Overview
On National Technology Day 2026, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the inaugural session of Vigyan TECH 2026 at BRIC‑NII. He underscored that independent India’s major share of technological transformation has occurred in the last ten years, driven by decisive policy reforms, strong political support, greater research freedom and active private‑sector participation.
Key Developments
- India’s startup ecosystem expanded from ~350‑400 startups in 2014 to **over 2 lakh** in 2026, making it the world’s **third‑largest**.
- India’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index improved from **80 to 38**.
- India now ranks **sixth globally in patents**, with **>1 lakh patents** filed, **55 %** by Indian residents.
- Launch of flagship programmes: National Quantum Mission, AI Mission, Anusandhan National Research Foundation, WISE‑KIRAN and NIDHI.
- Fourteen ministries and departments, including DST, CSIR, ICMR and NITI Aayog, convened on a single platform for the first time, showcasing the compendium “TECH‑संग्रह”.
- Minister urged the scientific community to heed the Prime Minister’s seven‑point appeal, especially avoiding unnecessary foreign travel.
Important Facts
• The exhibition theme was “Building India’s Innovation Ecosystem for Viksit Bharat”.
• The event featured the rele