Take science beyond labs for people’s gain: Haryana CM to scientists

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today urged scientists to take science beyond the walls of laboratories and ensure that its benefits reach the common man. He stressed upon the need for all scientists, research institutions, industry partners, the start-up community and young innovators to work together to create a science-based development model that provides a better quality of life to every citizen, gives India global leadership and ensures a sustainable and environmentally responsible future for the planet.

Speaking at the India International Science Festival here, the Chief Minister that science is not just a career but a medium for nation-building that brings true prosperity only when knowledge helps a farmer increase crop yield, when research cures a patient’s illness and when innovation empowers an entrepreneur.

Saini said that Haryana, despite being an agrarian state, is rapidly emerging as a centre of science, education and innovation. The government is prioritising STEM education, AI and robotics, start-up development, cybersecurity, agri-tech, biotech and space technology in its policies.

Stating that their goal is to make Haryana a leading state in the country not only in industrial development but also in science-based development, he said that cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula and Hisar are becoming major IT and R&D hubs in the country.

Gurugram has already established itself as a leading centre for IT, AI, and cyber technology.

High-tech research and innovation centres have been set up in Faridabad and Panchkula, while cities such as Karnal, Hisar and Rohtak are emerging as important hubs for agricultural technology and climate services.

Recently, the Mahabharata-based Anubhav Kendra developed in Jyotisar, Kurukshetra, has opened a new chapter in science tourism.

He further said that universities and technical institutions in Haryana are conducting cutting-edge research in drones, biotechnology, machine learning, robotics, environmental science and space studies. Farmers in Haryana are also increasingly adopting sensor-based irrigation and practising climate-smart agriculture.

To foster students’ interest in science, a Science Talent Search Scholarship Scheme is being implemented in schools, under which 1,500 science students in classes 11 and 12 receive a scholarship of Rs 1,000 per month. Undergraduate students receive Rs 4,000 per month, while postgraduate students receive Rs 6,000 per month. A separate scheme has been introduced to honour students who win medals or participate in science Olympiads.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Students’ Science and Technology Village at the event, describing it as the “New Nalanda” of modern India. The festival, he said, is a confluence of science, innovation, start-up energy, future technologies and the aspirations of a new India.