Economy

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s scientific progress has now moved beyond laboratories and entered the national mainstream. Space technology, atomic energy, digital systems, deep ocean research, health technology and advanced innovation are becoming part of India’s development story. This shift shows how science is being used directly for public benefit, economic growth and strategic capability.

The proposal was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development. The discussion focused on the progress of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission and its related initiatives. Senior officials from the Rural Livelihoods Division and the National Mission Management Unit also participated in the review.

The April figure also shows a mixed picture. Imports rose compared with March, but they were lower than the same month last year. This suggests that India’s energy demand is strong, but the import pattern is also being shaped by prices, refinery planning, inventory decisions and global supply conditions. Refiners often adjust purchases based on price movements, freight availability, refining margins and crude grades suitable for their plants.

The ePlane Company is developing the e200x, an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed for urban air mobility. The idea is simple and ambitious: create a compact electric air taxi that can help reduce city congestion by moving short-distance travel from crowded roads to the sky. For a country where major cities lose enormous time in traffic every day, such aircraft could become part of a future mobility network connecting business districts, airports, transport hubs and urban clusters.

The RISE Conclave 2026 was held under the theme “Innovation & Entrepreneurship Driven Growth for Viksit Bharat 2047.” The event brought together the four pillars of Research, Industry, Startups and Entrepreneurship, creating a platform for collaboration between laboratories, businesses, investors, academic institutions and policymakers. More than 125 startups participated in the conclave, many of them working in deep-tech and aerospace-related sectors.

The domestic textile market has also expanded sharply over the last decade. According to the minister, it has grown from around ₹6 lakh crore in 2014–15 to more than ₹16 lakh crore, showing how rising consumption, manufacturing capacity, organised retail, e-commerce, exports and policy support are combining to strengthen the sector.

Horticulture has become one of the most important pillars of Indian agriculture because it gives farmers better income opportunities from relatively smaller areas of land. Fruits, vegetables and spices often provide higher returns than traditional field crops when supported by irrigation, storage, processing and market access. This makes horticulture especially important for small and marginal farmers who need better earnings from limited landholdings.

This growth marks an important moment in India’s export journey. Electronics, once seen mainly as an import-heavy sector, is now emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments in the country’s export basket. The shift reflects stronger domestic production, better manufacturing capacity, global demand for Indian-made electronic goods and the impact of policy support through the Production Linked Incentive scheme.