Why building stronger India requires consistent action, long-term commitment, not rhetoric

By Sudhansu R Das

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while delivering a lecture at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) in Nagpur, said that research centers, IITs, and engineering colleges should conduct research in line with the country’s needs. He added that sustained efforts in this direction could significantly enhance the growth rate of the Indian economy and strengthen its position globally.

Despite paying a high price for importing advanced technology, services, and weapon systems, India has not done enough to create the right environment for research and innovation. The Ministry of Education must build the capacity to effectively monitor engineering colleges and research centers across the country. Quality infrastructure, teaching standards, and research output should be ensured before granting institutions permission to operate.

Rajiv Prakash, Dean (Research & Development) at IIT Kanpur, has emphasized that Indian universities need to engage more foreign professors for teaching and interaction with students, which would help build stronger international academic connections. Government programs such as GIAN and SPARC provide opportunities for Indian students and teachers to collaborate with foreign universities and invite international faculty to India, but the scope remains limited. A long-term solution lies in making the teaching profession more attractive so that bright students choose it as a career. At the same time, the prevalence of rote learning in schools and colleges continues to hinder creativity. Unless rote learning is replaced with critical and applied learning, innovation will not take root.

India is currently the world’s second-largest arms importer, and until 2024 it ranked first. Between 2019 and 2023, it accounted for 9.8% of global arms imports. In 2024, India imported arms worth approximately $2.64 billion, according to the SIPRI Trend Indicator Value (TIV). Heavy dependence on imported arms makes the country vulnerable, as suppliers are aware of the type of weapons sold and may share such information with rival nations. To safeguard its security, India must develop the capability to produce advanced weapons, fighter aircraft, naval ships, armored vehicles, and drones domestically. Resources currently diverted to non-essential infrastructure projects should instead be invested in strengthening research and innovation.

BJP leaders often highlight India’s ancient achievements in science and technology, referring to advanced weapon systems such as the Brahmastra and to the architectural and engineering excellence seen in temples, palaces, and forts. In earlier times, rulers encouraged citizens to acquire knowledge and skills that contributed to such achievements. Indian historians have yet to conduct systematic scientific research into these traditions, and dismissing them without examination overlooks valuable historical insights.

References are also made to the Pushpak Viman, described in mythology as an aircraft defying gravity. While scientists in developed nations are working on anti-gravity research, in India the subject remains largely confined to debate. Accounts of Lord Rama’s 14 years of exile describe his exposure to India’s diverse cultures, economies, and knowledge systems, experiences that were said to contribute to the establishment of Ram Rajya.

India now faces the challenge of reviving an environment conducive to innovation. Each year, many talented graduates leave the country for higher education in Western nations, where they often choose to remain due to better career opportunities, remuneration, and job satisfaction. Good governance, transparent institutions, inclusive opportunities, ease of entrepreneurship, and prospects for professional growth are essential to attract such talent back to India.

The country also requires more centrally administered schools supported by dedicated teachers to ensure equitable and high-quality education. Schools should not operate solely on business principles, as the nation cannot afford to compromise on the education of future generations. Building a stronger India requires consistent action and long-term commitment rather than rhetoric.

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