The dipping oil prices, which is good news to consumers in India, need not be very worrisome for the renewable energy sector.
The Narendra Modi Government will support and pursue renewable energy and harness it ensure its affordable adoption in everyday life. The world oil prices have crashed from $115 a barrel in June to less than $50 a barrel last week.
Despite this development, the PM has instructed me to back renewable energy with the ultimate goal of have a fossil fuel free economy. In turn, the Department of Science and Technology will drive the research into renewable energy, especially solar power, said Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for S&T.
Referring to the `make in India’ initiative, the minister told newspersons here today that scientists of Indian origin have reacted positively to the invitation to participate in the coming Indian S&T-based industrial renaissance.
The Government has announced a package of incentives to Indian origin researchers. Many private sector companies have also succeeded in wooing back talented scientists. The Ministry will work closely with State industry development corporations in enabling deployment of technology benefitting small and medium enterprises.
Controversy
The controversy kicked up at the Indian Science Congress on ancient Indian contributions to aviation and science refuses to recede with the Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan not just defending, but stating that one should not be ashamed of the glorious past.
India was a major power in not just science, but in several areas like medicine, culture, the arts and literature for centuries. There are documentary evidence, mentions in Vedas and papers to show this, he asserted in response to questions.
The Science Congress session at Mumbai recently had a discussion on India’s aviation history traced to 7000 years and claimed mentions of inter-planetary flights, which drew lots of flak.