New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday asked senior Ministers Kapil Sibal and Prithviraj Chavan to develop a road map for the management of science, education and technology in the country.
Releasing a vision document on `India as a global leader in science` prepared by his Scientific Advisory Committee, Singh said there was a need to strengthen the administrative set-up to maintain the growth momentum.
He asked Sibal and Chavan to develop a road map for the management of science, education and technology in collaboration with the Scientific Advisory Council to the
Prime Minister.
The vision document envisages India becoming a major scientific player in about 20 years, provided it ushers in the right kind of structural and administrative reforms,
and creates a favourable environment for carrying out innovative work. It noted that all the requirements for such a thing to happen indeed seem to be within the reach, especially with the improving economic situation.
"We need to provide adequate support for basic science as well as science required for solving man`s pressing problems. A high percentage of the Indian population is very young unlike in the rest of the world and we have to fully make use of the bright young talent as well as the institutions that we have created. This will require major educational reforms as well," the document said.
"By minimizing bureaucracy and promoting creativity and quality, there is every likelihood that India can be one of the very best performers in science in about 20 years,
sharing such a position with the most advanced countries of on Saturday. If such a thing happens, this will further contribute to economic and industrial development in a major way," it said.
Singh hoped the ideas in the vision document will inspire the scientific community and all concerned to help build an inclusive, economically and socially vibrant, creative and an enterprising India, and to pursue excellence in science and technology for global good.
PTI
