Analyze the challenges the space industry has experienced since gaining freedom.
The Nehruvian vision of science was intended to replace the imperial ideology of the old colonial services with an ideology of science as the means by which the modern nation could free itself from the incubus of custom and overcome deprivation and backwardness. His speech as he told the Indian ScieRead more
The Nehruvian vision of science was intended to replace the imperial ideology of the old colonial services with an ideology of science as the means by which the modern nation could free itself from the incubus of custom and overcome deprivation and backwardness. His speech as he told the Indian Science Congress in 1937, “It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of superstition and deadening custom and tradition, of vast resources running to waste, or a rich country inhabited by starving people…… The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.” make it clear that he was intent on formulating his own views on the role of science in society.
Important Commitments To Science Under Nehru’s Leadership
- The birth of the Indian space programme had much to do with Nehru’s belief in science. Nehru, in consultation with Bhabha, established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of the country.
- As part of the effort to promote self-sustaining scientific and technological growth, the foundation stone of India’s first national laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, was laid on 4 January 1947, later followed by the setting up of a network of 17 national laboratories, specialising in different areas of research.
- To emphasize the importance of science and scientific research, Nehru himself assumed the chairmanship of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, which guided and financed national laboratories and other scientific institutions.
- In 1952, the first of the five institutes of technology, patterned after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was set up at Kharagpur – the other four were set up subsequently at Madras, Bombay, Kanpur, and Delhi.
- A Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was set up for research in the manufacture of missiles, armaments, explosives, and other defence-related inventory. India was one of the first nations to recognise the importance of nuclear energy.
- The constitution of an Atomic Energy Commission in 1948 and the establishment of the Department of Atomic Energy again under the charge of the Prime Minister are proof of the foresightedness of this great lover of science.
- India also took up space research. It set up the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 and established a Rocket Launching Facility at Thumba (TERLS). It was a year later, in 1963, that the first rocket was launched.
- He also laid the foundations of a dual-track nuclear programme due to which India achieved nuclear-capable status.
- Nehru inaugurated the fertiliser plant in Sindri and the Hindustan Antibiotics Limited in Pimpri.
To Nehru, science was the natural agent of socialism and the industrialisation of India, through science and technology, was the only solution to the primary problem of poverty. As a result of Nehru’s efforts, India has today a sound infrastructure of science but obscurantism still flourishes. His commitment to science changed the face of India and it is concluded that it will be worthwhile to continue along the lines Nehru laid down.
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Indian space sector has overcome several barriers since independence with a record of achievement as follows: Less budget: The present space budget of India is one of the lowest in terms of space budget of all the space faring nations. They means that a small budget often prevents India from puttingRead more
Indian space sector has overcome several barriers since independence with a record of achievement as follows:
Less budget: The present space budget of India is one of the lowest in terms of space budget of all the space faring nations. They means that a small budget often prevents India from putting forward large capital goods, RD as well as progress in technologies.
Technological lags: The Indian space sector has evolutionized in many ways but still suffers from a technological gap in certain critical areas such as high efficiency propulsion systems, Reusable launch vehicles, and deep space exploration technologies etc.
-Import Dependency: Import vulnerability can be observed through reliance on imported components for the critical technologies which may lead to high costs and inability to indigenously develop these.
-Bureaucratic Red Tape: This sometimes poses a problem to Government agencies and private players when dealing with several procedures in the bid to secure necessary approvals.
Limited Involvement of Private Companies The motivation to encourage the private sector participation is in progress, however, Indian space industry is primarily driven by government agencies. “It will, however, be crucial that to ensure private space develops well, many of these regulatory hurdles are removed, which currently create unnecessary complexity in investment on the side of private space sector and innovations.”
-Global Competition: A number of global competitors can be identified, with the US, China, and Europe leading in the sector that they favor spending a lot of money on in the effort to develop space. This means India should be competitive so that it may remain relevant amidst the fast-growing trend.
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