Innovation is key to self-reliant India: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday said innovation is the only path for India to achieve self-reliance and global leadership in today's intensely competitive world.
Highlighting India’s rich heritage of innovation, the Governor said, “India has always been a land of ideas. From the ancient universities of Takshashila and Nalanda to medical pioneers like Charaka and Sushruta, and mathematical legends like Aryabhata – innovation lies at the heart of our civilization. Today, it’s not just about thinking; it’s about transforming ideas into impactful reality.”
He was addressing the gathering at “Innovasthan – A Vichar to Vikas Yatra”, a national campaign focused on fostering innovation, intellectual property (IP), and enterprise-led growth. The event was jointly organised by the Council for Industrial Innovation and Research and Jain (Deemed-to-be) University in Bengaluru.
Gehlot noted India’s remarkable rise in the Global Innovation Index, moving from 81st position in 2015 to 40th in 2023, and emphasised that innovation in India must expand beyond laboratories to influence policy, education, industry, and society at large.
“To become a global innovation leader, India must bring together its higher education institutions, startups, MSMEs, corporate sector, and policy bodies onto a common platform,” he said, adding that coordination and collective commitment must make innovation a national mission.
The Governor also emphasised the growing potential in India's startup ecosystem. “With over one lakh startups and 110 unicorns, India is now the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. However, only a fraction of these are protected by intellectual property rights. This gap must be bridged through greater awareness and institutional support for IP protection,” he said.
Referencing the Patent Annual Report 2022–23, he lauded Karnataka for filing over 6,500 patent applications but urged stakeholders to further accelerate these efforts, especially within higher education, MSMEs, and startups.
“Innovation is being encouraged at every level—schools, colleges, universities, industries. The government is also supporting this with the National Intellectual Property Policy. Our universities must be encouraged to establish IP centres and adopt frameworks to manage and commercialize intellectual property,” he said.
Calling for a mindset of “Innovate – Protect – Scale,” Gehlot stressed the importance of national initiatives like Startup India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Innovation Mission, and Make in India in nurturing innovation ecosystems. “An idea, a tool, a device, or an app that improves lives is more than just technology—it is development in action."
Praising Bengaluru as a hub of technology, education, and cultural vibrancy, he commended Jain (Deemed-to-be) University for its contribution to the city’s emergence as a premier education centre.
The Governor also described "Innovasthan" as a movement aligned with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to build a self-reliant and innovation-driven India. “This national journey of thought and development—Vichar to Vikas Yatra—aims to institutionalise innovation across higher education, industry, and startups. It envisions a nation where every citizen can be an innovator, and every idea can create impact,” he added.
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Rahul authenticates article on ex-army chief's 'memoir' on India-China conflict; LS impasse remains
New Delhi (PTI): Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday authenticated a copy of an article in the Lok Sabha which cited former army chief M M Naravane's unpublished 'memoir' but it failed to end the impasse over the matter, leading to a brief adjournment.
With Gandhi insisting on raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Chair Krishna Prasad Tenneti moved on to other Speakers and asked Harish Balayogi of the TDP, an NDA constituent, to speak on the President's address after three opposition MPs refused to speak, showing solidarity with Gandhi.
As Balayogi spoke, opposition MPs raised slogans and the ruckus continued in the House, prompting the chair to adjourn it till 3 PM.
Tenneti asked Congress MP KC Venugopal to address the chair properly and not make any casual references to the chair.
As soon as Gandhi was asked to speak on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, he cited the Speaker's ruling of Monday and authenticated the copy of the article.
"I have authenticated it," he said.
To authenticate a document, a member has to submit a signed copy of it affirming that it is correct to the best of his knowledge.
Tenneti, who was chairing the House, asked him to table it and said "we will examine it and get back".
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Speaker passed a ruling on the matter and after that Gandhi should not raise the issue repeatedly.
Gandhi insisted that he is the Leader of Opposition and takes objection to the term 'permission' when he has to speak.
As the impasse continued over Gandhi seeking to quote the article, Tenneti adjourned the proceedings till 3 pm.
A row had erupted in the Lok Sabha on Monday when Gandhi sought to quote from an unpublished 'memoir' of the former army chief on the 2020 India-China conflict, but faced strong opposition from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other BJP members who accused the Congress leader of misleading the House.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla disallowed Gandhi from raising the issue, but he did not relent and several opposition leaders also rallied behind him. The House was adjourned twice and later for the day amid uproar as heated exchanges took place between the treasury and opposition benches.
Our President’s Address was about the path that India has to chart and the direction in which India has to move.
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 3, 2026
Today, on the world stage, the main issue in international affairs is the conflict between China and the United States.
This is central to our President’s Address.… pic.twitter.com/JJbMDF9ZsS
