The 11th India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025, currently underway in Panchkula, Haryana, is serving as a prominent platform to highlight India's rapidly evolving landscape in science and technology. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, stated that India has entered a decisive phase, transforming from a traditional economy to an innovation-driven nation, actively shaping global trends rather than merely following them.
Speaking at the IISF, Dr. Singh underscored a fundamental shift in India's scientific temperament, policy direction, and governance approach over the last decade. He asserted that India's economic growth is now significantly powered by science, technology, research, and innovation, with the global community increasingly recognizing India as a source of new models for governance and technology-led development. The Minister highlighted India's defining leadership role in emerging areas such as biotechnology, nuclear innovation, regenerative sciences, and next-generation space technologies.
A key announcement at the festival included the launch of a new national R&D fund, described as a transformative step to unlock high-risk, high-impact innovation. This fund is expected to support research and enterprise in sectors previously inaccessible to private players, including space and nuclear energy, providing low-interest, long-duration financial assistance to build long-term capabilities. Dr. Singh also pointed out the dramatic expansion in the space sector, with nearly 400 space start-ups now globally recognized, and India leveraging space technologies for agriculture, healthcare, and disaster management.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, also addressing the IISF, urged scientists to translate their innovations beyond laboratories to benefit society at large, from increasing farmers' crop yields to curing illnesses and empowering entrepreneurs. He inaugurated the Students Science and Technology Village, dubbed the 'New Nalanda' of modern India, emphasizing science as a means of nation-building.
In a significant development for national security, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over seven indigenous technologies to the Indian Armed Forces in December 2025. These technologies, developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, were transferred to the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Army (IA), and Indian Navy (IN). Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni also noted that "Operation Sindoor," a mission showcasing India's technological self-reliance, demonstrates how scientific capability directly strengthens national defence preparedness.
Furthering advancements in space research and education, Delhi University partnered with Russia's Higher School of Economics (HSE) University to launch the Space Mirror Lab. This collaboration aims to promote joint research, innovation, and education in space technologies and astrophysics.
In a move to foster STEM education at the grassroots level, the school education department in Tamil Nadu has established 15 robotics labs on a pilot basis in various districts. These labs will provide students from Classes VI to IX with practical training in basic electronics, robot building, and drone operation, with the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) drafting the syllabus in partnership with Anna University.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal also held crucial meetings with global industry leaders to strengthen India's ties in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, carbon capture, and medtech, aligning with India's vision of becoming a self-reliant and developed nation by 2047.