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Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2026. (ET Now Digital)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is no longer content with merely adopting technologies developed elsewhere and is now focused on creating innovations that can address global challenges, as he spoke at a conclave on emerging science and technology.
Speaking at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2026, Modi said he was encouraged by the ambition and confidence displayed by India's startup founders and young innovators. "I have had conversations with some startup founders. The scale at which India’s youth are thinking, and the self-confidence with which they are moving forward, is truly inspiring. I attended this conclave previously as well. This time, our discussion focuses on the theme of 'emerging science and technology," he said.
Discussing India's technological journey, the prime minister said the country's approach to science and innovation has undergone a significant shift over the decades. "Decades ago, for India, science and technology essentially meant catching up. When an innovation emerged elsewhere in the world, it would take years to reach us; we would then either adopt it or make minor improvements to it," Modi said.
He said 21st-century India is now driven by a new mindset and greater self-belief, with the aim of leading technological development rather than following global trends. "But today, 21st-century India is moving forward with a new mindset and a renewed sense of self-confidence. Our goal now is to create new technologies, define their trajectory, and develop the capacity to provide solutions to global challenges," he said.
Citing India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic as an example of this transformation, Modi said the country demonstrated its scientific capabilities by developing vaccines, conducting one of the world's largest inoculation drives and supplying vaccines to other nations. "We witnessed an example of this during the COVID-19 pandemic: while many nations across the globe faced significant challenges regarding vaccine availability, India developed its own vaccine, carried out a massive vaccination drive, and even supplied vaccines to other countries. This is the self-confidence of 21st-century India," he said.
The prime minister said the confidence shown by India's youth and startup ecosystem reflects the country's growing capabilities in emerging areas of science and technology.
Sohil Sehran is a journalist with over 12 years of experience covering politics, national affairs and security. He has reported extensively from Jammu and Kashmir and covered elections across several states, bringing on-ground experience to his reporting on some of India’s most consequential political and national stories. Over the course of his career, Sohil has worked across print, broadcast and digital journalism, with stints at Times Now, Brut India and Hindustan Times, among other news organisations. His work has taken him from the field to the newsroom, covering politics, public policy, security and the stories shaping India.
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