Dr. Jitendra Singh: PM Modi Opens ESTIC2026 at Bharat Mandapam
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day ESTIC2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 28 October 2026. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh shared Day 1 highlights, calling India's science and innovation strides transformative, with Nobel laureates and thousands of experts in attendance.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi personally inaugurated ESTIC2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 28 October 2026 .
The conclave runs for three days and focuses on emerging science, technology, and innovation.
Nobel laureates and thousands of national and international experts are participating.
Jitendra Singh shared Day 1 glimpses, describing India's STI progress as 'opening new horizons.' Days 2 and 3 are expected to yield collaborative platforms, funding commitments, or new policy announcements.
The event continues India's policy of linking large-scale science conclaves to economic and strategic national goals.
A three-day national conclave unlike most — drawing Nobel laureates and cutting-edge researchers under one roof — opened its doors on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC2026) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh shared glimpses from Day 1, framing the event as a milestone moment for India's ambitions on the global innovation stage.
PM Modi at the podium — and the signal that sends
When a sitting Prime Minister personally inaugurates a science conclave, the political message is deliberate: this is not routine administration, it is national priority. PM Modi's presence at Bharat Mandapam — the same venue that has hosted G20 summits and landmark national events — placed ESTIC2026 squarely in the first tier of government-backed initiatives. Dr. Jitendra Singh's post described India's progress in science, technology, and innovation as opening 'new horizons,' with thousands of experts and Nobel laureates convening to 'shape the future.'
What ESTIC2026 is — and why the venue matters
ESTIC2026 is a three-day conclave designed around emerging and future-oriented research, bringing together the domestic scientific community alongside international experts. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi's flagship convention infrastructure, lends the gathering a deliberate weight — the same spaces that once hosted world leaders now host scientists and innovators being asked to deliver India's next economic leap.
India's broader push to raise its standing on global innovation indices has been years in the making. The country's Science, Technology and Innovation Policy dates to 2013, and successive administrations have layered R&D programmes, international partnerships, and large-scale science festivals onto that foundation. The current government has explicitly linked STI outputs to economic targets — from digital public infrastructure to strategic and deep technologies.
Nobel laureates, thousands of experts, and what comes next
The scale of participation underlines a deliberate outreach strategy: convening international scientific authority alongside domestic talent to generate credibility, networks, and — ideally — actionable policy recommendations. Days 2 and 3 of the conclave will be closely watched for any new collaborative platforms, funding commitments, or formal policy announcements that emerge from the sessions.
Whether ESTIC2026 produces concrete budgetary or parliamentary follow-through will be the real test of its significance — conclaves generate headlines, outcomes generate change. India's science establishment, already energised by a string of milestones in space and defence technology, will be expecting the momentum in this hall to translate well beyond it.
Point of View
Not its periphery. For Dr. Jitendra Singh's ministry, the conclave is a high-visibility opportunity to demonstrate that India's R&D ecosystem is mature enough to convene — not merely attend — global scientific conversations. The presence of Nobel laureates adds international legitimacy that domestic milestones alone cannot buy. The real political dividend, however, will only crystallise if Days 2 and 3 produce specific, funded commitments rather than a declaration of intent.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who inaugurated ESTIC2026?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ESTIC2026 on Day 1, 28 October 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
What is Bharat Mandapam?
Bharat Mandapam is a major convention and exhibition centre in New Delhi used for high-profile national and international events, including G20 summits and now ESTIC2026.
What is Dr. Jitendra Singh's role in ESTIC2026?
Dr. Jitendra Singh is the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and is the key ministerial figure overseeing and promoting ESTIC2026.
What outcomes are expected from ESTIC2026?
Days 2 and 3 of the conclave are expected to yield new collaborative platforms, potential funding commitments, and policy announcements linked to India's science and technology priorities.
