Technology Vision 2035

The Prime Minister recently unveiled the ‘Technology Vision Document 2035’ at the 103rd Indian Science Congress. The document foresees the Indians of 2035, and technologies required for fulfilling their needs.

The Prime Minister hoped that the 12 Sectoral Technology roadmaps being prepared by Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council, (TIFAC), which is also the author of this ‘Technology Vision 2035’ document, would excite our scientists and decision makers. He said his government intends to integrate Science & Technology into choices it makes and strategies that it pursues.

The 12 identified sectors of Vision Document are: Education; Medical Sciences & Healthcare; Food and Agriculture; Water Energy; Environment; Habitat; Transportation; Infrastructure Manufacturing; Materials; Information and Communication Technology. Roadmaps, when prepared, will be presented to the Government of India and they would lead for further adoption of technologies in those sectors.

The aim of the ‘Technology Vision Document 2035’ is to ensure the security, enhancing of prosperity, and enhancing identity of every Indian, which is stated in the document as “Our Aspiration” or “Vision Statement” in all languages of the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

The Vision documents also identifies twelve (12) prerogatives- (six for meeting individual needs and six for the collective needs) that should be available to each and every Indian.

ndividual prerogatives are clean air and potable water, food and nutritional security, universal healthcare and public hygiene, 24x7 energy, Decent habitat, Quality education, livelihood and creative opportunities.

Collective prerogatives are: Safe and speedy mobility; Public safety and national security; Cultural diversity and vibrancy; Transparent and effective governance; Disaster and climate resilience; and Eco-friendly conservation of natural resources.

Assurance of these prerogatives, according to the Vision document, is the core of technology vision for India. For assuring these prerogatives, technologies are mapped as: 1) those readily deployable, 2) those that need to be moved from Lab to Field, 3) those that require targeted Research and 4) those that are still in imagination.

The last of these category of technologies could come about as a result of curiosity driven or paradigm- shattering ‘Blue-sky’ research like on Internet of Things, wearable technology, synthetic biology, brain computer interface etc. are some other such technologies expected that would go a long way in sustainably fulfilling the needs of the present and future generations of mankind.