Manohar Parrikar calls for special attention to R&D

Observing that there is a "mad rush" for IT engineers, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said Research and Development (R&D) is a very important field and it needs special attention.

Noting that former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's greatest contribution was in building "scientific temperament" by striking chord with young minds, which, Parrikar said, "is very important for any country particularly in the research and development field, because nowadays we have that mad rush for IT engineers, then the rush for engineers, but the basic sciences were left there."  He said it was actually the research of basic science which probably laid the foundation for technological research. "Dr Kalam created interest among young minds in pure science, scientific research and <g data-gr-id="18">crated</g> the scientific temperament. I think his biggest contribution was igniting interest among the young generation to consider science, technology as <g data-gr-id="12">carrier</g>; to consider science technology as <g data-gr-id="13"><g data-gr-id="19">what what</g></g> would add to the nation's wealth."