JAMMU: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today delivered a compelling address at the NITI Aayog "Regional Consultative Committee" meeting on "Ease of Doing Research and Development", at IIT Jammu on Monday.

The event witnessed the participation of faculty, NITI Aayog representatives, eminent scientists, academicians, and institutional leaders.

Reflecting on the genesis of IIT Jammu, Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled a conversation from over a decade ago with the late Arun Jaitley, then Finance Minister, which ultimately led to the sanctioning of the IIT for Jammu in the Union Budget. He noted that setting up the institution from scratch was a Herculean task, but expressed pride that it is now thriving under dynamic leadership and advancing in academic excellence.

The Minister emphasized that making research and development more accessible and effective is not the job of a single ministry or institution. "This is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders-including academia, policymakers, industry, and society at large," he stated, adding that institutional reforms must be matched by cultural and systemic shifts.

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the Modi Government's unwavering commitment to advancing science and research, noting that a series of transformative reforms have helped unshackle India's innovation potential. Over 1600 obsolete rules have been scrapped to streamline governance and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. The General Financial Rules (GFRs) have been relaxed, enabling faster procurement and greater flexibility for researchers.

In a historic move, Dr Jitendra Singh noted, the government has also opened up the nuclear sector to private participation-an unprecedented step reflecting deep trust in India's domestic scientific capabilities. Furthermore, the creation of the ₹1 lakh crore National Research Foundation (NRF-Anusandhan) marks a significant push to encourage private sector investment in R&D, thereby strengthening the country's overall research ecosystem.

The Minister noted that this transformative initiative is further bolstered by recent reforms that empower Vice Chancellors to approve global tenders up to ₹200 crore, significantly simplifying and expediting the procurement of advanced research equipment and infrastructure. Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that such bold measures will accelerate scientific progress and help position India as a global leader in research and innovation.

Dr. Jitendra Singh proudly noted that 56% of India's patent filings now come from Indian residents, showcasing the country's growing self-reliance and innovation capacity.

The Minister further emphasized India's rapidly rising global stature in science, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He pointed out that India's rank in the Global Innovation Index has significantly improved-from 81 to 39-demonstrating the country's focused efforts in research, innovation, and technology. India now ranks fourth globally in scientific publication output, highlighting the increasing academic and research contributions from Indian institutions.

Additionally, he noted the country's remarkable startup boom, with the number of startups growing from just 350 to nearly 1.75 lakh in the last decade, reflecting a robust and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

"Our space missions like Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan have made India a global science and technology leader," he added, citing the success of experiments aboard these missions, including Shubhashu, which are setting world benchmarks in life sciences and biotechnology.

Citing the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a landmark reform, Dr. Singh said it has freed students from becoming "prisoners of their parents' choices." The policy now offers flexibility and interdisciplinary pathways, laying the foundation for more meaningful and purposeful careers.

Highlighting Jammu's emerging educational ecosystem, Dr. Singh noted the rare proximity of IIT, IIM, AIIMS, IIIM, and Mass Communication institutions in the region. He called for early industry linkage from the outset of academic projects for sustainable StartUps to foster relevance and innovation.

"Early industry involvement is the secret behind our vaccine success story," he said, referring to partnerships with Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute in India's rapid development of COVID-19 and HPV vaccines.

The event was also attended by Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu, and Prof. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog.