PM Modi Inaugurates ESTIC 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi

What happened

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The event marks the second edition of the national science conclave, organized under the theme 'Creative Minds, Catalyzing Science, Empowering Technologies'. The gathering brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on India's strategic research and technology goals.

The conclave was organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India, with participation from 13 central ministries. The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, acted as the nodal organizing partner for the event.

More than 5,000 delegates attended, comprising researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and deep-tech startup founders. The speaker roster included three Nobel Laureates: Prof. Joachim Frank, Sir Richard J. Roberts, and Prof. Kostya Novoselov. A specialized 'Global Connect' networking event brought together more than 300 invited international and domestic experts to discuss cross-border research collaborations.

The conclave covered 12 priority domains: Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Energy, Climate Science, Ocean Sciences, Quantum Communication, Semiconductors, Robotics, and Space Science. Alongside the technical discussions, an exhibition featuring approximately 150 deep-tech startup stalls highlighted indigenous technologies.

In his address, Prime Minister Modi directed the scientific community to achieve concrete, measurable, and scalable outcomes within a three-year timeframe to accelerate progress toward Viksit Bharat 2047. At the valedictory session, two key policy roadmaps were released: the 'National Vision for Science, Technology and Innovation' and 'India's STI Outlook 2026'.

Key scientific milestones were highlighted during the event, including the First Criticality of India's indigenous 500-Megawatt Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). It was also noted that under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), ₹24,000 crore had been committed for research and development within a single year, shared equally between the government (₹12,000 crore) and private investors (₹12,000 crore). Furthermore, annual patent filings in India have expanded to nearly 1.5 lakh, and the recognized startup ecosystem has grown to over 2.3 lakh entities, with 50% to 60% based in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

📅 Important dates

📝 What candidates should do

• Memorize the full form of ESTIC, its theme, and the organizing institutions for upcoming Banking Awareness and SSC General Awareness sections.
• Note the key R&D financial statistics (₹24,000 crore under ANRF) and tech achievements (500-MW PFBR First Criticality) for descriptive and objective questions.
• Track the 12 priority domains and the names of the two policy documents for UPSC Prelims Science & Technology questions.

🔍 PrepZen analysis

The ESTIC 2026 conclave reflects the government's push to translate academic and fundamental scientific research into commercial and scalable national solutions. By setting a three-year deadline, the leadership emphasizes accountability and market readiness over open-ended research timelines.

For competitive examinations, this development is multi-dimensional. In UPSC Prelims, questions may test the structure and funding mechanism of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and nuclear developments such as the PFBR. In Banking (IBPS, SBI, RBI) and SSC exams, direct questions are common regarding the conclave's full form, venue, edition number, theme, nodal agency, and specific financial commitments.

✍️ Practice questions

❓ FAQs

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