“Green Economy” Going To Be New Addition To India’s Future Growth: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology has said that “Green Economy” is going to be the new addition to India’s future growth. He said that the Industry stake in StartUps and Research & Development ought to be from the very beginning.

Addressing a conclave, the minister said, “Green Financing with a larger industrial engagement and Industry involvement is required right from the beginning because it is my considered view that otherwise you cannot move forward beyond a certain point.”

“In 2014, India’s bioeconomy stood at just about USD 10 Billion, today it is USD 80 Billion. In just 8/9 years it has gone (up) 8 times and we look forward to having USD 125 Billion by 2025,” he added.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will have huge non-government resources. As a result, the demarcation between the Public and Private sector will be bridged and there will be greater synergy for future growth, he said.

Anusandhan NRF Act was passed by the Parliament in the recent Monsoon session, with a budget of INR 50,000 crore over five years. NRF will promote the culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories and give further impetus to clean energy research in India and Mission Innovation. As much as 70 per cent of its funding will come from non-governmental sources.

He said, one of the greatest revolutions that have been brought in by PM Modi is the National Education Policy (NEP-2020). It will allow students to switch over their stream of higher studies from Engineering to Humanities and vice versa based on their aptitude.

“It is going to have a bearing on every sphere of our life, even our mental wellbeing. As I said, the citizens or the youth will not be living all their lives as ‘prisoners of their aspirations’ which was actually nursed by their parents,” he said.

With a provision of multiple entry/exit option, one of the objectives of NEP-202 is de-linking degree from education. Academic flexibility will have a positive impact on the students related to the availing of different career opportunities at different times, depending upon their intrinsic learning and inherent aptitude.