PM Modi Launches Major Science Fund at ESTIC as Delhi Air Quality Slips and Key Infrastructure Projects Get Underway
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund to boost private sector investment in science, at the inaugural Emerging Science Technology and Innovation Conclave. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality sharply deteriorated, touching ‘very poor’ levels, and the government announced plans to redevelop the Ring Road to ease traffic congestion. The Delhi High Court also ruled against detaining law students for lack of attendance.
At the first Emerging Science Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund, managed by the Department of Science and Technology, to spur private investments in research and development. He emphasized the rapid changes in the global order and India’s ambition for Viksit Bharat by 2047. The event brought together policymakers, innovators, and global leaders, and also saw the release of a coffee table book on India’s scientific achievements and a vision document for science and technology. Concurrently, Delhi’s air quality worsened significantly, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching ‘very poor’ levels, prompting health advisories and public concern. On the infrastructure front, the Delhi government is advancing plans to redevelop the 55-km Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Road Corridor) with modern design and elevated corridors to reduce congestion. Separately, the Delhi High Court ruled that law students cannot be barred from exams due to attendance shortages, directing the Bar Council of India to revise its norms. Overall, the article highlights major policy initiatives in science, ongoing environmental challenges, infrastructure upgrades, and legal reforms affecting education in the capital.
