Tumakuru, Jan 3 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday it was now time that India ended its dependence on imported weaponry and become self-sufficient as it did in respect of food grains.

"Indian armed forces are second to none, and now the time has come to ensure that the weapons and equipment they carried and used are also the best in the world, for this, India needs to end dependence on imported weaponry, which is expensive and is not of the latest technology," he said after laying the foundation stone for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) new helicopter manufacturing unit in Karnataka's Tumakuru district.

Recalling former Indian prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's famous slogan of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan", Modi noted that India achieved self-sufficiency in food grains in the last 50 years and called upon similar replication in indigenous weaponry.

Coming up at 610 acres at Bidarehallikaval village, 125 km from Bengaluru, the new facility, which will entail investment of approximately Rs.4,000 crore, will manufacture up to 10 classes of helicopters including Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Naval Multi-Role Helicopters (NMRH).

Assuring that the government is committed to defence manufacturing, Modi said: "Helicopters manufactured in Tumakuru will serve soldiers stationed in remote locations."

"Manufacturing unit coming up in Tumakuru would not be an ordinary one, but one which would make the whole world take notice," he said, calling upon HAL to ensure that the first helicopter built in the new plant will take flight by 2018.

Reiterating the vision of Indian constitution's architect B.R. Ambedkar for industrialisation in India as a vehicle to empower to the poor and downtrodden, Modi said the new helicopter manufacturing unit is step in fulfilling that vision.

"Nearly 4,000 families will directly or indirectly get livelihood due to this factory," he said.

Governor Vajubhai Vala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, union ministers D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar and G.M. Siddeshwara (who hail from the state) were present at the ceremony.

"Innovation must drive scientific process"

Mysuru, Jan 3 (IANS): As frugal innovation and crowd sourcing were instances of efficient and effective scientific enterprise, innovation must drive the scientific process, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

"Innovation must not be the goal of our science. It should drive the scientific process, as it not an obligation of the government, but also the responsibility of the private sector and academia," he said, delivering the inaugural address at the 103rd Indian Science Congress being held in the sprawling Mansagangotri campus of University of Mysore here.

He stressed that good governance was not about policy and decision-making, transparency and accountability, but integrating science and technology into choices to be made and strategies to be pursued.

Noting that digital networks were expanding the quality and reach of public services and social benefits for the poor, he said the government had identified 170 applications in the national space conference, touching many aspects of governance, development and conservation.

"As we increase the ambition level for our people, we will have to increase the scale of our efforts. We are launching Start-up India (on January 16) to encourage innovation and enterprise. We are also setting up technology incubators in academic institutions," he said.

The prime minister also directed the science and technology ministry to draw an audit framework for scientific departments and institutions in the government.

"It is with the same spirit of cooperative federalism that is shaping centre-state relations in every area. I am encouraging greater scientific collaboration between central and state institutions and agencies," he noted.

Assuring the scientific community of increasing resources for science and deploying them in accordance with strategic priorities, he said science administration would be improved to make it easier to do science and research in the country and expand supply to improve quality of science education and research.

"In a world of resource constraints and competing claims, we have to be smart in defining our priorities. It is important in India, where challenges are many and the scale is enormous - from health and hunger to energy and economy," he added.

Mysuru: Modi gives new 'five Es' mantra at science congress

Mysuru, Jan 3 (IANS): The 103rd Indian Science Congress (ISC) began here on Sunday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving a new mantra comprising five Es for scientists' enquiry and engineering.

"The impact of science will be the most when scientists and technologists will keep the principles of what I call Five Es at the centre of their enquiry and engineering," Modi told a galaxy of distinguished scientists, Nobel laureates and hundreds of students.

The five Es Modi listed are Economy, Environment, Energy, Empathy and Equity.

"Economy is when we find cost effective and efficient solutions, environment -- when our carbon footprint is the lightest and its impact on ecology is least possible, energy -- when our prosperity relies less on energy and energy we use keeps sky blue and earth green," Modi said in his inaugural address of the five-day annual event.

Explaining the other two Es, the prime minister said empathy would be when efforts are in tune with one's culture, circumstance and social challenges.

"Equity is when science advances inclusive development and improves welfare of the weakest," Modi said at the semi-circular amphitheatre in the sprawling Mansagangotri campus of the University of Mysore, about 140 km from state capital and science and technology hub Bengaluru.

Besides Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan and renowned scientist C.N.R. Rao, honoured with the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna, were present on the occasion.

Will make it easier to do scientific research: PM

Mysuru, Jan 3 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told scientists that the government would make it easier to do scientific research in the country and asked them to keep the five principles of economy, environment, energy, empathy, equity at the centre of enquiry and engineering.

Addressing the 103rd Indian Science Congress here, he also said he was encouraging greater scientific collaboration between central and state institutions and agencies as part of cooperative federalism.

"We will make it easier to do science research in India," said Modi, as the annual five-day mega science event began at the "Manasa Gangotri" campus of the University of Mysore with over 500 eminent scientists and experts from the country and abroad scheduled to address the meet.

The Prime Minister also told the scientists that the rising challenges of rapid urbanisation must be addressed as it would be critical for a sustainable world.

"...Cities are the major engines of economic growth, employment opportunities and prosperity... but, cities account for more than two-thirds of global energy demand and result in up to 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emission...," he noted.

Modi said better scientific tools must be developed to improve city planning with sensitivity to local ecology and heritage and affordable and practical solutions found for solid waste management.

Stressing that a sustainable future for this planet would depend not only on "what we do on land, but also on how we treat our oceans", he said the government had increased focus on ocean or blue economy.

"We will raise the level of our scientific efforts in marine science," he said.

Earlier Report

PM Modi inaugurates 103rd Indian Science Congress in Mysuru

Mysuru, Jan 3 (IANS/Agencies): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said good governance is not limited to policy and decision-making, it is also "about integrating science and technology in choices we make and strategies we pursue".

Inaugurating the 103rd Indian Science Congress here, the prime minister appreciated the event's theme -- 'Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India', saying it was a fitting tribute to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's vision.

"It's a great pleasure to begin this year in company of leaders of science from India and the world," Modi said addressing a huge gathering of about 15,000 scientists.

The event is being held at the University of Mysore from January 3 to 7.

Five distinguished academicians from abroad, including Indian origin Mathematician Prof. Manjul Bhargava, will be speaking in the Congress.