'Make in India' gets ambitious, future technologies like flying cars, e-sensing on wishlist

MYSORE: India's technology think tank under the ministry of science & technology has come out with 'Technology Vision 2035' here at the ongoing Indian Science Congress, identifying the challenges ahead and how they can be dealt with through technological interventions while realizing the dream of a developed India by the year 2035.

The think-tank -- Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) -- in the Vision document lists a technology road-map for India, giving details of 12 sectors and technologies that in some cases exist but need to be deployed, some in the pilot stage that must be scaled up and technologies in R&D stage.

It, in fact, talks about many future technologies, ranging from flying cars, real time translation software, personalized medicine, wearable devices, e-sensing (e-nose and e-tongue) to 100% recyclable materials among others which may be used in different areas to solve day-to-day problems.

"The trajectories delineated as part of this 'Technology Vision 2035' along with its actualization would not only lead to the desired quality of life for citizens but also boost our comprehensive national power", said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his foreword to the document, while emphasizing that the pressure on country's resources can only be solved through use of technology.

The document was released by the PM after he inaugurated the 103rd Indian Science Congress on Sunday where he promised that his government would "make it easier to do science and research" in India and envisioned a future in which innovation makes lives of people better.

Interestingly, the document also talks about technology which still dwells in the imagination, saying these may become real as "a result of curiosity driven, paradigm shattering research (called blue sky research)".

As part of those 'blue sky' research ideas, the government think tank imagined the concept of virtual courts and digital evidence; complex real-time dynamic disaster management response systems; sensing devices to be able to feel the product on internet before buying it; machines\robots to connect all personal and emotional needs; intelligence vehicles to detect emergency situations and take over the control and inter-planetary communications systems.

"This is not a vision of technologies available in 2035 per se; rather, it is a vision where our country and compatriots should be in 2035 and how technology would bring this vision to fruition", said the document before elaborating on how the sector-wise 'future technologies' can bring change to the lives of people.

This is the second time the ministry's think tank has come out with such a vision document. The first one - Technology Vision 2020 - had come under A P J Abdul Kalam in 1996 with a view to sketch the scenario as of the year 2020.

"Decade and a half down the line, it is important to repeat such an exercise to review the actual state of play and take into account new possibilities and challenges that would take the country to the year 2035", said the preamble of the 2035 Vision.

Besides the key sectors like health, education, transport, energy, food\agriculture and manufacturing, the Technology Vision 2035 also mentioned environment, information & communication technologies, infrastructure, materials, habitat and water as important areas where future technologies will be able to solve day-to-day problems of citizens by better utilization of available resources and skilled manpower.