{"id":71924,"date":"2025-11-04T11:27:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T05:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=71924"},"modified":"2025-11-04T11:30:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T06:00:24","slug":"estic-2025-building-a-future-ready-india-through-research-innovation-and-inclusivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/estic-2025-building-a-future-ready-india-through-research-innovation-and-inclusivity\/","title":{"rendered":"ESTIC 2025 &#8211; Building a Future-Ready India through Research, Innovation and Inclusivity"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>ESTIC 2025 Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the Indian PM addressed the <\/span><b>Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It aims to <\/span><b>shape India\u2019s science, technology, and innovation (STI) landscape<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to align with the nation\u2019s goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The event <\/span><b>replaces the Indian Science Congress<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the oldest congregation of scientists in India (which had gone into oblivion, with its last session held in 2023), <\/span><b>marking a significant milestone in India\u2019s R&amp;D journey.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Key Highlights of the Prime Minister\u2019s Address<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Inspiration and national pride:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Congratulated India\u2019s women\u2019s cricket team <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on winning the ICC Women\u2019s World Cup 2025, calling it an inspiration for millions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Celebrated the successful launch<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of India\u2019s heaviest communication satellite (GSAT-7R\/CMS-03), reflecting India\u2019s growing technological prowess.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>21st century as the age of innovation:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Described the century as one of \u201c<\/span><b>exponential transformation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d, emphasizing the need for global collaboration in emerging technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highlighted that the idea of ESTIC emerged from the need for international cooperation in STI.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Strengthening India\u2019s Research and Innovation Framework<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Research funding and institutional reforms:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Set up to boost research in universities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>\u20b91 Lakh Crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To promote a private sector\u2013driven R&amp;D ecosystem, enabling funding for high-risk, high-impact projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Focus on ease of doing research<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Reforms in financial rules, procurement policies, and regulatory frameworks to accelerate lab-to-market transition.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Indicators of India\u2019s R&amp;D growth:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s R&amp;D expenditure has <\/span><b>doubled <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the last decade, and the number of registered patents has increased <\/span><b>17 times<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>India now ranks as the world\u2019s 3rd largest startup ecosystem<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with over 6,000 deep-tech startups working in clean energy, advanced materials, and semiconductors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>India\u2019s bio-economy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> grew from $10 billion (2014) to $140 billion (2025).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Focus on Emerging and Sunrise Sectors<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Key domains of progress:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is advancing in <\/span><b>green hydrogen, quantum computing,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> deep-sea research, and critical minerals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emphasis on <\/span><b>inclusive technological transformation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014\u201cWhen science is scaled, innovation becomes inclusive, and technology drives transformation.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Digital public infrastructure (DPI):<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Optical fibre connectivity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to over 2 lakh gram panchayats; widespread access to mobile data and digital services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>DPI as the backbone<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for India\u2019s large-scale policy implementation success.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Empowering Women in Science<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>In the field of patent filing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, fewer than 100 patents were filed annually by women in India a decade ago, whereas today the number exceeds 5,000 per year.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women now constitute approximately <\/span><b>43% of STEM education enrolments in India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, surpassing the global average.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women\u2019s participation in space missions and scientific leadership cited as evidence of inclusivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Nurturing Scientific Temper<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>ATLs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Establishment of 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), engaging over 1 crore students; plan to expand to 25,000 labs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>PM\u2019s Research Fellowship<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 10,000 new fellowships to be offered in the next five years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>NEP 2020:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Enabled STEM education in local languages for wider access.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>New institutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Creation of hundreds of new universities, including 7 IITs and 16 IIITs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>AI for All &#8211; Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Technology<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launch of the<\/span><b> India AI Mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with \u20b910,000 crore investment for democratizing AI.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India leading efforts toward a <\/span><b>global framework for ethical and human-centric AI<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Announcement of the <\/span><b>Global AI Summit 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be hosted by India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Future Vision &#8211; Key Focus Areas Proposed by PM<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s scientists should generate ideas to &#8211;<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Move from <\/span><b>food security to nutrition security<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create biofortified crops to address malnutrition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop low-cost fertilizers, bio-fertilisers and soil health enhancers as sustainable alternatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better map India\u2019s genomic biodiversity for personalised medicine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arrive at new and cheap innovation in clean battery storage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Achieve Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in critical inputs and technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Way Forward &#8211; Toward a Developed India through STI<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Foster collaboration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> among government, academia, industry, and startups.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promote <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ethical, inclusive, and sustainable innovation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encourage <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">young scientific talent and enhance global partnerships in frontier technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the link between research, application, and social impact.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ESTIC 2025 conclave underscores <\/span><b>India\u2019s determination to lead the global discourse <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on ethical and inclusive science and innovation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By <\/span><b>linking research with societal progress<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and empowering women and youth, India is moving from being a consumer of technology to a creator and exporter of innovation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The call of \u201c<\/span><b>Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d embodies India\u2019s vision of a knowledge-driven, self-reliant, and technologically empowered nation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/agriculture\/use-science-for-improving-agriculture-pm-modi-says-at-estic\/article70237526.ece#:~:text=In%20his%20inaugural%20address%20at,biofortified%20crops%20to%20address%20malnutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>TH<\/b><\/a><b> |\u00a0<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2185694\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>PIB<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Indian PM addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":71928,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[3541,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-71924","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-estic-2025","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}