Need for Timely and Comprehensive Research for Public Welfare and National Security – Principal Secretary Brijesh Singh

Valedictory Session of the Conference on Youth’s Role and Development for National Security at VNIT

Nagpur, Aug 2025 : “The ultimate goal of education and research must be aligned not only with public welfare and development but also with the security of the nation. In this era of rapidly changing technology and artificial intelligence, if India is to become stronger and more secure, the youth must expand the scope of their research in line with global knowledge and innovation,” said Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Information and Public Relations.

He was speaking at the two-day national conference on “Youth’s Role and Development for National Security” held at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), jointly organized with Youth for Nation. The conference was also attended by Lt. Gen. V.K. Chaturvedi, ABP Majha’s Executive Editor Sarita Kaushik, and Professor Yogesh Deshpande.

Singh emphasized that while India’s academic infrastructure is growing stronger, the key question remains: Are the patents being generated truly relevant and useful in today’s context? He urged youth researchers to focus on public interest, national security, and secure information technology in order to strengthen the process of development.

Highlighting the importance of cybersecurity, Singh warned that frauds often occur through the information we ourselves provide. “Wherever money is involved, the risk of fraud and crime increases. One must always verify whether the calls, messages, or social media interactions we receive are part of psychological hacking attempts. If anyone falls prey to such fraud and money is siphoned from their account, they must immediately call 1930 to register a complaint,” he advised.

He clarified that there is no concept of ‘digital arrest’ in government procedures. Any suspicious message can be verified instantly through Google. The government has created a dedicated ‘Cyber Dost’ handle on X, and citizens can also lodge complaints at www.cybercrime.gov.in.

Singh also cautioned that misleading content is often uploaded on platforms like Google, sometimes even by hostile nations with malicious intent. Therefore, strengthening India’s data centers is essential, and he expressed confidence that young technologists will lead this effort.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt. Gen. V.K. Chaturvedi noted that India has long faced issues such as border disputes and infiltration from neighboring countries. He stressed that in addition to military strength, India must prioritize advanced technology to equip its armed forces with greater capabilities.

ABP Majha’s Executive Editor Sarita Kaushik underlined the importance of moral foundations for national security. “Every citizen must act with integrity and fulfill their duties responsibly. Unless each one of us works for the welfare of others, inclusive development will remain incomplete,” she said.

The conference, which also explored historical and contemporary references including Shivaji-era strategies, was introduced by Professor Yogesh Deshpande. Students and researchers attended the event in large numbers.