The Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) via video conferencing on 3 January 2023. The focal theme of this year's ISC is “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment” which will witness discussions on issues of sustainable development, women empowerment and the role of science & technology in achieving this.

Speaking about the result of India’s tryst with the scientific approach, the Prime Minister said that India is being counted among the top countries of the world as India moved to  40th place in the Global Innovation Index in 2022 from 81st place in 2015. India is among the top three nations in the world in terms of the number of PhDs and startup ecosystems.

“Efforts of science can turn into great achievements only when they come out of the lab and reach the land, and their impact reaches from global to grassroots, when its ambit is from journal to jameen and when change is visible from research to real life”, he said.

The PM further said, "We need to invest in R&D to make more vaccines for tackling newer disease. Integrated disease surveillance is being conducted at inter-ministerial level to keep a tab on emerging diseases. Make India the most advanced laboratory of modern science."

After the inuagural event, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh said while interacting with the media, "By the year 2050, it is estimated that our global population will likely reach 9 billion people. And we have to ensure that every single one of these people will be able to enjoy a substantial quality of life without being detrimental to our natural resources & environment. Sustainable Development is the one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

ISC 2023 also witnessed a plenary session where Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Dr Ajay Sood, Secretary; CSIR Director General Dr N Kalaiselvi; Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr M Ravichandran and Dr Alka Sharma, Adviser, Department of Biotechnology deliberated upon the challenges and opportunities in Science & Technology for 2030.

Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), one of the premier educational institutions of central India, established in 1923 & hence celebrating centennial year of establishment, is playing the role of the 'host university' for ISC 2023, which is being held till 7th January.