Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s future growth will be shaped by its youth and their capacity to innovate, describing young innovators as the architects of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The Minister was interacting with school students from Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across the country at an engagement organised by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, on the eve of the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
Addressing students from diverse regions and backgrounds, Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted that India is among the youngest nations in the world, with a significant proportion of its population below the age of 35. This demographic strength, he said, carries both opportunity and responsibility.
Singh said the coming decades, particularly the vision year of 2047, will be shaped by today’s students through their ideas, skills, and confidence to innovate.
Interacting freely with students, the Minister encouraged them to view technology not merely as a tool for consumption but as a platform for creation. He stressed that modern learning no longer depends solely on physical libraries or coaching centres, as digital access has democratised knowledge. What matters, he said, is the ability to use technology wisely, productively, and ethically.
Dr Singh observed that nearly half of India’s startups today are emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, a shift made possible by sustained institutional support and equal access to opportunities.
The Minister also encouraged students to explore region-specific innovation, stating that local geography and resources offer unique possibilities. Students from coastal, island, hilly and mining regions, he said, are well placed to develop solutions that others cannot, thereby creating distinct identities and sustainable innovation pathways.
The interaction concluded with the Minister encouraging students to make the most of the opportunities available in the present decade, describing it as a defining phase for both individual growth and national transformation. He expressed confidence that with curiosity, discipline and the right guidance, today’s young innovators will play a decisive role in shaping a self-reliant, technology-driven, and inclusive India.
