Kauravas claims: Govt has no role in deciding ISC speakers, says principal scientific advisor
New Delhi, Jan 6: The principal scientific advisor to the government, K VijayRaghavan, has termed as "scientifically untenable" the Andhra University vice chancellor G Nageswara Rao's claims, made at the Indian Science Congress, that the Kauravas were test tube babies.
He also said the government has no role in deciding the speakers or the agenda of the event.
The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) does not have a filter and the government "rightly has no role in the matter", he said. "Once a speaker is chosen, there is no censorship on what the person actually speaks."
VijayRaghavan said the chancellor of the Andhra University should file a formal complaint against Vice Chancellor Rao.
"Scientists say what they say, and if they talk nonsense, they will feel the heat from the community. It is indeed unfortunate that a sitting Vice-Chancellor of a great state university, a biologist to boot, says something that is scientifically completely untenable," VijayRaghavan said in a blog.
On Friday, Rao in his presentation at the ISC in Jalandhar, had made several "preposterous" claims: Kauravas were test-tube babies, Dashavtar gave a better logic than the Darwin's Theory of Evolution, Ravan had 24 aircraft and several airports and Ram and Vishnu used guided missiles technology.
Another presenter sought to debunk Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
This was met with a volley of criticism from the scientific community.
"Someone, concerned and well-intentioned, asked, how one (presumably the government) could give a platform to such preposterous talks at the Science Congress. Well, the organisers rightly don't have a filter and the government rightly has no role in the matter," he said.
VijayRaghavan said the ISCA does get some support from the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
The ISCA raises funds for its activities, such as for the holding of the Congress, from other sources, he noted.
"Yet (like the Indian National Science Academy, for example) the ISCA decides the agenda, the venue and selects the speakers. The government has no role whatsoever in these matters.
"The Science Congress has an overall theme each year. There is a wide range of topics that are covered in the talks. A group of scientists, chosen by the ISCA, requests applications to speak and chooses speakers. Once chosen there is no censorship on what the person actually speaks," he said.
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Mangaluru positioned as Emerging Growth Hub at Vertex CXO Conclave 2026
Mangaluru: The Vertex CXO Conclave 2026, organised by Vertex Workspaces, was held at the Dr. TMA Pai International Convention Centre, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and senior executives to deliberate on opportunities for business expansion beyond Bengaluru, with a focus on establishing Mangaluru as a viable centre for enterprise and technology-led growth.
Senior officials from the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) and the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) presented policy frameworks aimed at promoting investment in non-metropolitan regions. Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, IAS, Managing Director of KITS, along with Samir Venugopal, Bharath Chandra B. K., and Vaishak Pai from KDEM, outlined incentives pertaining to infrastructure development, talent advancement and regulatory facilitation to encourage companies to expand beyond established urban centres.
Vinayak Palanakar, Chief Marketing Officer of Vertex Workspaces, stated that the organisation seeks to evolve beyond its role as a workspace provider by fostering an enabling ecosystem for business growth. He emphasised the importance of integrating policy support, talent availability and industry collaboration, and noted that the company aims to assist enterprises operating within its ecosystem in accessing government incentives while addressing key challenges such as recruitment and talent acquisition.
Speakers at the conclave highlighted Mangaluru’s strengths, including a strong educational base, improving infrastructure and an expanding presence of information technology firms and Global Capability Centres. At the same time, they underscored the need to address challenges relating to talent retention, ecosystem maturity and enhanced industry collaboration.
Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, observed that while the Mangaluru–Udupi region has a consistent supply of entry- and mid-level talent, there remains a gap in the availability of senior-level professionals. He stressed the importance of structured hiring strategies and strengthening local ecosystems to mitigate workforce migration to larger urban centres.
Deliberations also indicated that although awareness regarding government incentives is increasing, there remains a need for greater clarity in processes and implementation mechanisms to enable effective utilisation. Vertex Workspaces reiterated its commitment to facilitating access to such frameworks and supporting businesses in connecting with appropriate talent networks.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on the occasion to enhance collaboration among stakeholders and support business expansion in the region.
In his concluding remarks, Gurudatta Shenoy, Managing Partner of Vertex Workspaces, stated that the initiative would extend beyond the conclave through continued leadership engagements, hiring platforms and policy-oriented initiatives aimed at supporting enterprises in emerging markets.
The event also featured Vertex Ashoka, an infrastructure initiative designed to support enterprise and Global Capability Centre operations, further reinforcing Mangaluru’s growing profile as a business destination.
