🚀 Science
India is now creating technologies, not catching up, says PM at science conclave
In 60 seconds: Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on Tuesday, saying India is no longer catching up but creating new technologies. He said patent filings have risen from under 50,000 a year a decade ago to nearly 1.5 lakh last year, and urged researchers to set three-year targets for real products.
Why it matters
Home-grown technology means fewer imports, better jobs and solutions built for Indian needs, from energy to healthcare.
Explain it simply
For years the chai stall copied recipes from big cafés. Now it invents its own masala blend that others want to copy. That shift is what the PM described.
The 3-minute read
What happened
The three-day conclave runs from 27 to 29 October across 12 themes, including AI, biotechnology, advanced materials, healthcare, energy and climate, with about 150 deep-tech start-up stalls.
Background
The PM cited the indigenous 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor reaching first criticality, satellite docking, and progress in AI, semiconductors and batteries. He referred to the ₹1 lakh crore research fund and said ₹12,000 crore committed to market-ready lab technologies was matched by private investors.
How it works
He said AI can speed up routine research, but scientists must verify AI answers instead of accepting them blindly. He also called for more attention to safety in AI, synthetic biology and autonomous systems.
What's next
He asked researchers, start-ups and industry to set clear three-year targets for prototypes, pilots and products, so ESTIC becomes a platform for measurable results.
What it means for you
Students in science and engineering will find more research jobs and start-up chances as funding grows.
Key numbers
- ~1.5 lakh: Patent filings last year
- <50,000: Patent filings a decade ago
- 12: Themes at ESTIC 2026
- 500 MW: Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
Both sides
- Government: India is moving from adopting technology to creating it.
- Science policy experts: Targets matter, but India must keep raising its overall research spending.
Key terms explained
- Patent
- A legal right that protects an invention from being copied.
- Conclave
- A large meeting of experts to discuss ideas and plans.
The story so far
- 2025: ₹1 lakh crore RDI fund launched at the first ESTIC. At ESTIC 2025, the Prime Minister launched a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund to draw private investment into research.
- Today: PM opens ESTIC 2026
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- ESTIC stands for Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave; 2026 is its second edition.
- The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, is part of stage two of India's three-stage nuclear programme.
- A patent gives an inventor exclusive rights to an invention for a limited period, usually 20 years.
- Bharat Mandapam is a convention centre at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Likely exam question: What is the significance of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in India's three-stage nuclear programme?