STATE TIMES NEWS NEW DELHI: Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday called for searching, mentoring and sustaining Innovation StartUps and emphasised on creating a StartUp ecosystem based on Science and Technology. The Minister was speaking after announcing the winners of CSIR organised National Level Scientific Creativity Competition “CSIR Jigyasa Vigyan Mahotsav 2022” to celebrate India’s 75 years of Independence as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Dr Jitendra Singh urged the CSIR Jigyasa team to continue to mentor the students so that they will lay strong foundations for the Roadmap 2047 and help India solve the various challenges and make it a global leader. He said, it is critical to engage the future generation of scientists and technologists and highlight the science, technology & innovation from every part of our country. Dr Jitendra Singh expressed satisfaction that CSIR Jigyasa Vigyan Mahotsav 2022, launched on 3rd January 2022, had reached out to more than 20,000 students through Bootcamps across the country. He said, 7 Bootcamps with futuristic themes in areas like Energy, Health, Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Water Conservation, Disaster Mitigation and Agro-technology were organised where in science experts could communicate to students some of the contemporary issues that are facing us and which need greater awareness and S&T based solutions. Dr Jitendra Singh informed that this week starting from 22nd February 2022 to February 28th is being celebrated as the Iconic week of Science and Technology ministry under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav. All the science departments are actively engaged in this. Jigyasa Vigyan Mahostav is also a part of this celebration. Dr Jitendra Singh gave away the Grand Prize of Rs One Lakh each to three students Mohammed Hisam, Shruti Nimbali and Sanchi Bansal for the CSIR’s National Level Scientific Creativity Competition conducted in Hindi and English Medium. 75 winners from all the country were chosen for the awards as part of celebration of India’s 75 years of Independence. The children have been evaluated rigorously for their creativity; innovative ideas; story telling ability; message conveyed; overall aesthetics; out of box thinking; usability or applicability in case of apps/ videos/ animations. Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Director General, CSIR said that CSIR labs have executed this event and developed strong partnership and engagement with IIT Bombay, My Gov, Kendriya Vidyalays, Navodaya Vidyalays and Atal Innovation Mission, MHRD and others.
