Since Independence, India has drawn on science and technology as key pillars of the nation-building process. The vision of its first leaders, but especially Jawaharlal Nehru, was to foster a rational temper among the populace, empowering citizens not only to adopt technological advancements but also to imbue everyday life and national development with evidence-based reasoning and inquiry. The Constitution encodes the development of “scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform” as a fundamental duty of every Indian.

Immediately after Independence, India made significant investments in scientific institutions, research laboratories, and educational establishments, leading to the founding of the IITs, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Indian Space Research Organisation, among others.

The planned economy, the Green Revolution, and liberalisation all banked on scientific solutions and deployed expert knowledge across agriculture, infrastructure, and industry. The ecosystem for research and innovation that resulted is today exemplified by achievements in spaceflight, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, and renewable energy. Innovations in the form of household appliances, electronic goods, and telecom and Internet connectivity have also diffused into daily life.

Despite these advances, however, there continues to be a tension between technological adoption and the prevalence of irrational attitudes at multiple levels of Indian society.

While Indians readily embrace new technologies, scientific temper remains confined to a few pockets. Superstitions, pseudoscience, and magical thinking persist in mainstream culture, sometimes melding with religious practices and customs to the detriment of rationality. While Prime Minister Narendran Modi himself has claimed that the Hindu god Ganesha’s form proved ancient expertise in plastic surgery, Ministers have promoted the idea that cow urine can cure cancer. Former Education Minister Satya Pal Singh once threatened to remove Darwin’s theory of evolution from textbooks, saying no Indian text supports “monkeys turning into humans”.

At the Indian Science Congress, some scientists have advocated renaming gravitational waves as “Modi waves”. Mass superstitions have often triggered widespread panic, such as rumours that witches were cutting off women’s braids, eliciting violent community reactions. Belief in the “miraculous: healing powers of individuals are widespread in spite of multiple “godmen” like Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Asaram Bapu having been exposed as fraudsters.

While social media continues to amplify the spread of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories related to health and history, policy discourse sometimes relies more on political expedience or parochial interests than on scientific advice. Attitudes towards climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation are often apathetic despite clear scientific warnings.

While India’s elite scientific institutions are globally competitive, the quality of science education at school and college levels is inconsistent. The gap between rote-based learning and genuine scientific inquiry and problem-solving scepticism endures. The ability to reason critically and challenge dogma has not been cultivated widely, leaving segments of the populace susceptible to misinformation.

The media’s role has also been mixed. While there are commendable public science communication efforts and popularisation initiatives, there is a greater amplification of pseudoscience and anti-intellectualism. High-profile personalities sometimes even misuse platforms to spread unscientific claims, which go unchallenged due to deference to authority or lack of public understanding. Legal and regulatory mechanisms to curb pseudoscience, fraudulent miracle cures, and exploitative practices remain inadequate or inconsistently applied.

In a society where tradition, religion, and modernity rub shoulders, scientific temper is not an attack on faith or tradition but the ability to question and test ideas irrespective of source. Many Indians hold rational views in aspects of life directly shaped by science yet default to tradition or non-scientific authority in other spheres. Merely adopting a technology is not synonymous with adopting scientific temper. Rationality encompasses a broader outlook, including evidence-based reasoning and the courage to question received wisdom.

So while India has made considerable scientific and technological progress, it has not done so as a people moved by the constitutional spirit. Bridging the gap between technological advances and internalised scientific temper demands both institutional action and collective cultural transformation.

To this end, India must revamp science education to emphasise critical thinking over rote learning and strengthen science communication and public outreach to make scientific knowledge accessible and engaging. Vital areas like healthcare, climate action, and social justice must be guided by evidence-based policymaking. The government should also promote interdisciplinary approaches in academia that blend Humanities and sciences to nurture empathy.

Published – August 15, 2025 12:15 am IST

Since Independence, India has drawn on science and technology as key pillars of the nation-building process. The vision of its first leaders, but especially Jawaharlal Nehru, was to foster a rational temper among the populace, empowering citizens not only to adopt technological advancements but also to imbue everyday life and national development with evidence-based reasoning and inquiry. The Constitution encodes the development of “scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform” as a fundamental duty of every Indian.

Immediately after Independence, India made significant investments in scientific institutions, research laboratories, and educational establishments, leading to the founding of the IITs, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Indian Space Research Organisation, among others.

The planned economy, the Green Revolution, and liberalisation all banked on scientific solutions and deployed expert knowledge across agriculture, infrastructure, and industry. The ecosystem for research and innovation that resulted is today exemplified by achievements in spaceflight, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, and renewable energy. Innovations in the form of household appliances, electronic goods, and telecom and Internet connectivity have also diffused into daily life.

Despite these advances, however, there continues to be a tension between technological adoption and the prevalence of irrational attitudes at multiple levels of Indian society.

While Indians readily embrace new technologies, scientific temper remains confined to a few pockets. Superstitions, pseudoscience, and magical thinking persist in mainstream culture, sometimes melding with religious practices and customs to the detriment of rationality. While Prime Minister Narendran Modi himself has claimed that the Hindu god Ganesha’s form proved ancient expertise in plastic surgery, Ministers have promoted the idea that cow urine can cure cancer. Former Education Minister Satya Pal Singh once threatened to remove Darwin’s theory of evolution from textbooks, saying no Indian text supports “monkeys turning into humans”.

At the Indian Science Congress, some scientists have advocated renaming gravitational waves as “Modi waves”. Mass superstitions have often triggered widespread panic, such as rumours that witches were cutting off women’s braids, eliciting violent community reactions. Belief in the “miraculous: healing powers of individuals are widespread in spite of multiple “godmen” like Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Asaram Bapu having been exposed as fraudsters.

While social media continues to amplify the spread of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories related to health and history, policy discourse sometimes relies more on political expedience or parochial interests than on scientific advice. Attitudes towards climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation are often apathetic despite clear scientific warnings.

While India’s elite scientific institutions are globally competitive, the quality of science education at school and college levels is inconsistent. The gap between rote-based learning and genuine scientific inquiry and problem-solving scepticism endures. The ability to reason critically and challenge dogma has not been cultivated widely, leaving segments of the populace susceptible to misinformation.

The media’s role has also been mixed. While there are commendable public science communication efforts and popularisation initiatives, there is a greater amplification of pseudoscience and anti-intellectualism. High-profile personalities sometimes even misuse platforms to spread unscientific claims, which go unchallenged due to deference to authority or lack of public understanding. Legal and regulatory mechanisms to curb pseudoscience, fraudulent miracle cures, and exploitative practices remain inadequate or inconsistently applied.

In a society where tradition, religion, and modernity rub shoulders, scientific temper is not an attack on faith or tradition but the ability to question and test ideas irrespective of source. Many Indians hold rational views in aspects of life directly shaped by science yet default to tradition or non-scientific authority in other spheres. Merely adopting a technology is not synonymous with adopting scientific temper. Rationality encompasses a broader outlook, including evidence-based reasoning and the courage to question received wisdom.

So while India has made considerable scientific and technological progress, it has not done so as a people moved by the constitutional spirit. Bridging the gap between technological advances and internalised scientific temper demands both institutional action and collective cultural transformation.

To this end, India must revamp science education to emphasise critical thinking over rote learning and strengthen science communication and public outreach to make scientific knowledge accessible and engaging. Vital areas like healthcare, climate action, and social justice must be guided by evidence-based policymaking. The government should also promote interdisciplinary approaches in academia that blend Humanities and sciences to nurture empathy.

Published – August 15, 2025 12:15 am IST

New Delhi:

The idea of One Country One Election — under discussion for long in the corridors of parliament — will be implemented during the current tenure of the Narendra Modi government, sources have said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned this in his Independence Day speech this year and the government is committed to implementing it, sources said.

The government has already formed a committee under the chairmanship of former President Ramnath Kovind, which has submitted its report.  The panel has recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as a first step, which would be followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.

It is likely that the Law Commission will also recommend it soon. The Commission is likely to recommend that all three tiers of government — Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies like municipalities and panchayats — have simultaneous polls starting 2029 and a provision for unity government in cases like hung house or no-confidence motion.

In his Independence Day address last month, PM Modi had made a strong pitch for “One nation, one election”, contending that frequent polls were creating hurdles in the country’s progress.

“The nation has to come forward for ‘one nation, one election’,” he had said.

The BJP had also promised “One Nation One Election” in its manifesto and government sources said they are hopeful that there will be consensus among all parties to implement it, sources said.

The Opposition, though, has staunchly opposed the idea sofar, red-flagging the constitutional issues.

The challenges to its implementation would involve syncing electoral cycles with minimum disruption to governance and there is no clarity dealing with the breaks that would be involved in bringing all states in the same timeline. There is also a marked lack of clarity in the way forward in cases involving dissolution of Houses, President’s Rule, or even a hung Assembly or Parliament.

Regional parties have pointed out their limited resources could hamper them from highlighting local issues to voters, in the face of the din over the Lok Sabha election.

Another area of concern is the recurring cost of procuring EVMS, or electronic voting machines. This, the poll panel has said, will be nearly Rs 10,000 crore every 15 years.

On 78th Independence Day, Director General of Delhi Prisons Satish Golcha announced the grant of remission to more than 1,160 convicts.

In addition, he revealed the prisons have installed 1,248 additional face recognition system-fitted CCTV cameras to enhance the safety of inmates in the prisons.

According to a statement from Delhi Prisons, Tihar, Satish Golcha announced the special remission for convicts on Thursday after hoisting the tricolour on the premises.

A total of 1,160 eligible convicts were granted remission ranging from 15 to 25 days based on their conduct during their time in prison, it said.

Addressing the staff, Satish Golcha said the new criminal laws have been implemented in all the jails of Delhi Prisons and work is at an advanced stage regarding the online production of inmates before courts.

Additionally, the Prison Department is reinforcing its focus on the theme of ‘Correctional Philosophy’ by emphasising education and skill development programmes for inmates, he said.

He said the department is collaborating with Max Healthcare Facilities, Primero, Union Ministry of Tourism, IOCL, FICCI and Art of Living to provide vocational training and further enhance rehabilitation programmes at Delhi Prisons.

Health and well-being were also a focus of the jail administration.

Screening tests for HIV, Hepatitis B, and syphilis were conducted for 10,573 prisoners. Additionally, a special cervical cancer screening camp was organised in collaboration with AIIMS at jail number six, Satish Golcha said.

Satish Golcha said a proposal for the creation of 3,200 new posts in Delhi Prisons is at an advanced stage of consideration. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Nadia:

An all-women unit of the Border Security Force (BSF) made a maiden gesture and handed over sweets and exchanged greetings with lady BGB personnel of Bangladesh at the front in West Bengal as part of the traditional Independence Day celebrations held along the international border.

The first-ever women border guards exchange took place near the Gede border post of the BSF in the said district even as a “high alert” continues all along this over 4,000 km front following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government less than a week back.

The six-member BSF team, dressed in ceremonial regalia, belonged to the 32nd battalion of the force deployed in the area to guard the international boundary in Nadia district. The personnel are of the constable rank, officials told PTI.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) women’s team that participated in the traditional ceremonial event held in the morning is affiliated to the 6th battalion of the Bangladeshi force deployed under the Darshana border post of the neighbouring country.

“The exchange of greetings and sharing of sweets symbolises mutual respect and camaraderie between the two border forces. It is a tradition which the women personnel have performed for the first time,” 32nd battalion BSF Commandant Sujeet Kumar said.

He said the two sides shook hands and wished for continued prosperity of their respective countries with a commitment to having strong bilateral ties between them.

A senior officer said the exchange of sweets and pleasantries between the two forces traditionally takes place during the national festivals of the two countries like Independence Day and Republic Day apart from big festivals like Deepawali and Eid.

This is, however, the first time an all-women team performed the gesture anywhere along this 4,096 km-long international boundary that runs across five states on India’s eastern flank including over 2,200 km in West Bengal.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today delivered his longest Independence Day speech at 98 minutes as he addressed the country from the Red Fort. PM Modi’s Independence Day speeches average 82 minutes – longer than any other prime minister in India’s history.

Here are five big highlights from PM Modi’s speech: 

1. Women’s Safety

PM Modi, in a veiled attack on the West Bengal government over the rape and murder of a doctor at a Kolkata hospital, said he feels the outrage in society over atrocities against women.

“There is public outrage over atrocities against our mothers and sisters. I feel this outrage. The country, the society, our state governments need to take this seriously. Crimes against women must be probed as soon as possible, those involved in demonic acts must face strict punishment at the earliest, this is necessary to create faith in society,” the PM said. 

2. Uniform Civil Code

PM Modi made an unequivocal pitch for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which he referred to as a “secular civil code.” He argued that the current civil code is “communal” and fosters discrimination by dividing the country along religious lines. “A secular civil code in the country is the need of the hour,” he declared, calling it the spirit of the Constitution and a step towards national unity. 

3. Bangladesh

Addressing regional stability, PM Modi expressed concern over the political unrest in Bangladesh, particularly the safety of Hindu minorities. He reiterated India’s commitment to peace and prosperity in its neighbouring country, hoping for the swift restoration of normalcy. “As a neighbouring country, I can understand the concern regarding whatever has happened in Bangladesh. I hope that the situation there gets normal at the earliest,” PM Modi said. “The concerns of 140 crore countrymen to ensure the safety of Hindus and minorities there – India always wants our neighbouring countries to walk the path of prosperity and peace.”

4. Reforms 

PM Modi reiterated his government’s dedication to sweeping reforms, which he described as essential for India’s growth.  “There was an environment of status quo. We had to break that mindset. The common man wanted change, but his dreams were not appreciated and he kept waiting for reforms. We implemented big reforms, for the poor, the middle class, deprived sections of the society and youth,” the Prime Minister said.

5 One Nation, One Election

PM Modi also made a fresh pitch for ‘one nation, one election’ and said extensive consultations have been held across the country on the issue.

“Frequent elections are creating hurdles in the progress of the nation. It has become easy to link any scheme/initiative with elections. There are elections somewhere every three to six months. Every work is linked to elections,” PM Modi said. “The nation has to come forward for one nation, one election.” 
 

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at his critics and rivals Thursday as he delivered his Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort. Declaring them “full of negativity”, the Prime Minister said “some people do not want to see India grow”.

“People need to understand that a few people with a negative mindset (are) conspiring to create imbalance in country. Nepotism and casteism are harming society… we have to get rid of these from politics,” the Prime Minister said in comments seen as jabs against fierce rivals Congress.

The PM and his BJP frequently attack the “dynastic politics” of the Congress and its ‘first family’ – the Gandhis – accusing the party and the family of not having the country’s interest at heart.

In his speech today the Prime Minister also hit out at the spectre of corruption, declaring, “I want to create fear in minds of the corrupt to stop the tradition of looting the common man.”

Last month, after the BJP secured a third consecutive term at the centre, thanks to the seats won by allies after the party itself fell 32 seats short of majority – the PM vowed to continue his crackdown on corruption, saying federal agencies had been given “full freedom” to act.

The Prime Minister’s sharp attack comes after a tumultuous first Parliament session of his third term, in which there were clashes between the government and the opposition on issues like the Waqf Bill, the rising cost of living, and, most recently, the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics. The political crisis in Bangladesh also led to tension.

The big clash, though, was over the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, parts of which the Congress slammed as having been copied from its manifesto.

There was also controversy over what the opposition said was lack of funds for states not ruled by the BJP or allies. The opposition pointed to financial packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, which are ruled by key BJP allies Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, to back their claim.

The government, however, rubbished these allegations, insisting that all states received due attention. Nirmala Sitharaman, in her reply in Parliament, also directed attention to budget speeches made by earlier governments, specifically those led by the Congress.

“I have been picking up on Budgets since 2004-5. In 2004-5, 17 states were not named in the budget speech. 16 states not named in 2006-07… In 2009, 26 states were not named — Bihar and UP,” she said. “I want to ask the UPA government — did money not go to those states?”

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wore a Rajasthani leheriya print turban as he addressed the nation during the 78th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort. 

Delivering his 11th Independence Day speech, PM Modi sported a white kurta and churidar along with a light blue bandhgala jacket. 

“Today, those who brave and courageous and hardworking are working to take the nation forward – Be it our soldiers, our farmers, our youth. I salute them all,” PM Modi said in his speech. 

The Prime Minister continued his tradition of wearing colourful turbans on Independence Day. PM Modi’s headgear this time was a mix of orange, yellow and green colour with a long tail.

A traditional textile tie dye from Rajasthan, the leheriya design is inspired by the natural wave pattern found across the Thar Desert. 

During his Independence speech last year, PM Modi sported a Rajasthani Bandhani print turban which was a mix of yellow, green and red.  In 2022, he chose a saffron headgear with red patterns and a long tail. 

Raipur:

Thirteen remote villages located in the Maoist-hit Bastar region of Chhattisgarh will witness hoisting of the national flag for the first time on Independence Day on Thursday, police said.

Setting up new camps of security forces in these villages in the last seven months has been paving the way for the development of the respective areas, they said.

Tricolour will be hoisted in Nerlighat (Dantewada district), Panidobir (Kanker), Gundam, Putkel and Chhutvahi (Bijapur), Kasturmeta, Maspur, Irakbhatti and Mohndi (Narayanpur), Tekalgudem, Puvarti, Lakhapal and Pulanpad (Sukma) villages on Thursday where such event was not held ever in the past, Inspector General of Police of Bastar Range Sundarraj P told PTI.

Security camps at these places were established after the Republic Day last year. All these newly-established camps have provided a new and vibrant identity to the region and its native population. The camps would act as a ray of hope for the young and old in building a peaceful and prosperous Bastar, he added.

The camps have been facilitating taking the government welfare schemes to people, mainly tribals and also paved the way for the development of areas, he added.

Bastar division, comprising seven districts, has been struggling with the menace of Left Wing Extremism over the past three decades.

Meanwhile, the state government has completed preparations in all the districts, including the capital Raipur, to celebrate Independence Day, a government public relations official here said.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai will hoist the national flag in the morning at the Police Parade ground in Raipur and receive the guard of honour from different units of security personnel.

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao will hoist the national flag in Bilaspur, Deputy CM Vijay Sharma in Jagdalpur (headquarters of Bastar district) and Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu in Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district, he said.

Other ministers and MLAs will take part in Independence Day celebrations to be held at different places in the state, he added.

Security has been stepped up in the state, particularly in Maoist-affected areas, in view of the Independence Day celebration on Thursday, police said

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Ahead of India’s 77th Independence Day, travellers passing through airports should be prepared for heightened security measures, IndiGo Airlines announced today. In a statement, IndiGo advised passengers to allocate extra time for completing security checks, ensuring a smooth and timely check-in experience.

“As we approach Independence Day, airport security and related checks will be heightened. We encourage our customers to allow a little extra time for completing the necessary security checks and to ensure a smooth check-in experience,” IndiGo said. 

#6ETravelAdvisory : As we approach Independence Day, airport security and related checks will be heightened. We encourage our customers to allow a little extra time for completing the necessary security checks and to ensure a smooth check-in experience. (1/2)

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 14, 2024

At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, restrictions will be in place for non-scheduled flights during specified hours on August 15. The curbs will affect non-scheduled flights of scheduled airlines and private jets, prohibiting them from taking off or landing between 6 am and 10 am, and again from 4 pm to 7 pm. These measures are designed to minimise air traffic and enhance security during peak times of Independence Day celebrations.

Scheduled flight operations, however, will remain unaffected by these restrictions. An official confirmed that while non-scheduled flights are grounded during these hours, scheduled flights, as well as aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), Border Security Force (BSF), and Army aviation helicopters, will continue as planned.

Certain exemptions to these restrictions have been outlined. State-owned aircraft, helicopters transporting Governors or Chief Ministers, and flights conducting quick response missions or emergency medical evacuations will be permitted to operate as necessary.