Imphal : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the 105th Indian Science Congress at Manipur University in Imphal.
PM Modi said that, scientific and social responsibility is the need of the hour.
Themed ‘Reaching the Unreached Through Science and Technology’ in the Science Congress, PM Modi said that, we have to throw upon our nation, institutions and laboratories to our childrens.
He urged the people to encourage scientific temper among the youth and said that every scientist must dedicate 100 hours every year with 100 students
of Class XI and XII and to discuss various aspects of science and technology.
“India faces several socio-economic challenges which affect a large section of our population. We need science to make India clean, green and prosperous. India has a rich tradition and a long history of both discovery and use of science and technology. It is time to reclaim our rightful place among the front-line nations in this field. I call upon the scientific community to extend its research from the labs to the land. We have approved a Prime Minister’s Research Fellows scheme. Under this project, the bright minds from the best of universities will be offered direct admission for PhD programme in institutes like IIT. It will help promote indigenous research. We have to be ready in implementing technologies vital for the growth and prosperity of the nation. Technology will allow far greater penetration of services such as education, healthcare, and banking to our citizens,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi further said that, the Union government intends to bring 5G penetration in India by 2020.
On the topic of Fuel and Energy, PM Modi said that, the government has set a target of 100 GW of installed solar power by 2022.
“Efficiency of solar modules currently available in the market is around 17%-18%. Can our scientists take a challenge to come up with a more efficient solar module, which can be produced in India at the same cost,” Modi said.
The Science Congress will take place till March 20 and around 5000 delegates comprising scientists, scholars, corporate officials had took part in the event.
Earlier, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla and Chief Minister N Biren Singh had welcomed PM Modi at Imphal airport while he arrived.
In his day-long visit to Manipur, Modi is also scheduled to lay down the foundation stones of different projects at Luwangpokpa Multi Sports Complex at Luwangshangbam and Mary Koms Boxing Academy in Imphal West district.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
