Research, innovation, quality to make India knowledge superpower, says Tessy Thomas
The Hindu
Missile Woman says efforts of scientists and technologists have propelled India to elite club of nations in space, defence, and nuclear technologies
Tessy Thomas, renowned scientist and Director General of Aeronautical Systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has said that “research, innovation, and quality” will be the three pillars on which India will become a knowledge superpower.
Delivering the convocation address of the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C) on Saturday, Dr. Thomas said the DRDO’s efforts positioned the nation among the top few countries in the world with multilevel strategic capability. These include the Agni series, underwater weapon systems, anti-ballistic missile programmes, main battle tanks, electronic warfare, multi-range radar systems, fighter aircraft, Light Combat Aircraft and its variants, and airborne early warning and control systems.
“India with its strong position in terms of advanced technology in the field of science and engineering and in-house research with academic institutions are churning out qualified and trained manpower,” said the ‘Missile Woman of India’, a moniker she earned for being the first woman scientist to head a missile project in India.
Around 440 MBBS graduates of 2021 are not required to undergo one year of compulsory rural service as per the bond signed by them while joining the medical course through government-quota seats in 2015 as the High Court of Karnataka has said the law, enacted in 2012 for mandatory rural service, remained unenforced for 10 years as it was published in the official gazette only in July 2022.