DSTIndia

#Shillong: North Eastern Region has witnessed an unprecedented expansion of scientific infrastructure during the last decade, correcting decades of neglect despite the region's strategic importance and unique geographical challenges. For example, before 2014, the entire North East had only two weather radars, including just one in Meghalaya, despite its Cherrapunji town recording the world's highest rainfall. Today, the region has 13 weather radars. Likewise, the number of seismological observatories has increased from 84 before 2014 to 171 at present, while specialised lightning detection stations, which did not exist earlier in the region, have now been established in Meghalaya and Tripura. Not only this, adequate care has been taken for mainstreaming of the North-Eastern Region by exposing the youth and students to the avenues of #StartUp available elsewhere in the country. For instance, "North East Centre for Technology Application & Research" NECTAR's STEM Education initiative promotes experiential learning through robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and innovation-based activities among school students and has, so far, set up STEM laboratories across five North Eastern States in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, benefiting over 25,000 students, particularly in remote and interior areas.

Inaugurated the Geo-Informatics Laboratory at the North East Centre for Technology Application & Reach #NECTAR #Shillong, #Meghalaya and visited the Vasundhara Laboratory and STEM Laboratory along with Director General Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma and senior officers. Interacted with #StartUps, Self Help Groups and students. Appreciated NECTAR's efforts in advancing geospatial research, promoting innovation and nurturing scientific temper among the youngsters including school children, through technology-driven learning.

Walked through the "Mobile Food Processing Unit" and interacted with beneficiary farmers at the ‘North East Centre for Technology Application & Reach” #NECTAR #Shillong, #Meghalaya, along with Director General, NECTAR, Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma and others. The innovative initiative is empowering farmers through value addition, improved processing, and technology-driven interventions for a variety of organic fruit and vegetable based food recipes, with market potential.

We are pleased to invite you to the next session of the IGSTC Research & Innovation Dialogue Series, featuring Prof. Dr. Basant Kumar Thakur, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. 31 July 2026 | 2:30 PM IST Register: lnkd.in/gJgdkA_w @IndiaDST @bmftr_bund @unidue

Arrived at “North East Centre for Technology Application & Reach” #NECTAR #Shillong, a premier institute mandated to extend technology outreach to all the North Eastern States. Thanks for the warm welcome by the Director General, NECTAR, Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma, Heads of S&T Institutions and senior faculty members.

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी द्वारा आरंभ किए गए #एक_पेड़_माँ_के_नाम अभियान के अंतर्गत आज #NECTOR #Shillong में अपनी माताजी के नाम से पौधारोपण करने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ एवं सभी से इस अभियान में शामिल होने की अपील की।

सीएसआईआर-सीएमईआरआई, दुर्गापुर द्वारा डीएसटी—सीड प्रभाग के समर्थन से साल वृक्ष के बीजों से साल बटर निकालने की नई तकनीक का विकास किया है। इस तकनीक के माध्यम से आदिवासी समुदाय और अनुसूचित जनजाति समुदाय की आय में वृद्धि हुई है। #TechForSociety @DrJitendraSingh @waghmare16 @DrAnitaAgg13 @CSIR_CMERI @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi

On the sidelines of #Shillong Conference, an impressive Exhibition put up by local artisans and craftsmen, promising attractive avenues of self-livelihood and market prospects. CM Meghalaya Sh Sh Conrad K. Sangma (@SangmaConrad) generously explained the details of each display. #DARPG

My Inaugural Address at the 2-day “National Conference on Governance” at #Shillong, #Meghalaya. Key Takeaways: “After over a decade of path-breaking administrative reforms and the removal of nearly 2,000 obsolete rules, India now enters the next phase of governance transformation through ‘Next Generation Administrative and e-Governance Reforms’. Future reforms would need to integrate Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and citizen-centric service platforms to build an agile, technology-driven governance ecosystem capable of meeting the aspirations of common citizens. Technology evolution is happening at a very fast speed and therefore, the pace of technology driven reform would also require to speed up, in the true spirit of what PM Sh @narendramodi describes as “Reform Express”. With the Modi Government’s special focus on Northeast, it is important to mention that the Department of Administrative Reforms, Govt of India, has proposed ‘State Collaboration Initiatives’ and is ready to offer all assistance to the Govt of Meghalaya and other North Eastern State Governments to develop modern infrastructure with digital governance and long-term administrative planning”. #DARPG

Congratulations to the young achievers of the International Physics Olympiad #IPhO2026 for making the nation proud! India shines at the 56th #IPhO2026 in Colombia with a stellar performance— all five Indian students won Gold Medals, placing India at the top of the global medal tally along with 5 other countries. This remarkable achievement reflects the strength of India’s scientific talent and the sustained efforts of mentors, institutions and the Olympiad ecosystem supported by @IndiaDST, @DAEIndia and @EduMinOfIndia. @PMOIndia @DrJitendraSingh @waghmare16 @HBCSE_TIFR @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi

India successfully hosted the 8th #BRICS Working Group Meeting on Research Infrastructure and Mega-Science Projects (RIMP) on July 8 & 9, 2026 in partnership with SATHI Foundation, IIT Delhi. Representatives from #BRICS countries deliberated on strengthening cooperation in research infrastructure, enhancing access to major scientific facilities, and advancing the #BRICS Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network (BRICS-GRAIN). The meeting focused on promoting transnational access to research facilities, fostering collaborative mega-science projects, and exploring partnerships in emerging areas such as synchrotron, cyclotron and accelerator based research including nuclear medicine, nuclear physics, quantum technologies, advanced materials, AI-enabled research infrastructure, astronomy, and clean energy. The discussions reinforced the collective commitment of BRICS nations to build a more connected, inclusive, and innovation-driven scientific ecosystem. @DrJitendraSingh @waghmare16 @BricsIndia2026 @sathi_iitdelhi @Pratishtha_DST @Arindam_DST @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi

Truly humbled by the affectionate felicitation by Chief Minister #Meghalaya and my dear friend Sh Conrad K. Sangma (@SangmaConrad). Each time I meet him, I am reminded of his revered father, Late Sh P.A. Sangma, former Speaker Lok Sabha, who was always very kind and generous to me.

Arrived State Convention Centre #Shillong for the "National Conference on NextGen Administrative & e-Gov Reforms". Along with Chief Minister of #Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K. Sangma (@SangmaConrad). Thanks for the warm welcome by Chief Secretary Meghalaya Sh Shakil Ahmed, Secretary, DARPG, #DoPPW & #DoNER, Smt. Nivedita Shukla Verma, Additional Secretary, DARPG, Shri Puneet Yadav, senior officers from State and Central government, and other dignitaries. #DARPG

#OneNationOneSubscription Pooja, Research Scholar, @RRI_Bangalore - @IndiaDST, shares how #ONOS is a valuable investment in India's research and education ecosystem—reducing financial barriers for students through single-platform access to scientific literature and enabling institutions to channel resources towards strengthening research infrastructure. Watch now👇 @DrJitendraSingh @dpradhanbjp @waghmare16 @PrinSciAdvGoI @PrinSciAdvOff @EduMinOfIndia @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi @mygovindia @PIB_India

An outstanding performance by our youngsters! Congratulations to the Indian contingent of Kanishk Jain, Riddhesh Anant Bendale, Rishit Garg, Shresth Suraiya and Svarit Joshi for winning Gold Medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 held in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Their feat reflects yet another example of the limitless potential of our Yuva Shakti and their passion towards science and research. Equally commendable is the fact that in the last decade, our students have performed exceptionally well in the various editions of this platform.

#OneDayOneResearch Researchers from the @BSIP_official - @IndiaDST, used advanced radiocarbon dating to establish that the famous Munger Banyan tree in Bihar is around 700 years old, making it the oldest accurately dated banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) known so far. The study developed an innovative age-determination approach for tropical broadleaf trees, combining AMS radiocarbon dating with advanced calibration techniques. dst.gov.in/oldest-accurat… @DrJitendraSingh @waghmare16 @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi

#TOI - New model maps near-Earth space better, could aid sat operations, navigation on Earth @DrJitendraSingh @waghmare16 @IigDst @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru…

Chaired the monthly Joint Review Meeting of the Secretaries of all Science Ministries and Departments. Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof Ajay Kumar Sood was also present. Took feedback on the Action Taken Report as follow up of the last such joint meeting. Reiterated regular interaction among Ministries and Departments, knowledge sharing, joint initiatives and coordinated implementation, with "whole of government" approach to help accelerate innovation, improve governance and ensure that scientific achievements directly benefit the citizens.  The major focus of the meeting this time was the forthcoming nationwide coastal cleanliness campaign 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' , scheduled to be organised across the country's coastline from 10 to 19 September 2026. Discussed the outreach strategy and preparations for the nationwide initiative, which seeks to combine environmental conservation with public awareness and community participation. The campaign is expected to bring together scientific institutions, government agencies, volunteers, celebrities, educational institutions and local communities in one of the country's largest coastal cleanliness drives. Emphasised wider adoption of the SARAL_AI platform, increasing participation of researchers across institutions and expanding public access to information on research projects through digital platforms as well as regular dissemination of success stories through digital means.

My Address at the 2-day Hybrid mode Conference on the theme "Implementation of National Education Policy 2020 in Jammu & Kashmir: Challenges of Inclusion, Equity and Accessibility", organised by Govt Degree College #Doda. Key Takeaways: "National Education Policy (NEP) 2020" has democratized aptitude-based learning and created a level playing field for students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns such as Doda to compete with their counterparts in metropolitan cities. Must congratulate Government Degree College, Doda, particularly Principal Dr. Javed Iqbal and his team, for organizing a timely academic deliberation on one of the most significant educational reforms undertaken in the history of independent India. The erstwhile Doda district carries a rich legacy of higher learning and academics that has served generations of students across the region. I myself hailing from district Doda, vividly recall the times when students from far-flung areas travelled long distances to Doda and Bhaderwah to pursue higher education because educational institutions were scarce.   NEP 2020 has broken the rigidity of conventional education by allowing students to pursue subjects based on aptitude rather than compulsion, while shifting the focus of higher education from degrees to skills, innovation and entrepreneurship. A degree is no longer a trophy, and employment no longer means only a government job. #Bhaderwah and Doda have disproved the notion that entrepreneurship is restricted to Information Technology or metropolitan regions. Beginning from a small patch of land in Bhaderwah, lavender cultivation has expanded across Doda district, neighbouring areas, Kashmir Valley and several other Himalayan states, creating new livelihood opportunities and strengthening the rural economy. Government Degree College, Doda can be encouraged to develop a distinct institutional identity by promoting entrepreneurship in areas where the region enjoys natural advantages by establishing incubation support for Himalayan products, aroma-based enterprises and allied sectors in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and #CSIR's Aroma Mission".