Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

A Lifetime of Moulding Technology and Science Policy in India: A Festschrift in Honour of Professor Ashok Parthasarathi, Editor: Sachin Chaturvedi, Academic Foundation, 2017, 128 pp, ISBN: 9789332703551, Price: Rs 795

Radhika Daga

Science and Technology (S&T) has assumed great salience in India’s development and security matrix. In last few years’ policy initiatives like Make-in-India, Start-up-India and Digital India Programme have further given an impetus to this thought process. However, to fully grasp the development of S&T in India, we must understand it from a historical perspective. This is where the foundation of these policies and structures rests.

May 15, 2020 Books/Book Review

Discussion on Report on STEM Education in collaboration with Association of Indian Universities

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized a seminar to discuss a VIF taskforce report on STEM education in India launched in 2019. The report, titled, “Towards More Effective Education: Emergence of STEM Education in India” was written under the Chairmanship of Prof KK Aggarwal, Chairman, National Board of Accreditation. This report which is available on the VIF website was discussed in a follow up session, organised jointly by the VIF and Association of Indian Universities on 05 February 2020.

March 20, 2020 Event Report

Technology, Economics and Geopolitics of 5G Cellular - A Compendium

Dr Kamlesh Bajaj

5G is an investment for the next decade. It is not just a game changer; it is likely emerge as a General Purpose Technology (GPT). 5G mobile will move from being a consumer device to an industrial productivity and efficiency tool, with billions of IoT devices connected seamlessly for transformative applications in all sectors of economies and governance models. Smart cities, hospitals, manufato cturing, agriculture, and transport will get transformed with ultra-fast data throughputs, and near zero latency, which will unleash the potential of AI and ML in all these sectors.

February 25, 2020 Monograph

India’s Space Programme: Achievements and Prospects

On 17th January 2020, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) held its monthly ‘Vimarsha’ lecture series on the important subject of India’s Space Programme. Dr A.S Kiran Kumar, former Chairman ISRO, was invited to speak on the opportunities, challenges and perspectives on Indian Space missions. Dr Kiran Kumar is presently Vikram Sarabhai Prof at ISRO and a member at Space Commission as well as Governing Council of Indian Institute of Science.

February 19, 2020 Event Report

Roundtable on ‘Global Nuclear Developments and India’s Policy challenges'

On 8 January 2020, the Vivekananda International Foundation organised a roundtable on Global Nuclear Developments and India’s Policy challenges. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, opened the floor by laying the purpose of the roundtable, which is to analyse the global nuclear environment and how India should respond to it. Nuclear developments I 2019 indicate that the nuclear arms race has started again and arms control agreements are collapsing.

January 09, 2020 Event Report

Lt Gen SRR Aiyengar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Social Media – A Study of Social Media and Its Impact on Contemporary War/Conflicts, Uday Publishing House, 2019, PP. 152, ISBN: 978-93-85991-85-1, INR- 699/-

Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)

Development of Social Media (SM) is a relatively new phenomenon. Between 2004 and 2014, all 22 of the world’s biggest Social Media (SM) networks were developed and launched. The Facebook was the first to be started on February 4, 2004. Rapid global increase in mobile telephone usage helped the growth of SM. SM can be fun, exciting, entertaining and useful for maintaining relationships. For marketing, managing their public image, connect with customers and solicit ideas and feedback people can use social media websites for professional reasons.

December 19, 2019 Books/Book Review

Research and Development in Cyber Domain and Indian Perspective

Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)

… India has to develop its own technologies, an electronic manufacturing base, R&D infrastructure and a highly skilled human resource… talented professionals available in the cyber eco system have to be brought in for research on indigenization of cyber technologies… Though a little late, but given the required priority, funding and impetus India has the capability to develop indigenous technology in cyber domain …

September 05, 2019 Paper

Release of VIF Task Force Report: Towards More Effective Education: Emergence of STEM Education in India

On 22 April 2019, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) released the Task Force Report on “Organisation of STEM Education in India”. The task force report was released by Dr. V K Saraswat, former chairman Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri. The VIF task force on STEM Education was led by Prof K K Agarwal, former Vice Chancellor of the GGS IP University and included several eminent educationists in the country. Complementing the efforts of the task force members, Dr.

June 07, 2019 Event Report

Vimarsha: DRDO’s Achievements in Defence Indigenization

On, Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence and Chairman DRDO was invited for a talk on ‘Achievements in Defence Indigenization’ under the aegis of the Vivekananda International Foundation’s Vimarsha lecture series.

April 25, 2019 Event Report

Is Colonisation of Space Imminent?

Lt General Davinder Kumar, PVSM, VSM Bar, ADC (Retd.)

… India, with its well-developed space programme, must claim her rightful place and plan for space exploration, space station … by involvement of the private sector and co-operation with like-minded nations like Japan and Israel … (She should) play a significant role internationally against weaponisation of space, ensuring that space does not become a battlefield…

April 10, 2019 Issue Brief