Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini emphasized that the true strength of any nation or state lies not in monumental structures, but in the intellect, research capabilities, and innovative drive of its youth. Addressing an interactive gathering of higher education researchers as the chief guest at the Swarna Jayanti Haryana Institute of Fiscal Management in Panchkula on Friday, the Chief Minister urged the academic fraternity to align their investigative pursuits with direct public welfare and regional development. Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda also shared the stage during the state-level research symposium.
The Chief Minister stressed that scholastic work must extend beyond publishing academic papers or authoring textbooks to deliver tangible solutions that simplify daily life for citizens. Highlighting urgent environmental and agrarian pressures, Saini called on scholars to prioritize water resource management, climate change mitigation, crop residue utilization, and sustainable agricultural yields. He noted that rapid industrialization and urban expansion continue to drive up water demand, compounding groundwater depletion and contamination across districts. Consequently, academic institutions must lead research into scientific groundwater recharge models, soil health rejuvenation, and innovative crop production methodologies using minimal water.
To translate these priorities into action under the “Haryana Vision-2047” framework, the state administration earmarked an additional allocation of ₹20 crore in the 2026-27 budget for the Haryana State Research Fund. Through this initiative, the Haryana State Council for Higher Education disbursed financial grants totaling ₹11.25 crore to support 90 vetted research undertakings spanning state-run colleges, public universities, and private institutions. Saini reaffirmed the state’s mission to establish Haryana as a leading national hub for technology-driven development, research, and high-impact innovation in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed nation.
Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda noted that the strategic objective is to connect laboratory concepts with patents, commercial technology transfers, and viable entrepreneurial ventures. He stated that institutional career development cells and National Education Policy frameworks are bridging the gap between academia and modern industry, empowering students to evolve into employment creators rather than job seekers. Professor K.C. Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana State Council for Higher Education, informed the assembly that the 90 approved projects were chosen from 350 competitive submissions, comprising 75 faculty initiatives and 15 student projects. Senior administrative officials, including Higher Education Additional Chief Secretary A.K. Singh and Institute Director General Dr Raj Nehru, outlined structured targets to expand statewide patent filings to 1,000 by 2030 and eventually reach 5,000 commercialized patents under the 2047 roadmap.
