Drone Surveillance To Lavender Farming: Minister On J&K's Purple Revolution
As the tranquil lavender fields of Bhaderwah bloom, they tell a story far beyond beauty - one of empowerment, resilience, and strategic transformation. This year's Lavender Festival comes at a pivotal moment, marking a positive step forward for Jammu and Kashmir that was struggling to get back to normal after the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, shared insights on the role of advanced technology in securing India's borders, the critical contributions of ISRO, and the broader vision for a Viksit Bharat@2047.
Dr. Singh, we are speaking to you today from the heart of the Lavender Festival. How has this 'Purple Revolution' transformed the economic landscape of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly for local farmers and youth?
There were many apprehensions when we started. But today, Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir has not only earned a national identity but also plays a significant role in India's economic growth. Much of the credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his tenure, the "Aroma Mission" was launched, and he took personal interest in it. The concept was entirely new-moving from an agriculture-based startup to a lavender-based startup was an innovative experiment.
The Prime Minister even spoke about it in his Mann Ki Baat and described the location of these lavender fields in Bhaderwah, Doda district, which happens to be my home district. It gives me great satisfaction to see that as India moves from being the fifth to the fourth largest economy, value addition is coming from previously underexplored resources - be it marine wealth, the blue economy, the Himalayan resources, or aroma-based agriculture. These are poised to be major contributors to India's economic future.
Today, we have startup participants not only from J&K but also from Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. The project has been replicated across Himalayan states, and I believe it will serve as a torchbearer for the Himalayan region's contribution to India's economy.
After Operation Sindoor, what, in your view, marks the most significant shift, especially now that we see festivals like this taking place?
There is tremendous enthusiasm among the people - unshaken and unaffected by what happened during those four days. It is also a testament to the resilience of the Indian economy. Those who claimed that the economy would go haywire after a brief conflict have been proven wrong.
Following Operation Sindoor, we have seen you visiting several areas and interacting with people. How has this transformation occurred?
Thanks to improved connectivity and travel over the last 12 years. For example, reaching this place from Jammu used to take several hours; now it takes just three-and-a-half hours. All of this has happened in the last 10 years. This enhanced accessibility has boosted tourism.
What used to be a sleepy town is now witnessing the arrival of five-star hotels-because investors see potential here. This is not only a symbol of rising aspirations and prosperity but also a reflection of the region's normalcy and its breathtaking natural beauty.
Can you share a concrete example of how India's indigenous technologies-developed under your ministry - were used during Operation Sindoor for surveillance, logistics, or coordination?
You'll be glad to know-and perhaps this isn't widely known -- that Jammu city was targeted by at least 300 drones within a single hour. Yet, not a single one managed to cause harm, thanks to our highly efficient Akash system and anti-drone technologies. This has given us the opportunity to demonstrate to both our citizens and the world that India holds a strong technological edge in modern, tech-driven warfare. All of this progress has taken place in the last 10 years.
What are your top three priorities from the Ministry of Science & Technology that directly contributes to the 2047 vision, especially in sensitive regions like J&K and the northeast?
I'd like to highlight that both the Department of Space and the Department of Atomic Energy have played vital roles, even during the recent conflict. These institutions are central to India's long-term development goals and strategic planning.
What specific role did satellite technology from ISRO play in planning or executing Operation Sindoor? Any key missions or payloads you would like to mention?
Satellite imaging is now so advanced that even global agencies have taken note. We began developing such capabilities much earlier than others. In fact, NASA has sought inputs from us. Around the end of the first week of June, we have a mission to the International Space Station with our own astronaut, Group Captain Shukla, onboard. He will be conducting biotech experiments in space, including research on seed growth and agricultural applications. This will be an area where India can carve out a unique domain in space-based biotech.
As a native of Jammu and Kashmir and a Union Minister, what personal message would you like to share with the people of this region - after Operation Sindoor and during the Lavender Festival?
This Lavender Festival is a beautiful opportunity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to connect with the rest of the country. It symbolizes peace, progress, and the promise of a brighter, more integrated future.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Bill introduced by Amit Shah is a conspiracy to destabilise non-BJP governments: Dipankar Bhattacharya
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) said that 'The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025' introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah is a well-planned conspiracy to destabilise non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments in States and obstruct their functioning. Also Read | No foreign voters in Bihar SIR list; Modi brings divisive agenda: CPI(ML) Addressing the press in the State capital, Mr. Bhattacharya said the Bill is the death knell for India's Constitutional federal system and parliamentary democracy. 'According to this Bill, if a Minister is sentenced to five years on any charge and remains in jail for 30 days, he will have to step down from the post. Obviously, the Prime Minister or the BJP ministers will not be sent to jail. This provision is a well-planned conspiracy to destabilise non-BJP governments and not to allow them to function,'Mr. Bhattacharya said. He further said, 'After the misuse of the ED [Enforcement Directorate], the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation], the NIA [National Investigation Agency] and converting Governor offices into BJP offices, now if this law comes into effect, the existence of non-BJP governments will become almost impossible. Every citizen who believes in democracy, the Constitution and the rule of law should strongly oppose this Bill.' Mr. Shah today introduced three Bills in the Lok Sabha to provide a legal framework for the removal of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and Ministers in States and Union Territories who are 'arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal charges' Praise for V-P candidate Mr. Bhattacharya also welcomed the selection of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy for the post of Vice-President by the Opposition asserting that it's a positive and timely decision. Praising him, Mr. Bhattacharya explained that Mr. Reddy's track record in protecting the Constitution and human rights has been remarkable. He added that Mr. Reddy had declared the Salwa Judum campaign in Chhattisgarh as unconstitutional. He also stressed that this country does not need a person associated with the RSS [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] ideology. Speaking about the ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Bhattacharya said that the march is becoming a mass movement to protect democracy and the Constitution, and is also garnering widespread public support. Lashing out at the Election Commission (EC), Mr. Bhattacharya said the names of migrant workers are being deleted, citing the excuse of Bangladeshi infiltrators. 'Any leader of Gujarat becomes a voter of Bihar, but the names of Biharis who go to Gujarat to earn money are being deleted. There is also Form 6A for NRIs but no form for the migrant workers of Bihar,'Mr. Bhattacharya said. He alleged that scams are going on as the names of lakhs of people are found without addresses, and the ECI is calling them homeless voters. Mr. Bhattacharya asked the EC how the verification happened and how it communicated with the voters. He also flagged the objections raised by the political parties and Booth Level Agents (BLAs), which have been denied by the EC, saying the political parties have registered no such claims. Attacking the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State, the CPI-(ML) leader said that the government has been a burden for twenty years and had to be uprooted from the power.
Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
ISRO's spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam to be commissioned in 2026-2027, says Dr Jitendra Singh
The commissioning of India's second spaceport is targeted in the financial year 2026 – 2027, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Department of Space informed Lok Sabha Wednesday. The development of ISRO's second spaceport is currently underway in Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu. He was replying to the question on the status of the proposed spaceport posed by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Member of Parliament, DMK. At present, all space launches undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are realised from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, or SHAR, located at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the spaceport which enjoys a geographical advantage along the coastal Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district. This spaceport, with a financial outlay of Rs. 985.96 crore, will be extensively and exclusively used for commercial, on-demand and small satellite launches in future. ' Post commissioning, the launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and equivalent vehicles from the non-government entities are planned to be carried out from Kulasekarapattinam,' the DoS minister stated. The SSLV missions are best suited for launching small-sized satellites, low on cost and the intended satellite insertion is done into the Low Earth Orbit. As they typically weigh anywhere between 10 to 500kg, the requirement of a short trajectory and the ability to accomplish the mission in limited fuel is essential. These requirements will be met once the new launch facility at Kulasekarapattinam will be operational as it will offer a direct south-bound and smaller launch trajectory. From the time since the commencement of the ground works at the site till July this year , a sum of Rs. 389.58 crore has been spent on the project development. The upcoming spaceport, Dr Singh said, will enhance the payload capability of satellite launch vehicles in the class of ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), while launching satellites to polar orbits.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Lack of hydrogen infra hurdle in expanding green public transport: Gadkari
Shortage of hydrogen filling stations and the lack of transportation infrastructure for the fuel are major challenges in expanding the green public transport network, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Wednesday. 'In the coming days, green public transport is our future. Hydrogen buses are currently running on routes such as Delhi–Agra, Pune–Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram–Kochi. However, the biggest problem is the hydrogen filling stations and transport of hydrogen in which there needs to be a lot of work done,' he said while addressing the 24th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi. Gadkari underlined the need to shift away from private vehicles by offering airline-like facilities in public transport at lower costs. He cited the example of Nagpur's flash-charging electric bus system, which he said is more comfortable and cheaper than diesel-fuelled buses. The minister suggested that municipal waste could be converted to green hydrogen to make it cheaper and more viable. Gadkari also stressed that building 'smart villages' is as important as developing smart cities. Deploying new technologies in critical areas like water, land, and forests can ensure rural growth along with creation of employment opportunities, he said. He also said India must strive to become energy self-sufficient, moving from being a net importer to a net exporter of energy. While traditional power companies are under financial stress, the expansion of solar energy and nuclear power could help strengthen the sector, he added.
