1. #Opinion: Tuesday 29, April 2025, 10:30. 3918 / 2. ##NEWS UPDATES: PM addresses YUGM Innovation conclave: 29 Apr, 2025. //3.###PM’s speech at YUGM Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi: 29 Apr, 2025. ///

 

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1. #Opinion: Tuesday 29, April 2025, 10:30. 3918 / 
2. ##NEWS UPDATES: PM addresses YUGM Innovation conclave: 29 Apr, 2025.//

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VIDEO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the YUGM Conclave in New Delhi

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COMMENTS:

Our endeavour is to empower the youth with skills that make them self-reliant and position India as a global innovation hub: PM

We are modernizing the country’s education system according to the needs of the 21st century: PM

A new National Education Policy has been introduced in the country, It has been prepared keeping in mind the global standards of education: PM

One Nation, One Subscription has given the youth the confidence that the government understands their needs, today students pursuing higher education have easy access to world class research journals: PM

India’s university campuses are emerging as dynamic centres where Yuvashakti drives breakthrough innovations: PM

The trinity of Talent, Temperament and Technology will transform India’s future: PM

It is crucial that the journey from idea to prototype to product is completed in the shortest time possible: PM

We are working on the vision of Make AI in India, And our aim is- Make AI work for India: PM

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the YUGM Innovation Conclave at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he highlighted the significant gathering of government officials, academia, and science and research professionals, emphasizing the confluence of stakeholders as a “YUGM”—a collaboration aimed at advancing future technologies for a developed India. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the efforts to enhance India’s innovation capacity and its role in deep-tech would gain momentum through this event. He remarked on the inauguration of super hubs at IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay, focusing on AI, intelligent systems, and biosciences, biotechnology, health, and medicine. He also mentioned the launch of the Wadhwani Innovation Network, which reaffirms the commitment to advancing research in collaboration with the National Research Foundation. The Prime Minister congratulated the Wadhwani Foundation, IITs, and all stakeholders involved in these initiatives. He also extended a special appreciation to Shri Romesh Wadhwani for his dedication and active role in fostering positive changes in the country’s education system through collaboration between the private and public sectors.

Quoting the scriptures in Sanskrit meaning true life is lived in service and selflessness, Shri Modi remarked that science and technology should also serve as mediums for service. He expressed his satisfaction  witnessing institutions like the Wadhwani Foundation, and the efforts of Shri Romesh Wadhwani and his team, steering science and technology in the right direction in India. He highlighted Mr. Wadhwani’s remarkable journey, marked by struggles, including the aftermath of partition, displacement from his birthplace, battling polio in childhood, and rising above these challenges to build a massive business empire. Shri Modi commended Shri Wadhwani for dedicating his success to India’s education and research sectors, calling it an exemplary act. He acknowledged the foundation’s contributions to school education, Anganwadi technologies, and Agri-Tech initiatives. He noted his earlier participation in events like the establishment of the Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence and expressed confidence that the foundation would continue achieving numerous milestones in the future and extended his best wishes to the Wadhwani Foundation for their endeavors.

Underlining that the future of any nation depends on its youth and marking the importance of preparing them for the future, the Prime Minister remarked that the education system plays a crucial role in this preparation and underscored efforts to modernize India’s education system to meet 21st-century needs. He highlighted the introduction of the New National Education Policy, designed with global education standards in mind, and noted the significant changes it has brought to the Indian education system. He remarked on the development of the National Curriculum Framework, Learning Teaching Material, and new textbooks for classes one to seven. He highlighted the creation of AI-based and scalable digital education infrastructure platform – ‘One Nation, One Digital Education Infrastructure’ under PM e-Vidya and DIKSHA platforms, enabling the preparation of textbooks in over 30 Indian languages and seven foreign languages. The Prime Minister remarked that the National Credit Framework has made it easier for students to study diverse subjects simultaneously, providing modern education and opening new career paths. He stressed the importance of strengthening India’s research ecosystem to achieve national goals, highlighting the doubling of gross expenditure on R&D from ₹60,000 crore in 2013-14 to over ₹1.25 lakh crore, the establishment of state-of-the-art research parks, and the creation of Research and Development Cells in nearly 6,000 higher education institutions. He remarked on the rapid development of an innovation culture in India, citing the increase in patent filings from around 40,000 in 2014 to over 80,000, reflecting the support provided by the intellectual property ecosystem to the youth. The Prime Minister further highlighted the establishment of the ₹50,000 crore National Research Foundation to promote research culture and the One Nation, One Subscription initiative, which has facilitated access to world-class research journals for higher education students. He emphasised on the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, which ensures that talented individuals face no obstacles in advancing their careers.

Shri Modi highlighted that the youth today excel not only in Research & Development but have become Ready and Disruptive themselves, emphasizing the transformative contributions of India’s young generation to research across various sectors. He cited milestones like the commissioning of the world’s longest hyperloop test track, a 422-meter hyperloop developed at IIT Madras in collaboration with Indian Railways. He remarked on groundbreaking achievements such as nanotechnology developed by scientists at IISc Bangalore to control light at the nano-scale and the ‘brain on a chip’ technology, capable of storing and processing data across 16,000+ conduction states in a molecular film. He further highlighted the development of India’s first indigenous MRI machine just weeks ago. “India’s university campuses are emerging as dynamic centres where Yuvashakti drives breakthrough innovations”, said Shri Modi, showcasing India’s representation in Higher Education Impact Rankings, with over 90 universities listed among 2,000 institutions globally. He noted the growth in QS world rankings, where India moved from having nine institutions in 2014 to 46 in 2025, alongside the increasing representation of Indian institutions among the world’s top 500 higher education institutes over the past decade. He also remarked on Indian institutions establishing campuses abroad, such as IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi, IIT Madras in Tanzania, and upcoming IIM Ahmedabad in Dubai. He underscored that leading global universities are also opening campuses in India, promoting academic exchange, research collaboration, and cross-cultural learning opportunities for Indian students.

“The trinity of Talent, Temperament and Technology will transform India’s future”, stressed the Prime Minister, highlighting initiatives such as Atal Tinkering Labs, with 10,000 labs already operational, and the announcement of 50,000 more in this year’s budget to provide early exposure to children. He noted the launch of the PM Vidya Lakshmi scheme to provide financial support to students and the establishment of internship cells in over 7,000 institutions to transform students’ learning into real-world experience. He remarked that every effort is being made to develop new skills among the youth, whose combined talent, temperament, and technological strength will lead India to the pinnacle of success.

Underscoring the importance of meeting the goal of a developed India within the next 25 years, the Prime Minister said, “it is crucial that the journey from idea to prototype to product is completed in the shortest time possible”. He stressed that reducing the distance from lab to market ensures faster delivery of research outcomes to the people, motivates researchers, and provides tangible incentives for their work. This accelerates the cycle of research, innovation, and value addition. The Prime Minister called for a robust research ecosystem, urging academic institutions, investors, and industry to support and guide researchers. He highlighted the potential role of industry leaders in mentoring youth, providing funding, and collaboratively developing new solutions. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to simplifying regulations and fast-tracking approvals to further these efforts.

Emphasising the need to consistently promote AI, quantum computing, advanced analytics, space tech, health tech, and synthetic biology, Shri Modi highlighted India’s leading position in AI development and adoption. He mentioned the launch of the India-AI Mission to build world-class infrastructure, high-quality datasets, and research facilities. He remarked on the increasing number of AI Centres of Excellence being developed with the support of leading institutions, industries, and startups. He reiterated the commitment to the vision of “Make AI in India” and the goal to “Make AI work for India.” He further noted the budgetary decision to expand IIT seat capacities and introduce Meditech courses, combining medical and technology education, in collaboration with IITs and AIIMS. The Prime Minister urged the timely completion of these initiatives, with a focus on positioning India among the “best in the world” in future technologies. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister remarked that initiatives like YUGM, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Wadhwani Foundation, can revitalize India’s innovation landscape. He expressed gratitude to the Wadhwani Foundation for their continued efforts and highlighted the significant impact of today’s event in furthering these objectives.

Union Ministers Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar were present among others at the event.

Background

YUGM (meaning “confluence” in Sanskrit) is a first-of-its-kind strategic conclave convening leaders from government, academia, industry, and the innovation ecosystem. It will contribute to India’s innovation journey, driven by a collaborative project of around Rs 1,400 crore with joint investment from the Wadhwani Foundation and Government Institutions.

In line with Prime Minister’s vision of a self-reliant and innovation-led India, various key projects will be initiated during the conclave. They include Superhubs at IIT Kanpur (AI & Intelligent Systems) and IIT Bombay (Biosciences, Biotechnology, Health & Medicine); Wadhwani Innovation Network (WIN) Centers at top research institutions to drive research commercialization; and partnership with Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for jointly funding late-stage translation projects and promoting research and innovation.

The conclave will also include High-level Roundtables and Panel Discussions involving government officials, top industry and academic leaders; action-oriented dialogue on enabling fast-track translation of research into impact; a Deep Tech Startup Showcase featuring cutting-edge innovations from across India; and exclusive networking opportunities across sectors to spark collaborations and partnerships.

The Conclave aims to catalyze large-scale private investment in India’s innovation ecosystem; accelerate research-to-commercialization pipelines in frontier tech; strengthen academia-industry-government partnerships; advance national initiatives like ANRF and AICTE Innovation; democratize innovation access across institutions; and foster a national innovation alignment toward Viksit Bharat@2047.

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3.###PM’s speech at YUGM Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi: 29 Apr, 2025. ///

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VIDEO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the YUGM Conclave in New Delhi

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PM’s speech at YUGM Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

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"Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji, Dr. Jitendra Singh ji, Shri Jayant Chaudhary ji, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar ji, my friend Shri Romesh Wadhwani ji and Dr. Ajay Kela ji who are connected through technology, all colleagues from the world of science, technology, and education, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen!"

Today, people from various fields connected with the government, academia, science, and research are present here in large numbers. This unity, this confluence, is what we call YUGM. A YUGM where all stakeholders related to the future tech of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) are gathered and engaged together. I believe that this event will further strengthen the efforts we are making to enhance Bharat’s innovation capacity and its role in deep-tech. Today marks the beginning of super hubs in AI, Intelligent Systems, and Biosciences, Biotechnology, Health & Medicine at IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay. Today also marks the launch of the Wadhwani Innovation Network. A pledge has also been taken to advance research in collaboration with the National Research Foundation. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Wadhwani Foundation, our IITs, and all other stakeholders for this initiative. In particular, I commend my friend Romesh Wadhwani ji. The private and public sectors together have brought many positive changes to the country’s education system due to your dedication and proactive efforts.

Friends,

Our scriptures say: ‘परं परोपकारार्थं यो जीवति स जीवति’, which means—he who lives for the service and welfare of others, truly lives. That is why we consider science and technology as a medium of service as well. When I see institutions like the Wadhwani Foundation in our country, when I witness the efforts of Romesh ji and his team, I feel joy and pride that we are advancing science and technology in the right direction in Bharat. We all know that Romesh ji has shaped his life through immense struggle and dedicated it to service. Just a few days after his birth, he had to face the horrors of Partition, was forced to leave his birthplace, contracted polio in early childhood, and from those difficult circumstances, he went on to build a vast business empire. This in itself is an extraordinary and inspiring life journey. And to dedicate such success to the education and research sector of Bharat, to the youth of Bharat, and to the bright future of Bharat—this is truly a motivating example. The Wadhwani Foundation is also doing significant work in school education, technology in Anganwadi services, and agri-tech. I have previously joined you all on the occasion of the establishment of the Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence. I am confident that in the times to come, the Wadhwani Foundation will continue to achieve many such milestones. My best wishes are with your organization and your initiatives.

Friends,

The future of any country depends on its youth. Therefore, it is essential that we prepare our youth for their future and for building a brighter future for Bharat. The country’s education system plays a major role in this. That is why we are modernizing the country’s education system to meet the needs of the 21st century. A new National Education Policy has been introduced in the country, developed with a focus on global standards in education. Since the launch of the new education policy, we are witnessing significant changes in the Indian education system. The National Curriculum Framework, learning-teaching materials, and new textbooks for classes 1 to 7 have already been prepared. Under PM e-Vidya and the DIKSHA platform, a ‘One Nation, One Digital Education Infrastructure’ has been created. This infrastructure is AI-based and scalable. It is being used to prepare textbooks in over 30 Indian languages and 7 foreign languages. Through the National Credit Framework, it has become easier for students to study multiple subjects simultaneously. This means that students in Bharat are now getting access to modern education, and new career pathways are opening up for them. To maintain momentum toward Bharat’s developmental goals, it is necessary to strengthen the country’s research ecosystem. In the last decade, significant progress has been made in this direction, and necessary resources have been enhanced. In 2013–14, the gross expenditure on R&D was only 60,000 crore rupees. We have more than doubled it to over 1.25 lakh crore rupees. Several state-of-the-art research parks have been established across the country. Research and Development Cells have been set up in about 6,000 higher education institutions. Because of these efforts, a culture of innovation is growing rapidly in the country. In 2014, around 40,000 patents were filed in Bharat. That number has now increased to over 80,000. This shows how much support the country’s youth are getting from our intellectual property ecosystem. To further promote research culture, the National Research Foundation has been established with a budget of 50,000 crore rupees. The ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative has reassured young people that the government understands their needs. This scheme has made access to world-class research journals easier for students pursuing higher education. The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship has been introduced to ensure that talented individuals face no barriers in advancing their careers.

Friends,

As a result of these efforts, today’s youth are not just excelling in R&D— in fact, they have become R&D. And when I say they are R&D, I mean Ready and Disruptive! Bharat is setting new milestones in research across various sectors. Last year, Bharat commissioned the world’s longest Hyperloop test track. This 422-meter Hyperloop was developed at IIT Madras in collaboration with Indian Railways. Scientists at IISc Bangalore have developed a technology that can control light at the nanoscale. At the same institute, researchers have also developed ‘Brain on a Chip’ technology—capable of storing and processing data across more than 16,000 conduction states within a single molecular film! Just a few weeks ago, the country also developed its first indigenous MRI machine. These are just a few of the many path-breaking R&D achievements taking place in our universities. This is the youth power of a ‘Viksit Bharat’—Ready, Disruptive, and Transformative!

Friends,

University campuses in Bharat are becoming new dynamic centres of innovation—where the power of youth is driving breakthrough discoveries. Recently, in the Higher Education Impact Rankings, Bharat had the highest global representation, with over 90 universities ranked among 2,000 institutions from 125 countries. In 2014, Bharat had only 9 institutes and universities in the QS World Rankings. In 2025, that number has increased to 46. The number of Indian institutions ranked among the world’s top 500 higher education institutions has also seen a sharp rise in the last 10 years. Now, Indian institutions are opening campuses abroad—like IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi and IIT Madras in Tanzania. Preparations are underway to open an IIM Ahmedabad campus in Dubai. And it’s not just that our top institutions are going global; top global institutions are also coming to Bharat. The process of opening campuses of some of the world’s top universities in Bharat has already begun. This will boost academic exchange, foster collaboration in research, and give our students valuable exposure to cross-cultural learning.

Friends,

The trinity of Talent, Temperament, and Technology will transform Bharat’s future. To support this, we are providing children with the necessary exposure from an early age. Just now, our colleague Dharmendra ji elaborated on initiatives like Atal Tinkering Labs. So far, 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established across the country. In this year’s Budget, the government has announced the opening of 50,000 more Atal Tinkering Labs. The PM Vidya Lakshmi Yojana has also been launched to provide financial support to students. We have also established internship cells in over 7,000 institutions so that students can convert their learning into hands-on experience. Every possible effort is being made to help youth develop new skills. This strength of our youth — their talent, temperament, and technology — will lead Bharat to the pinnacle of success.

Friends,

We have set a 25-year timeline to achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Time is limited, and the goals are ambitious. I’m not saying this due to the current situation alone—but because of this, it’s crucial that the journey from idea to prototype to product happens in the shortest possible time. When we reduce the distance from lab to market, the results of research reach people faster. This also motivates researchers, as they see the direct impact and rewards of their work. It fuels the cycle of research, innovation, and value addition even further. To make this happen, it is essential that our entire research ecosystem—academic institutions, investors, and industry—stand by our researchers and guide them. Industry leaders can go a step further by mentoring youth, arranging funding, and co-developing new solutions. That is why the government is also accelerating efforts to simplify regulations and fast-track approvals.

Friends,

We must continuously promote AI, quantum computing, advanced analytics, space-tech, health-tech, and synthetic biology. Today, we are seeing Bharat emerge as one of the leading countries in AI development and adoption. To support this growth, the government has launched the India-AI Mission, which will help create world-class infrastructure, high-quality datasets, and cutting-edge research facilities. The number of AI Centres of Excellence in the country is also being increased. These Centres of Excellence are being propelled by collaboration among Bharat’s premier institutions, industries, and start-ups. We are working with the vision of “Make AI in India”, and our goal is to “Make AI work for India.” In this year’s Budget, we have decided to increase the number of seats and capacity in IITs. Several Meditech—that is, medical plus technology—courses have been introduced with the collaboration of IITs and AIIMS. We must complete this journey within time. In every future technology, Bharat must feature among the best in the world. Through initiatives like YUGM, we can bring new energy to these efforts. With this joint initiative by the Ministry of Education and the Wadhwani Foundation, we have the potential to transform the innovation landscape of the country. Today’s event will be a great help in furthering that mission. Once again, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Wadhwani Foundation for the YUGM initiative. I extend my best wishes to my friend Romesh ji.

Thank you very much.

Namaskar!

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JAI HIND
JAI BHARATHAM
VANDHE MADHARAM
BHARAT MATHA KI JAI.

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