“Today, Indians are living in cyberspace, working on the cloud, and talking to artificial intelligence,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remarked as he inaugurated Vigyan Vaibhav 2025 at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Gachibowli on Friday (February 28, 2025).
The event, held as part of National Science Day, saw a massive turnout of school and college students eager to witness India’s latest advancements in science and technology.
Addressing the gathering alongside Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the Defence Minister highlighted India’s transformation from a technology-scarce nation at the time of Independence to a global leader in scientific innovation.
“Modern progress cannot be thought of without the health-science-society interface. When we launch a satellite, our weather forecasting improves, our farmers benefit, and our communication networks strengthen,” Mr. Singh said. He credited scientific advancements like the Green Revolution for driving India’s economic growth and emphasised the government’s commitment to utilising technology for national progress.
Mr. Singh also pointed to India’s leadership in digital transactions, citing 171 billion UPI transactions worth ₹2.45 lakh crore in 2024 alone. He stressed the need for further innovation in AI, Quantum Computing, and cyber warfare capabilities, stating that future conflicts would increasingly shift from hardware-based warfare to software-driven strategies.
Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he underscored its role in fostering critical thinking and strengthening India’s scientific mindset. “NEP has endeavoured to change our education system. It is the joint responsibility of the Centre and the states to ensure that our children receive the best education,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy lauded Telangana’s contributions to India’s defence sector, highlighting the role of organisations like BDL, BEL, MIDHANI, and DRDO in the state. He urged the Defence Minister to declare Hyderabad and Bengaluru as a Defence Corridor, positioning Telangana as a hub for young engineers and defence research.
“Every year, 1.1 lakh engineers graduate from Telangana, many of whom move to the USA for higher studies or jobs. We want to make Telangana a place where our engineers stay and contribute to the nation,” he stated.
The stadium, packed with 18,000 attendees, also hosted a major defence and aeronautical technology exhibition featuring 200 stalls showcasing DRDO’s latest innovations.
The exhibition, jointly organized by the DRDO, Aeronautical Society of India, and Kalam Institute of Youth Excellence (KIYE), will remain open to the public on March 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Published - February 28, 2025 04:10 pm IST
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