I&B Minister commits more funding for Research and Innovation

NEW DELHI | Sept 05, 2020:

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said that the government will give more funding for research and innovation as per the commitment contained in the New Education Policy (NEP).

Speaking at the Centenary Celebration of Parle Tilak Vidyalaya in Mumbai to express gratitude to the teachers on the occasion of Teacher's Day via video conference, he said, research funding will grow in leaps and bounds as the Modi Government is committed to improving and increasing the research fund.

He, however, lamented that India spends less than one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product on research, whereas other countries spend around three per cent of GDP on research and innovation.

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Javadekar said the NEP emphasizes foundational and technical literacy. The NEP will reduce curriculum, but will improve the ability to comprehend and analyze, he said, adding that scientific temperament is the base of this policy.

Stating that education is empowerment, I&B minister said, with NEP's emphasis on research and innovation it will pave the way for the emergence of new scientists. He added that NEP will give a boost to the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign.

The Minister also said, teachers, will have to be more abreast with the subject they teach, as students have become more ingenious with the help of more and more mobile applications bolstering them to ask tough questions.