Excelsior Correspondent
LUCKNOW, Sept 15: Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today addressed the 2-day StartUp Conclave organised by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of India.
In addition, Dr. Jitendra Singh today inaugurated India’s first Swastik-shaped “Lotus Garden” at Lucknow.
The newly developed Swastik Lotus Garden, spread across 930 sq. m, is the first of its kind in the country. It houses 60 varieties of lotus sourced from across the world and 50 taxa of water lily, with conservation ensured through advanced genetic methods, light exposure regulation, and scientific treatments. Among its highlights is the NBRI-Namoh 108, the world’s first 108-petal lotus developed at Lucknow.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the garden would act as a hub for biodiversity conservation and entrepreneurship, while also emerging as a new tourism destination.
“This is not only a unique conservation effort, it is also a platform for creating new opportunities in floriculture, wellness, and agri-based industries,” Dr. Jitendra Singh remarked. He added that the facility symbolises the Government’s vision of linking science with livelihoods.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing the conclave, lauded CSIR’s initiatives in Uttar Pradesh and assured full support from the State Government. He said that with its large pool of institutions and skilled manpower, the state was well positioned to play a leading role in India’s science and StartUp journey.
Dr. Jitendra Singh explained that the decision to host the Startup Conclave in Lucknow was part of the Government’s effort to decentralise science and innovation events. “We have consciously taken national-level programmes out of Delhi to cities like Jammu, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, and now Lucknow. This ensures science reaches aspirational towns where potential is immense,” he said.
The Minister highlighted that nearly 50 percent of India’s StartUps now come from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Referring to Startup India launched in 2015, he said, “From just 350 StartUps, India today has over 2 lakh, nearly 60 percent of them led by women. This marks a transformation in how we view employment and entrepreneurship.”
Pointing to the achievements of CSIR institutions in Lucknow, Dr. Jitendra Singh cited the development of the Namoh 108 lotus, pest-resistant cotton, and innovative work in floriculture under the Floriculture Mission, which offers new livelihood options to farmers and entrepreneurs. He also recalled the city’s contribution to pharmaceutical research, with 13 new drug candidates developed locally, including for cancer and fatty liver disease.
The Minister also underlined the Government’s long-term initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, including the establishment of the first National Quantum Mission centre in Noida, revival of Central Electronics Limited into a profit-making entity, and plans for a new biotechnology industrial park and a science museum in Lucknow.
On the role of youth, Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed that a PhD degree was not necessary to become an entrepreneur. “Many of our successful startups are founded by young people who may not have advanced degrees but had the skill and focus. The ecosystem created by Prime Minister Modi ensures training, funding, and mentoring for anyone with talent,” he said.
He called for stronger industry-research linkages, noting that every new experiment should be connected with industry from day one. “The youth we nurture today will carry India’s flag high in 2047, when we celebrate 100 years of independence. That is the vision of Viksit Bharat,” he said.
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