1. The Vice President on Science Education and Innovation

• The Vice President of India called for inculcating scientific temper and nurturing the spirit of inquisitiveness among the children from a young age.
• He was addressing the 27th edition of the National Children’s Science Congress (30 December, 2019) in Thiruvananthapuram. It is a flagship programme of National council for Science and Technology Communication, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• He further stated that science education would motivate children to seek truth without any bias and prejudice.
• It would also make children to rely on analysis, questioning and reasoning without any bias and prejudice.
• National Children’s Science Congress : It is the flagship programme of National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science.

Theme:  “Science Technology and Innovation for a Clean, Green and Healthy Nation”   

Important points made by the Vice-President

• Vice-President highlighted the contributions made by different scientists who evolved the tradition of science and technology in India including the works of former president of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam such as “Ignited Minds”.
• He said that India had been a lighthouse of knowledge for centuries. Our Ayurveda system of medicine can be traced back to 5000 BC.
• Indus Valley Civilization had irrigation and sewerage systems as far back as 2500 BC. By 200 BC, South India was making high quality wrought iron and, the invention of zero and contribution to astronomy was well known.
• Aryabhatta’s ‘Aryabhattiyam’ is considered a seminal work, equally pioneering work is Panchasidhhantika of Varahamihir.
• Charaka and Sushruta are known as Fathers of Surgery.  Rishi Kanad first spoke of “anu” (atom) as an indestructible particle of matter in KanadaSutra while Patanjali is considered as Father of Yoga.
• In early 20th century, Prof. Satyendranath Bose’s ‘Boson’, Prof. Subramanian Chandrasekhar’s ‘Chandrasekhar limit’, Sir C. V. Raman’s ‘Raman Effect’, and Prof. Jagadish Chandra Bose’s ‘wireless communication’ have earned global recognition.
• He stressed on need to inculcate the spirit of science and promote scientific temper among the young minds of the country,
• He proclaimed that in the global innovation landscape, India continued to be the most innovative economy in central and southern Asia.
• India can make true impact on global innovation for years to coe with the intellectual contribution of young generation.