New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Education and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Sukanta Majumdar, has highlighted the crucial role of teachers, research, technology and inclusive education in shaping India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
In an article titled “The True Heart of Indian Innovation: From Research Labs to the Classrooms of Viksit Bharat”, Dr Majumdar said that innovation is not merely about global rankings, financial investments or advanced laboratories, but is fundamentally a human endeavour driven by the curiosity of students and the commitment of teachers.
Referring to the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he said that India’s educational transformation is increasingly focused on building a strong bridge between high-end research laboratories and grassroots classrooms, ensuring that the benefits of scientific and technological progress reach every section of society.
India’s Rise in the Global Innovation Landscape
Highlighting India’s growing research and innovation capabilities, Dr Majumdar said the country has made remarkable progress in the Global Innovation Index (GII), climbing from the 76th position in 2014 to the 38th position in 2025.
India has also demonstrated significant efficiency in converting research investments into meaningful outcomes. The country ranks 32nd globally in Innovation Outputs, compared to its 52nd position in Innovation Inputs.
According to the article, the innovation ecosystem has been strengthened through the establishment of Research and Development (R&D) Cells in more than 6,000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the development of nearly 59,300 research collaborations.
PMRF Strengthens India’s Research Talent Pipeline
The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) has emerged as a major pillar of India’s expanding research ecosystem. The programme has supported 3,688 scholars, who have collectively contributed to:
- 10,300 journal publications
- 7,966 conference papers
- 834 patent filings
- 221 granted patents
Dr Majumdar noted that PMRF 2.0 is expected to support 10,000 fellowships, while the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) has already received more than 3,600 fellowship applications.
The country’s research infrastructure is also being supported by the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA), which has sanctioned more than ₹47,000 crore for 281 projects across 111 institutions.
Major Push for Artificial Intelligence
As part of the national vision to “Make AI in India”, the government has established four dedicated Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, involving a cumulative investment of ₹1,490 crore.
The centres focus on key sectors:
- Healthcare – IISc Bengaluru
- Sustainable Cities – IIT Kanpur
- Agriculture – IIT Ropar
- Education – IIT Madras
These initiatives are aimed at strengthening India’s capacity to develop indigenous AI-based solutions for some of the country’s most significant developmental challenges.
Democratising Access to Global Knowledge
Dr Majumdar also emphasised the importance of ensuring equal access to knowledge for students and researchers across the country.
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative has been introduced as a major step towards academic equity, providing approximately 1.8 crore students and faculty members access to nearly 13,000 international journals.
The growing appetite for academic knowledge is reflected in the massive number of research articles being accessed across the country. The article noted that 11.4 crore full-text downloads were recorded in 2025, while 6.26 crore articles were accessed during the first six months of 2026 alone.
India’s Growing Intellectual Property Ecosystem
India has also witnessed substantial growth in its Intellectual Property (IP) ecosystem. Domestic patent filings increased from 42,763 in 2014–15 to 1,10,375 in 2024–25, representing a growth of approximately 158 per cent.
The contribution of the educational sector has been particularly significant. Its share in patent filings has increased from 11.15 per cent in 2021–22 to 34.13 per cent.
Initiatives such as the KAPILA programme, which has supported 13,067 patent filings, along with the IDEA Lab Network spread across 418 institutions, are helping create a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
The article further highlighted the growing contribution of academic institutions to India’s startup ecosystem. Of India’s nearly 125 unicorns, as many as 86 have emerged from Higher Education Institutions, including 62 associated with the IITs and IISc.
Technology as a Tool for Inclusive Education
A major focus of India’s educational transformation, Dr Majumdar said, is ensuring that technological advancement promotes inclusion and accessibility.
In line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 4, technology is increasingly being used to remove physical and digital barriers to learning.
The PRASHAST App, for instance, supports the early screening of 21 disabilities recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, helping schools identify and address the specific needs of children at an early stage.
The Priya – Accessible Warrior comic book is another initiative aimed at promoting awareness and empathy among children by presenting accessibility as a collective social responsibility.
India’s inclusive digital education ecosystem also includes PM e-Vidya Channel 31 for Indian Sign Language (ISL) and the CIET-NCERT daily inclusive broadcasts.
KEPA: Making Textbooks Accessible to Every Child
One of the significant innovations highlighted in the article is the Kitab Ek, Padhein Anek (KEPA) initiative.
The initiative features phygital textbooks designed according to the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). These innovative learning materials incorporate:
- Tactile dots
- Print-to-audio technology
- QR codes linked to Indian Sign Language videos
- User-friendly and rechargeable handheld devices
These features provide students with diverse learning needs a multi-sensory and accessible pathway to education.
Dr Majumdar said such innovations demonstrate that technology achieves its greatest value when it is used to empower the most vulnerable sections of society.
Teachers: The Eternal Innovators
Despite rapid technological advancements, the article underlined that the role of teachers remains irreplaceable.
Dr Majumdar drew inspiration from the ancient Indian tradition of education and referred to the story of Acharya Vishnu Sharma and the Panchatantra.
According to the article, Vishnu Sharma adopted an innovative approach while educating the sons of King Amarshakti, who struggled with conventional methods of learning. By using stories, dialogues and practical examples, he adapted his teaching methods to meet the specific needs of his students.
This, Dr Majumdar said, remains a timeless lesson for modern educators.
The same spirit of adaptation and innovation is now being strengthened through digital platforms such as DIKSHA, which serves as a learning companion for teachers.
Through free five-day monthly orientation programmes on disability concerns, teachers are being equipped with modern strategies and skills to make classrooms more inclusive.
Teachers Are the Architects of Viksit Bharat
Dr Majumdar said that the journey from India’s improving Global Innovation Index rankings and advanced AI Centres of Excellence to the tactile pages of an accessible KEPA textbook represents one unified national mission — the empowerment of every Indian student.
He stressed that India is working towards creating a system where research is globally competitive but its benefits reach the grassroots, and where technology is advanced while remaining deeply rooted in human values.
Calling teachers the “true heart of India’s innovation story,” the Minister said they transform government policies and technological tools into meaningful opportunities for children.
Every innovative effort made by a teacher to help a struggling student, he said, contributes not only to the future of that individual learner but also to the intellectual strength, social progress and moral character of the nation.
As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, the article concludes that the country’s teachers will continue to play a defining role in ensuring that no dream is too big and no child is too far from the opportunity to achieve it.
