Jitendra Singh Calls for ‘Capacity Building of the Mind’
Minister stresses continuous learning, whole-of-society participation and greater private investment in research
- Jitendra Singh said skills must be complemented by capacity building of the mind.
- He called for a whole-of-society approach involving government, industry and citizens.
- The Minister highlighted the role of iGOT, NRF and the ₹1 lakh crore RDI initiative.
- He urged stronger philanthropic support for research and innovation.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Aug: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Wednesday stressed that capacity building of the mind, alongside skills, is essential for India to remain globally relevant amid rapid technological and societal changes.
Addressing a roundtable on capacity building, Singh said learning can no longer be treated as a one-time exercise as technologies and requirements are evolving rapidly. He called for a shift from individual skill development towards a collective, whole-of-society approach involving government, private sector, institutions and citizens.
The Minister said capacity building should go beyond preparing people to perform assigned tasks and should focus on developing mindsets that encourage adaptability, innovation and pragmatism. He stressed the need for India to follow global benchmarks while developing its own capabilities.
Singh said the government alone cannot address every emerging challenge and highlighted the importance of greater private-sector participation. He pointed to the opening of sectors such as space and nuclear energy to private participation as examples of the need for stronger cross-sector collaboration.
He also highlighted the role of continuous learning platforms, noting that iGOT has more than 40 lakh registered users. He said institutions such as the National Centre for Good Governance and the Indian Institute of Public Administration could be connected into a wider capacity-building ecosystem.
On research and innovation, Singh highlighted the National Research Foundation and the ₹1 lakh crore RDI funding initiative, saying these measures can encourage greater participation of private resources in research.
He also called for a stronger culture of philanthropy for research, saying research deserves greater support alongside philanthropic efforts in social and humanitarian fields.
The Minister emphasised that young entrepreneurs, international partnerships and cooperation among Global South countries can further strengthen India’s capacity-building ecosystem.
Singh said the ultimate objective should be to enable individuals, institutions, government, industry and society to contribute effectively to India’s development and global relevance.
