New Delhi: Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the ‘Viksit Bharat Initiative for Student Innovation and Outreach Network’ (VISION). The initiative aims to nurture education, skill development, and innovation among underprivileged children. Lauding the initiative, he emphasized its role in democratizing access to India’s growing startup ecosystem.
On the occasion, Dr. Singh highlighted India’s rise as the third-largest startup hub globally, growing from 400 startups in 2014 to over 1.67 lakh today, crediting policy reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He underscored success stories in lavender farming and biotechnology, where startups have spurred economic growth and innovation. He also stressed technology’s potential to bridge rural-urban divides, with initiatives like VISION empowering students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Dr. Singh also cited the success achieved by students from remote areas without access to libraries or coaching centers. According to him, technology and initiatives like VISION can play a pivotal role in bridging gaps between urban and rural India. Additionally, he also praised the flexibility offered by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which allows students to combine diverse subjects and pursue unconventional career paths.
The Minister also praised the Bio-E3 policy, which focuses on the bio-economy to drive sustainable development, and noted biotechnology startups’ exponential growth from 50 in 2014 to 9,000 today.
Dr. Singh positioned VISION as pivotal to realizing Vision India 2047, strengthening the nation’s leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship. He called for enhanced public-private partnerships to foster sustainable innovation.
