Migration of scientific manpower has been checked to a "great extent" with increase in the capacity of laboratories and upgradation of research institutes, Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan today said, underlining that science is back on track in the country.
Claiming that India was entering into the new field of research, Vardhan said, "We are the leading country in research in climate change and global warming."
"Migration of scientific manpower has been checked to a great extent with increase in the capacity of laboratories and upgradation of research institutes," Vardhan told reporters while addressing them in the National Video-link Press Conference held in New Delhi.
Stating that India's challenges are many and solutions complex, he said ambitious plans have been made in new areas and the need of the hour is to move ahead and scale up.
"We have moved from policy paralysis and worked with our brilliant scientific community to connect with our people and what India needs," the Minister said.
Asserting that "science is back on track", he listed key initiatives taken by his ministry in the fields of scientific weather forecasting, formulation of new vaccines, biotechnology, energy research and eco-system for innovation.
Stating that a reliable and accurate forecasting system plays a vital role in the prevention and mitigation of natural hazards, the minister said, "Our weather forecasting involves high-speed computing and mathematical modelling. We have become world-leaders in this area."
"Our Tsunami warning system is constantly being tested and will have the maximum possible warning period should there be another strike. Our fisher-folk are now better connected through an SMS warning system," he said.
The Indian Tsunami Warning System, established at the Indian Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, has been recognised by the UNESCO as the Regional Tsunami Service Provider for the Indian Ocean region.
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Noting that science and technology has positively impacted the lives of farmers, the minister said over 1.1 crore farmers were receiving crop specific agro-meteorological advisories in their respective languages under the Grameen Krishi Mausam Sewa.
Wheat, rice, sugarcane and cotton cultivators have been major beneficiaries of this service, he said, adding that the Grameen Krishi Mausam Sewa is being provided through 130 Agro-Met zones comprising clusters of 4-6 districts.
He said drought and salt tolerant varieties of rice and high nutrient grains have been introduced, which would soon be scaled up for mass production.
On the health sector, he said three vaccines were introduced for immunisation and rotavirus vaccine.
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe vomiting and diarrhoea among infants and young children.
"We have streamlined our regulatory system with the Health Ministry and this opens up huge innovation and entrepreneurship in the health sector. New entities and biotech innovations have been put in the pipeline," he noted.
The minister said the Centre will promote and encourage the innovation and start-up eco-system in the country through the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovation (NIDHI) which supports 200 student start-ups or innovative ideas to undertake viable business plans and ventures.
In a bid to attract young talents to take up science as career, Vardhan said, "We have revised fellowships for research scholars and will have a committee now to examine this regularly. Our programmes to attract the best to India and keep the best in India have been very successful".
Vardhan also said that there are new programmes in collaboration with the departments and ministries Space, Defence and Atomic Energy.
