Science & Technology and its Implications
Science & Technology and its Implications
Introduction
“It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy…” –
Jawaharlal Nehru
From the discovery of fire to Artificial Intelligence, Science & Technology (S&T) has been the engine of
human progress. For India, S&T is not just about growth but also about nation-building, social justice,
and global leadership. Yet, it remains a double-edged sword: it can either uplift humanity or enslave it,
depending on how we wield it.
• Science and Technology (S&T) is the foundation of human progress, shaping civilizations
from the discovery of the wheel to artificial intelligence.
• It is a double-edged sword: while it uplifts humanity, it also poses ethical, social, and
environmental challenges.
• As Albert Einstein warned, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has
exceeded our humanity.”
Significance of Science & Technology
1. Economic Growth – From the Green Revolution to today’s digital economy.
2. Healthcare Revolution – From vaccines to genomics.
○ Case study: India’s COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy (Vaccine Maitri) supplied vaccines
to 100+ nations, showcasing India as the “Pharmacy of the World.”
3. Communication & Connectivity – Internet, 5G, social media bridging distances.
4. Agricultural Productivity – GM crops, precision farming ensuring food security.
5. Space & Defence – Strengthening sovereignty and global standing.
○ Case study: Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the lunar south pole, making
India the first nation to do so.
Positive Implications
• Social Empowerment –
○ Case study: Aadhaar and UPI under Digital India ensured direct benefit transfers,
reduced leakages, and promoted financial inclusion.
• Education – E-learning platforms like SWAYAM and DIKSHA democratizing knowledge.
• Governance – AI and data analytics in schemes like Aadhaar-enabled PDS or PM-Kisan
improving targeting and transparency.
• Environment – India’s push for green hydrogen mission and EV adoption shows
technology’s role in sustainability.
Negative Implications
• Ethical Concerns – CRISPR gene editing debates; facial recognition surveillance.
• Job Displacement – Automation impacting manufacturing and IT sectors.
• Cyber Threats –
○ Case study: Ransomware attacks on Indian healthcare institutions exposed digital
vulnerabilities.
• Environmental Degradation – Growing e-waste due to digital expansion.
• Weaponization – Drones and AI-powered warfare creating new security threats.
Indian Context
• Achievements:
ISRO’s cost-effective space missions (Chandrayaan-3, Mangalyaan).
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○ ISRO’s cost-effective space missions (Chandrayaan-3, Mangalyaan).
○ Digital Public Infrastructure (Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN) admired globally.
○ COVID-19 response – Vaccine production, CoWIN platform for digital vaccination
records.
• Challenges:
○ R&D expenditure only ~0.7% of GDP (vs. >2% in advanced nations).
○ Digital Divide – rural-urban, gender, and socio-economic gaps.
○ Cybersecurity preparedness still evolving.
Way Forward
1. Ethical & Responsible Tech – AI regulations, data privacy frameworks (Digital India Act).
2. Investment in R&D – Strengthening academia-industry collaboration.
3. Inclusive Access – Expanding BharatNet to bridge rural-urban digital divide.
4. Global Cooperation – Collaborating on climate-friendly technologies, cybersecurity, and
space governance.
5. Human-centric Approach – Technology must remain a servant of humanity, not its
master.
Conclusion
• Science and Technology is not merely a tool but a transformative force that defines the
destiny of nations.
• With Aadhaar and UPI, India proved how digital tech can empower millions; with
Chandrayaan-3, it showed the world the power of low-cost innovation; with Vaccine
Maitri, it displayed the ethical use of science for global welfare.
• The task ahead is to harness S&T with wisdom, ethics, and sustainability so that it serves
humanity rather than enslaves it.
Quotations from Indian Thinkers
🔹 Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
• “Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.”
• “Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it.”
• “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.”
(Use when discussing innovation, youth, or ethics in technology.)
🔹 Jawaharlal Nehru
• “It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and
illiteracy, of superstition and deadening custom and tradition, of vast resources running to waste,
or a rich country inhabited by starving people.”
• “The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.”
(Use in introduction/conclusion to highlight India’s vision of modernity through science.)
🔹 Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (Father of Indian Space Program)
• “We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the
exploration of the Moon or the planets or manned spaceflight. But we are convinced that if we are
to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none
in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society.”
(Use when writing about ISRO, Chandrayaan-3, or S&T for social good.)
🔹 Sir C.V. Raman (Nobel Laureate in Physics)
• “The essence of science is independent thinking, hard work, and not equipment.”
• “The true wealth of a nation consists not in the stored-up gold but in the intellectual and physical
strength of its people.”
(Use when discussing R&D, innovation, and human capital in science.)
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(Use when discussing R&D, innovation, and human capital in science.)
🔹 Mahatma Gandhi (Ethics in Science)
• “Science without humanity is of no use.”
(Use in ethics section — technology must serve humanity, not harm it.)
How to Use in Essay
• Intro → Nehru’s quote on science solving hunger/poverty.
• Achievements (ISRO, Digital India) → Sarabhai’s vision.
• Youth, innovation → Abdul Kalam’s “Dream” quote.
• Ethics/Challenges → Gandhi’s cau on + Kalam’s “do not distort science.”
• Conclusion → Raman’s emphasis on people as true wealth.
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