Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2026 today at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Addressing the Conclave, the Prime Minister shared his enthusiasm following a lively interaction with startup founders earlier in the day. He praised the expansive vision and bold determination of the nation’s youth. “The scale at which the youth of India are thinking and the self-confidence with which they are moving forward is encouraging,” remarked Shri Modi.
Recalling his participation in the previous edition of the Conclave, the Prime Minister contrasted past decades,when India merely played catch-up by adopting or modifying foreign innovations years later, with the new mindset of 21st-century India that aims to create original technologies, set global directions, and solve worldwide challenges. Citing how the nation developed indigenous COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate its population and supply other nations, alongside reaching Mars on its maiden attempt and landing on the uncharted lunar South Pole, he outlined a bold technological vision for the country.”India must embrace the technologies of the future, innovate boldly, and lead the world in creating them,” asserted PM Modi.
Highlighting India’s rich heritage of discovery ranging from the invention of Zero and the number system to astronomy, the Prime Minister noted that the country is advancing this scientific legacy with modern technology and renewed confidence, as demonstrated by several milestones over the past year. With the nation set to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha on October 30, he chose to begin his review of recent breakthroughs with the nuclear sector.”Therefore, let us begin with Nuclear Energy,” remarked Shri Modi.
Emphasizing that building a Viksit Bharat requires massive nuclear energy capacity while reliance on imported nuclear fuel poses a challenge to energy security, the Prime Minister pointed out that the nation is rapidly advancing its Fast Breeder Reactor technology. He highlighted that just a few months ago, the indigenous 500-Megawatt Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor successfully achieved First Criticality. “This has been a major step in the direction of strengthening our Long Term Strengths in the field of Nuclear Energy,” noted PM Modi.
Stating that India’s ambition extends beyond domestic energy security and technological self-reliance to expanding its footprint across critical technologies, the Prime Minister highlighted major space sector achievements this year, including an Indian space startup placing a satellite into orbit on its maiden attempt using a Made-in-India rocket and the country mastering satellite docking capability. He added that numerous domestic startups are introducing novel space science solutions alongside growing participation from young scientists and entrepreneurs. “Our goal is also to expand our power in Critical Technologies,” asserted Shri Modi.
Describing the sheer breadth of India’s multi-sectoral achievements as unprecedented, the Prime Minister noted that this year the country hosted the AI Impact Summit, launched its own AI Model, and began shipping India-made semiconductor chips to the world. He also pointed out that the nation is actively building battery storage capacity anchored entirely in domestically available raw materials. “The diverse sectors in which India is achieving successes is unprecedented,” observed PM Modi.
Observing that while sectors ranging from nuclear and space to AI and semiconductors have distinct requirements, they collectively signal India’s rising strength and confidence in emerging technologies, the Prime Minister spotlighted the nation’s unique capacity to deliver ‘Solution at Scale’ so that domestic breakthroughs can solve global challenges. Pointing to the success of the Digital Stack and indigenous 5G technology, he emphasized the ongoing drive to build secure, population-scale platforms. “India is moving forward in the direction of developing such Secure Solutions which can reach people on a large scale,” affirmed Shri Modi.
Contrasting the historical tendency to view science and technology as weapons with India’s philosophy of using them to serve humanity, the Prime Minister stated that true scientific success lies in stepping out of the lab to improve ordinary lives, solve massive problems, and strengthen healthcare, agriculture, education, employment, and disaster resilience. Expressing satisfaction that Indian startups are prioritizing these areas, he cited startups and domestic firms working on wearable EEG technology to understand brain activity, indigenous wireless and satellite communications, specialized nutritional products, new semiconductor technologies, and solutions to utilize industrial waste like steel slag. “The real success of Science occurs when it steps out of the lab and makes the life of the common citizen better,” asserted PM Modi.
Sharing his recent experience at IIT Madras in Chennai, the Prime Minister recalled inaugurating a modern Brain Centre that has created a globally exemplary brain imaging technology platform to develop high-resolution digital 3D images of the human brain and unravel complex neurological diseases. He declared that ‘Science for Society’ and ‘Technology for Transformation’ must serve as the ultimate benchmark for scientific progress.”And India is moving forward by testing itself on this very touchstone,” affirmed Shri Modi.
Underscoring that a nation’s technology creation capability and self-reliance in critical technologies depend on robust research,the spirit behind his slogan Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan, the Prime Minister noted the rapid momentum of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and recalled last year’s pledge at this very forum to provide one lakh crore rupees for Research, Development, and Innovation. He highlighted that over the past year, 12,000 crore rupees committed by the government for market-ready lab technologies has been matched equally by 12,000 crore rupees from private investors. “Meaning, in just one year, a total new Commitment of 24 thousand crore rupees has been made for Research and Development,” noted PM Modi.
Spotlighting the steady expansion of the domestic research ecosystem, the Prime Minister pointed to a dramatic surge in intellectual property creation over the past decade. He noted that annual patent filings have grown from fewer than 50,000 ten years ago to nearly 1.5 lakh last year, reflecting a deeper structural shift beyond mere numbers. “They are a sign of that change in which Research and Innovation are becoming a strong Culture in India,” observed Shri Modi.
Posing a vital question for the second quarter of the 21st century on how scientific judgement will evolve in the age of AI, the Prime Minister noted that leading laboratory scientists and the Nobel Laureates on stage honed their acumen through years of solving small problems, experimenting, learning from failures, questioning established patterns, and spotting overlooked details. Warning that while AI can rapidly execute routine tasks to boost productivity, it must enrich rather than restrict independent thinking, allowing researchers to use saved time for harder problems, new experiments, and idea validation. “AI can give us answers quickly, but the responsibility of testing the veracity of the answer must lie with the scientist alone,” asserted PM Modi.
Urging continuous preparation of scientists and institutions for future-shaping domains through dedicated National Missions, spanning semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnology, advanced materials, robotics, space, clean energy, and next-generation communications, so that new breakthroughs emerge from India, the Prime Minister emphasized that safety and security must be prioritized across AI, synthetic biology, and autonomous systems. Warning of emerging AI-era cybersecurity threats to financial networks and national security, he called for developing AI-based and quantum security solutions that protect national systems and serve humanity. “Our goal is to develop such technologies which empower India and also contribute to solving the problems of humanity,” affirmed Shri Modi.
Calling upon every researcher, industry leader, startup founder, and student at the Conclave to set a concrete three-year target identifying which technology, prototype, pilot project, or product they will help develop, the Prime Minister urged them to drive innovations that build a Viksit Bharat and make India the global hub for solutions. He stressed that the gathering must move beyond mere discussions to deliver tangible results. “This Conclave should not remain limited merely to the exchange of ideas; may it become a platform for Measurable Outcomes,” asserted PM Modi.
Concluding his address by highlighting India’s status as the world’s youngest nation blessed with talent and resolve, the Prime Minister stressed the need to nurture a generation that actively leads rather than merely participates in emerging science and technology. Invoking the collective spirit and conviction of ‘We will do it’, he extended his best wishes for the success of the Conclave.”We have to prepare such a generation which is not merely a participant in Emerging Science and Technology, but leads it,” affirmed Shri Modi.
