVIKA, also known as the Young Scientist Programme, aims to educate youngsters with a fundamental understanding of space science and technology.
Atal Tinkering Laboratories are set up in identified schools across India with the goal of cultivating one million children as neoteric inventors. The idea is to encourage curiosity, creativity, and imagination in the youth. ATL Labs provide practical learning and application of science and technology and an opportunity for entrepreneurial and computational thinking.
SHARP is an ICMR initiative that facilitates advanced training for promising health research professionals. SHARP emerges as a research opportunity for medical graduates, encouraging them to explore and innovate advancements. The scheme also provides exposure to the latest scientific developments to scientists across the nation. BARC provides orientation and training programs for Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) employees and students.
In recent years, several schemes by different councils and departments of the nation have been providing youngsters with a means to explore their scientific temper, along with generating employment opportunities, upscaling skills, and making them learn about innovations in science and technology.
Young India aspires to become self-reliant and technologically driven, and such initiatives and schemes are laying the foundation for a stronger nation. Science and technology are the way forward and India’s youth is presented with a chance to be the torchbearer in the journey of becoming a tech-savvy and scientifically advanced nation marching strongly forward and strengthening pathways for Rising India.
