Guwahati | Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed Assam’s changing development profile and its growing role in the country’s economic and technological progress.

The meeting focused on the scope for expanding science and technology infrastructure in Assam, promoting innovation and research, and creating greater opportunities for young people through start-ups, incubation centres and technology-driven initiatives.

Dr Jitendra Singh, who also holds charge as Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, highlighted the pace of development witnessed in Assam over the past decade.

He said several major projects in the state had been put on track with the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and underlined the Centre’s emphasis on using science and technology to accelerate development in the Northeast.

The Union minister said programmes under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) could play an important role in strengthening research, encouraging entrepreneurship and promoting scientific temper among the youth.

The discussions also covered the potential use of space and atomic energy-related technologies for development applications in Assam. Dr Singh highlighted the role of geospatial technology in areas such as infrastructure planning, disaster management and improving agricultural productivity, particularly in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.

Reflecting on Assam’s transformation, Singh said the state had witnessed a marked change over the past decade. He noted that Assam, which had earlier frequently figured in the national discourse over protests and insurgency-related challenges, had moved towards a phase of greater peace and development.

He said the people of Assam had increasingly integrated with the broader national mainstream and that the state was now emerging as an important contributor to India’s growth story.

The Union minister also recalled his association with the Northeast during his seven-year tenure with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The meeting highlighted the changing trajectory of Assam, with greater emphasis on peace, development, technology and integration as the state seeks to strengthen its role in India’s growth journey.