West Bengal to Witness Major Boost in Science and Innovation Initiatives

Key science and innovation schemes will roll out in West Bengal, officials confirm. Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari discussed expanding flagship programs aimed at enhancing scientific research, tackling arsenic poisoning, and fostering innovation in the state.

All major central schemes related to science, research, innovation and startups will be implemented in West Bengal with immediate effect, officials said on Tuesday.

The development came during a meeting between Union Minister Jitendra Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata on Tuesday.

In a statement, Singh said, ''West Bengal possesses a strong scientific and academic ecosystem, with institutions under the Ministry of Science and Technology already functioning across the state and contributing to advanced areas of research.''.

Flagship programmes, including INSPIRE, INSPIRE MANAK, Vigyan Jyoti, KIRAN and WISE will be expanded and implemented across the state.

These initiatives will help strengthen scientific temperament, innovation and participation of students and women in science and technology sectors, according to officials.

During the meeting, it was also decided that CSIR-led scientific studies on arsenic poisoning, reported in several districts of the state, will be initiated immediately.

Simultaneously, collaborative research efforts relating to cancer drugs, antimicrobial therapies and clinical research will also be taken forward through coordination among scientific institutions, government medical colleges, cancer hospitals, and premier healthcare institutions.