India observes National Science Day 2026 on 28 February with the theme “Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat”. The day promotes scientific temper among citizens and acknowledges the role of science in national development, while the theme focuses on reducing gender gaps in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and advancing women-led scientific progress.
Today, we are not merely celebrate a day. We are celebrating the very heartbeat of human progress. Science is not just about complex formulas in a textbook or rockets shooting into space; it is the most powerful tool humanity has to ensure that the earth we live on today is still vibrant, healthy, and thriving for the generations of tomorrow. Look around you.
In 2026, the world is moving faster than ever. We are witnessing breakthroughs in AI, renewable energy, and medical research that were deemed impossible just a decade ago. But true scientific progress is measured by how it touches the last person in line-how it brings clean water to a village, how it provides sustainable energy to a city, and how it cures diseases.
As we look at the challenges facing us-climate change, resource scarcity, and global health-it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But that is where women Scientists come in.
Women have historically played, and continue to play, vital roles in scientific advancement, despite facing systemic barriers and underrepresentation, with women constituting only about one in three researchers globally.
India is pushing hard for self-reliance in science and technology. Women make up only about 20-22% of researchers in AI-related fields and around 31% globally in research overall.
Yet 46% of young women are enrolling in higher education, and 35% of science graduates are women. Closing this gap can speed up solutions in healthcare, climate change, clean energy and inclusive growth. Pioneers like Marie Curie-the only woman to win Nobel Prizes in two different fields-paved the way for future generations.
Today, we stand on the shoulders of giants, women scientists who have revolutionized fields from physics to ecology, overcoming significant barriers to reshape our understanding of the world.
Key figures include radioactivity pioneer Marie Curie, DNA expert Rosalind Franklin, primatologist Jane Goodall, and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. Indian trailblazers include Dr. Tessy Thomas (“Missile Woman”), Kalpana Chawla, and botanist Janaki Ammal and others who showed us how to look deeper into the nature of light, to modern innovators solving the climate crisis. But the legacy is now being passed on to us.
The responsibility to tackle global challenges-renewable energy, disease eradication, and ethical artificial intelligence-falls upon our shoulders.
Let us not let our experiments be limited to the lab benches. Let us take our curiosity into the world. Be the innovators who turn theory into practical solutions. Let this Science Day be a pledge.
A pledge to keep questioning, to keep investigating, and to use our knowledge for the betterment of humanity. Science is the torch that illuminates the world. Let us burn brightly. Science teaches us that every great problem is just a question waiting to be answered.
It tells us that curiosity is not a flaw; it is our greatest strength. Do not fear failure. In science, failure is not the opposite of success; it is a step towards success. Every experiment that doesn’t work is simply telling you to look at the problem from a different angle.
Let us adopt a “Scientific Temper.” Do not just accept what you are told. Ask “Why?” ask “How?”, and ask “What if?”. We need to be the innovators, not just the users of technology.
Whether it is reducing carbon footprints through green technology, or designing smarter, more inclusive AI, the future is looking for its architects-and you are those architects. Let us embrace the challenges of our time with courage and determination.
Let us harness the power of technology to create a digital India for Viksit Bharat meaning Developed India. We live in an age where information is at our fingertips. Technology has transformed the way we live, work, and communicate.
However, the benefits of this digital revolution are not enjoyed by all. The digital divide, the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not, continues to persist.
As Scientists, as women scientists, we have a crucial role to play in bridging this divide. Our planet is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis. Climate change, pollution, and deforestation are threatening our very existence.
It is imperative that we take immediate action to protect our environment. Let us adopt eco-friendly habits in our daily lives. Let us conserve water and energy.
Let us plant trees and protect our forests. Let us raise awareness about the importance of recycling and waste management.
By working together, we can create a greener and cleaner India. Let us be the generation that leaves a positive legacy for future generations.
Let us pledge today to use this torch to light the way toward a better, more sustainable, and peaceful world. Keep asking questions, keep experimenting, and never stop dreaming.
Let us pledge today to use this torch to light the way toward a better, more sustainable, and peaceful world. Keep asking questions, keep experimenting, and never stop dreaming.
“Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.” – Louis Pasteur
Rev. Fr. C. Joseph, Counsellor-St. Joseph’s College,
Jakhama-Nagaland.
Saturday, February 28, 2026