Dr. Jitendra Singh: PM Modi inaugurates ESTIC2026 at Bharat Mandapam
Synopsis
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated ESTIC2026 at Bharat Mandapam on 27 October 2026, with Science Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh framing the event as proof of India's deepening scientific ambition and commitment to a technology-driven Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi personally inaugurated ESTIC2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 27 October 2026 .
Union Science and Technology Minister Dr.
Jitendra Singh described the PM as taking a keen interest in cutting-edge technological advancements on display.
The event is anchored in the Viksit Bharat framework, the government's vision for a fully developed India by 2047 .
Bharat Mandapam has become India's premier venue for high-stakes government and international conclaves.
India's science agenda is backed by the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020 , emphasising self-reliance and deep-tech capability.
Prime ministerial participation at science events signals institutional priority beyond ceremonial optics.
India's science and technology moment arrived at the heart of the capital on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ESTIC2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — with Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh capturing the significance in a post that described the PM taking 'a keen look at cutting-edge technological advancements and innovations.'
The minister's post framed the event as a live demonstration of 'India's growing scientific prowess and its commitment to a technology-driven Viksit Bharat' — the government's flagship vision for a fully developed India by 2047.
Bharat Mandapam as a stage for India's tech ambition
Bharat Mandapam, the sweeping convention centre in New Delhi that has hosted everything from G20 summits to major policy conclaves, served as the venue — a deliberate choice that signals how seriously the government frames science and technology as a sovereign, prestige-level agenda. Prime ministerial participation at events like ESTIC2026 is not ceremonial; it is a signal to the scientific community that the highest office is watching, and that outcomes will be tracked. India has built a steady rhythm of high-profile science gatherings over the past decade, each anchored in the broader policy architecture that began taking shape with the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020, which set out explicit goals around self-reliance, deep-tech capability, and globally competitive research ecosystems.Viksit Bharat's technology backbone
The Viksit Bharat vision, which threads through nearly every ministerial announcement today, is not a single scheme but a governing framework — a promise that by 2047, India's centenary of independence, the country will have transformed its economy and society through innovation, manufacturing, and scientific depth. Events like ESTIC2026 are the connective tissue: they bring government, industry, and research institutions into the same room to assess where India stands and how far it still needs to travel. For Dr. Jitendra Singh, whose portfolio spans Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and the Prime Minister's Office, the inauguration is both a portfolio milestone and a public signal that momentum on the science agenda is sustained — not stalled. The question the scientific community will now be asking is a sharp one: does the energy of a prime ministerial inauguration translate into faster implementation on the ground — in funded labs, in startups that survive beyond their seed round, and in research that moves from conference slide to commercial product? That is where India's technology story will ultimately be written.Point of View
Placing a domestic science conclave on the same ceremonial footing as G20-level diplomacy. The real test, however, will be whether this visibility drives measurable acceleration in R&D funding, startup outcomes, and policy implementation — the metrics that will determine whether ESTIC2026 is a turning point or a well-lit photo opportunity.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was ESTIC2026 held?
ESTIC2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam , the large convention centre in New Delhi , which has hosted several major government and international events including the G20 Summit.
What is Viksit Bharat and how does ESTIC2026 relate to it?
Viksit Bharat is the Indian government's vision to transform India into a fully developed nation by 2047 , its centenary of independence, with technology and innovation as central pillars. ESTIC2026 is presented as a showcase of progress toward that goal.
Who is Dr. Jitendra Singh?
Dr. Jitendra Singh is India's Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and also a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, making him a key figure in driving India's science and innovation agenda.
What is India's Science Technology and Innovation Policy?
India's Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020 outlines the country's goals for self-reliance, deep-tech development, and building a globally competitive research ecosystem, forming the policy backbone for events like ESTIC2026.
