THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI
Prof. Avinash Chandra Pandey Ji, (President Indraprastha Vigyan Bharati)
Prof. Balaram Pani ji (Dean of Colleges, University of Delhi)
Dr. Jitendra Kumar Ji, (MD, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council(BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology, Government of India)
Praveen Ji, (National Joint-Organizing Secretary, Vijnana Bharati)
Prof. Yogesh Singh Ji, (Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi.)
Dr Vikas Gupta, (Registrar, University of Delhi)
Dr. Virendra Paul Ji
Distinguished scientists, academicians, researchers and students
National Technology Day, is not only a time, to celebrate our scientific achievements, but also an opportunity, to reflect on how technology, can help, solve the real challenges, faced by society. In a rapidly urbanising India, this becomes especially important, for our cities.
As Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, has emphasized, the twenty-first century, belongs to societies, driven by innovation, — societies that successfully combine, technology, sustainability, and self-reliance. The vision of Atma nirbhar Bharat, is not limited to, manufacturing alone. It is also about, intellectual confidence, strong research ecosystems, and the ability to create solutions, suited to India’s unique needs and challenges.
Delhi today, reflects both the opportunities, and the complexities of modern urbanisation. Challenges related to public health, mobility, sustainability, waste management, and governance, can no longer be solved, in isolation. They require technology-driven, civic solutions supported by, scientific research, and long-term planning.
Nations that invest, in scientific research, technology innovation, and intellectual confidence, are the ones, that shape the future. India today stands, at such a crucial moment, where the partnership, between science, technology, innovation, and governance will define, the direction of our growth, in the decades to come.
Scientific progress, must move beyond labs, to strengthen institutions, create opportunities, and improve lives.
One of the most important areas, where technology can transform governance, is public health. Recent experiences, have shown, that cities need strong early-warning systems, that can identify health risks, before they turn into crises. Delhi has the institutional strength, to become a leader, in this field.
Technologies such as, AI-driven forecasting models, can help, create advanced disease surveillance systems, for illness like Dengue and Malaria. Regular sampling, PCR testing, and AI based analysis, can help build, predictable public health systems, instead of, purely reactive ones.
Institutions such as AIIMS, IIT Delhi and National Institute of Immunology, have the scientific expertise, to contribute in this area. The key challenge, is to effectively connect, scientific capability, with governance, and public service delivery.
Technology, must also play a major role, in eco logical restoration, and environmental sustainability. Urban sustainability is no longer optional; it is essential, for the quality of life, and long-term resilience, of our cities.
The Yamuna River remains, one of Delhi’s most important ecological, and civilisational lifelines. Restoring it will require, policy commitment, institutional coordination, and scientific intervention.
Similarly, waste-management systems, at a decentralized level, can improve urban sanitation. Waste segregation at source, local composting, and community-level, organic waste processing, can reduce pressure on landfills, while supporting urban greenery, and sustainable city ecosystems.
Delhi’s future will also depend on, how effectively, technology transforms mobility, and urban infrastructure. Modern cities, cannot function efficiently, without integrated public transport, and intelligent traffic management systems.
Unified mobility, like common transit cards, real-time GPS-based transit system, AI-assisted traffic management, and multimodal transport, can greatly improve the commuter experience, while reducing congestion and pollution. Strengthening last-mile connectivity, and transit-oriented development, is equally important.
At the same time, climate resilience, must become central, to urban planning. Urban heat islands, pollution, water stress, and extreme weather events, are increasingly shaping the future of cities, across the world.
Scientific institutions, and urban planners, must work together, to promote climate, – smart processes, expand green infrastructure, and strengthen eco logical buffers.
All this requires governance reforms, and stronger institutional coordination. The future demands, integrated governance systems, where technology, planning, transport, environment management, and civic services, work together, in coordination, rather than in isolation.
India’s scientific tradition, is much older than, modern institutions. From maths and astronomy, to medicine, our civilisation has always viewed knowledge, not only as information, but as a means, for social progress, and ethical responsibility. The challenge before modern India, is not only to advance technology, but to do so, while remaining rooted, in intellectual confidence, and society purpose.
In this regard, organisations such as Vigyan Bharati, can serve as an important bridge, between labs, academia, governance institutions, and society.
For the students and young researchers, present here today, this is a period, of extraordinary opportunity. Your generation will shape, how India advances in AI, biotechnology, clean energy, climate adaptation, and innovation.
Big achievements, ultimately require patience, discipline, and integrity. Many of history’s greatest breakthroughs, came, not from immediate success, but from persistence, curiosity, and the courage, to question accepted ideas.
As India moves, towards becoming a leading global power, science and technology, will remain central, to that journey. Our true strength lies in, combining innovation, with responsibility, modernity with sustainability, and human values. That balance, will define the future, of India’s scientific rise.
Thank you.
Jai Hind