"Working towards exploring new deposits of natural gas, coal and petroleum in the country is a challenge before scientists," Naik said while addressing founders' day function at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany here.
Exhorting the scientists of the country, Naik asked them to do research work for the development of common people.
Naik said former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had given the slogan of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' and another former prime minister AB Vajpayee at the time of Pokharan N-test had attached 'Jai Vigyan' to it and started a new chapter in the progress of the country.
"It is a matter of pride that Birbal Sahni was an expert in science while Nehru was a master of political science... both had made historical contribution (in the respective fields) as they had vast vision," he said.
Besides launching several publications of the institute, Naik also felicitated scientists and staff with medals.