By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 28 Feb: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today participated in a special programme organised by UCOST at Vigyan Dham here. On this occasion he also paid tribute to Nobel Laureate and eminent scientist Dr CV Raman. The programme was organised to celebrate National Science Day.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM claimed that the Sanatan Indian culture embodies a unique confluence of knowledge, science, and spirituality,. He added that the principles discovered by sages thousands of years ago now being scientifically validated.
The CM noted that Dehradun is emerging as the country’s fifth Science City, which is an achievement for a hill state like Uttarakhand. He added that this initiative will establish the state as a global hub for science, technology, and innovation. Dhami also claimed that the government is leveraging technology to enhance transparency and efficiency in governance while fostering world-class infrastructure through Science and Innovation Centres, Labs on Wheels, GSI Dashboard, Digital Library, Patent Information Centres, and STEM Labs across all districts. Additionally, efforts are underway to promote advancements in robotics, drones, semiconductors, and pre-incubation labs.
Dhami asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has set new benchmarks in science and technology over the past decade. The contributions of great scholars like Aryabhatta, Acharya Kanad, Acharya Nagarjuna, and Maharishi Sushruta had laid the foundation of scientific discoveries that continue to influence modern science. Today, India is advancing in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Cloud Computing, solidifying its role in the global technological revolution and progressing toward self-reliance.
The CM sated that India’s scientific prowess is evident in its achievements, from developing COVID-19 vaccines to unveiling cosmic mysteries. The historic success of Chandrayaan-3 made India the first country to land on the Moon’s south pole, while the Aditya-L1 mission marked a significant step in solar exploration. The upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send humans into space, will add another golden chapter to India’s scientific legacy.
Dhami reminded the audience that the state government is also promoting e-governance by digitizing essential services such as birth and death certificates, caste and residence certificates, and pension documents via the e-district portal. Smart agricultural techniques, including drone technology and sensor-based farming, are being encouraged to boost agricultural productivity. Through the e-tourism portal, tourists can now access online bookings and detailed information about Uttarakhand’s attractions. Additionally, a newly launched dashboard will aid Chardham Yatra pilgrims in planning their journey with weather updates and travel guidance. Data analytics and satellite imagery are being utilised to research climate change in the Himalayan region.
He also shared that in a move to democratise scientific knowledge, Uttarakhand will be launching its first community science radio station through UCOST, ensuring science-related information reaches remote areas with limited internet access. Earlier, he also inspected the ongoing Science City project and visited the Science Museum.
Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries, Director General, UCOST, Prof Durgesh Pant, underscored the significance of National Science Day and presented an overview of UCOST’s ongoing initiatives in science, technology, and innovation.
Sahaspur MLA Sahdev Singh Pundir, commended UCOST’s dedicated efforts in fostering a scientific temperament and assured full support for the Science City project, including additional land allocation.
Nitesh Jha, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, mentioned the technological advancements being implemented under the leadership of CM Dhami and announced an upcoming initiative, ‘Labs on Wheels’, aimed at introducing students from all 95 development blocks of Uttarakhand to state-of-the-art laboratory technologies.
