Kashmir, October 10, 2025 – In a bid to illuminate Jammu & Kashmir’s media landscape with the sparks of national scientific prowess, a distinguished delegation of journalists from the region embarked on an enlightening visit to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay today, as part of the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) ongoing five-day Mumbai press tour. Organized to spotlight India’s strides in infrastructure, science, and governance, the excursion extended to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), offering firsthand glimpses into cutting-edge advancements that could catalyze collaborations and inspire regional development.Led by Neha Jalali, Director of PIB Jammu, and accompanied by Faguni Banerjee, PRO of IIT Bombay, the group of over a dozen media professionals from J&K traversed the institute’s hallowed halls, immersing themselves in realms of nanotechnology, semiconductors, and interdisciplinary innovation. The visit commenced at IIT Bombay’s Nanotechnology Lab, where delegates were captivated by demonstrations of nanoscale engineering poised to revolutionize electronics and healthcare. A detailed briefing on the National Semiconductor Mission followed, elucidating India’s ambitious blueprint to forge a self-reliant ecosystem for chip design and manufacturing, aiming to etch the nation as a global electronics powerhouse amid the global supply chain disruptions.The tour escalated with an engaging interaction with Prof. Ravindra Gudi, Deputy Director (Finance, Infrastructure & Administration), who unraveled the institute’s trailblazing pursuits in artificial intelligence, healthcare innovations, and media technologies. Prof. Gudi spotlighted AI-driven predictive models for disease outbreaks and immersive media tools, underscoring their potential to bridge urban-rural divides—resonating deeply with J&K’s diverse terrains. A poignant highlight was the encounter with J&K-origin research scholars at IIT Bombay, who showcased low-cost medical diagnostic kits for blood analysis, tailored to combat prevalent issues like sickle cell anemia in tribal pockets of the region. These innovators expressed eagerness for cross-institutional tie-ups, igniting prospects for knowledge transfer back home.
Venturing further, the delegation explored the Aspire IITB Research Park Foundation, a vibrant nexus of academia-industry synergy. Here, officials delineated how the park’s incubation hubs, R&D collaborations, and co-creation labs propel startups from ideation to impact, fortifying India’s innovation backbone. Queries on potential J&K linkages elicited affirmative nods, with emphasis on sustainable tech for horticulture and tourism—key economic lifelines of the union territory. In a forward-looking exchange, IIT Bombay voiced openness to partnering with institutions like the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura on cancer research, blending engineering precision with clinical expertise to address oncology challenges in the Himalayas.The afternoon unfolded at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), where Rajeev Das from the Nuclear Control Projects Wing and Daniel Babu, Head of Public Awareness and Media Interaction, delivered erudite presentations on nuclear energy’s dual facets: power generation for clean sustainability and non-power applications in agriculture, medicine, and water desalination. Amid discussions on India’s peaceful nuclear trajectory, delegates probed implications for J&K’s energy security, particularly in harnessing thorium reserves from the state’s monazite sands.
The sessions, peppered with interactive Q&A, demystified complex technologies, empowering journalists to narrate these narratives compellingly to their audiences.Neha Jalali encapsulated the day’s essence: “Visits to premier institutions like IIT Bombay and DAE are empowering J&K journalists with profound insights into India’s scientific odyssey. This exposure not only enriches their reportage but fortifies their lens on national progress, fostering a shared vision for Viksit Bharat.” The tour, coordinated with PIB Mumbai, has already encompassed stops at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), dissecting urban governance and mega-infrastructure like the Coastal Road Project. Culminating on October 11, it promises takeaways that could seed J&K-specific stories on tech adoption and policy emulation.As the delegation departed, buoyed by mementos and memoranda of understanding in the offing, the visit stood as a testament to media’s pivotal role in disseminating innovation. For J&K, grappling with post-pandemic recovery and climate vulnerabilities, these insights herald pathways to emulate Mumbai’s model—transmuting research into regional renaissance.
