Union minister of state Jitendra Singh on Saturday inaugurated the seventh edition of India International Science festival (IISF- 2021) at Panaji, Goa and said that advances in Science and Technology will propel India as a frontline country in the world. There is a need for celebrating Science Festival in every city and village of India to inspire the youth in critical thinking, he said.
The theme for the four-day IISF 2021 is ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – "Celebrating Creativity, Science, Technology and Innovation for a prosperous India," said the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.
Singh said the Science Festival aims to bring into use the innovations by the people and develop technology that is affordable to the masses. It is to celebrate science along with people in India and across the globe. India is celebrating the 75th year of its Independence and it is time to lay down the road map of scientific progress for the next 25 years, when India celebrates the Centenary of Independence, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the series of India International Science Festival (IISF) is an integral part of India’s long-term vision in developing and widening the spectrum of scientific temper for sustainable development and new technological innovations in India. He said, it also aims to build a strategy for rural India through the advancement of Science and Technology.
The minister informed that IISF will provide a platform to young students, scientists and technocrats from across India for exchange of knowledge and ideas and also supporting flagship programmes like ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’, Swasth Bharat Abhiyan ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Smart Villages’, ‘Smart Cities’ ‘Namami Gange’, ‘Unnath Bharat Abhiyan’ initiated by the Prime Minister in the last seven years.
Dr Jitendra Singh exhorted the youth to join the “Vigyan Utsav” and take the lead through Innovative Start-ups to make India a 5 Trillion Dollar Economy by 2024-25.
Some of the main events at the inaugural function are Science Village, Traditional Crafts and Artisan Meet, Games and Toys, Global Indian Scientists and Technocrats Fest, ECO-FEST, New Age Technology and Mega Science and Technology Expo.
India International Science festival (IISF) is a joint programme of Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) a swadeshi movement of Bharat. The first IISF was held in 2015 and the sixth edition of this annual event was organised in year 2020.
Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik, Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M. Ravichandran, President VijnanaBharati, Dr Vijay Bhatkar and senior scientists and officials joined today’s Inaugural Function, a PIB release stated.
