Innovation is the Key Determinant of Economic Growth and Social Welfare | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Social Development

Innovation means the application of the faculty of the mind by which something novel and unique is created. Innovation is an important key to the sustainable growth and development of a society. Innovation can be described as an idea or flow of new and unique thoughts that help research or improvise for a technologically advanced invention to meet modern-day human needs. For example, Thomas Edison invented the electric bulb in 1879. The bulbs or lighting in our home are very different from the bulb designed by him as the inventor. But repeated innovations on the invented ‘bulb’ have given us many versions of new bulbs, so we have the latest bulbs in our homes, which are the latest technological research results. Thus, innovation is an invention combined with modern technological advancements over a period of time.

A Peek Into History

The Harappan civilization is a good example of an innovative drainage system that ensures a clean and hygienic environment, preventing and spreading diseases. Later during Magadha's rule, iron in agriculture and weaponry and Emperor Ashoka’s usage of edicts and pillars to spread the messages of social harmony and how to conduct their lives redirected towards the modern path. During medieval times, Akbar’s new land revenue collection system through the Mansabdari system, Din-i-ilahi (new faith), promoted social harmony and brotherhood. Sher Shah Suri’s innovative idea of having a Grand Trunk road for boosting economic growth and trade shows how new and innovative ideas formed the world as we know it.

Digitizing Government Services

To bring about a social change in our society, we need great minds that leverage the use of technology and disseminate their learning drives into as many fields of social importance. Computers and digitizing various aspects of government services have enabled the country to become a citizen-friendly nation. Today right from reserving a railway ticket to the most advanced banking services happens with the click of a button. Thus, ‘innovations’ that happen every other day must be made available to a larger section of society to derive its benefits.

Government’s Role in Promoting Innovation

Indian Constitution also talks about developing the scientific temper, humanism, and inquiry and reform spirit (Article 51A). The government took various initiatives in the past few years as it understood what indispensable role Innovation plays. The National Innovation Foundation was formed so as to promote innovation in the country. Schemes like Atal Innovation Mission, Digital India, etc., show that the central government is interested in promoting Innovation. State governments have also considered the importance of promoting innovation, T- Hubs, in the case of Telangana, is a step in the right direction. Innovative policing through virtual police stations (VPS- Delhi). Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile (JAM Trinity) for the disbursal of subsidies to the account of the beneficiaries shows how Innovation can benefit governance and help in touching billions of lives. E-governance and its transparency can be a good enabler of government schemes and interventions that shall especially benefit our society's vulnerable sections.

India’s Journey From Job Seekers to Job Creators

Innovation can help in economic empowerment. It helps promote employment opportunities and entrepreneurship where the need of the hour is to have start-ups for youth to turn from job seekers to employment generators. The curriculum has to be overhauled as per the requirements of the industry rather than just continuous bombardment of archaic facts. Self-help groups in recent times benefit the most due to Innovation, digital payment usage has increased, and knowledge powered rural development is happening, which is establishing connectivity to the villages, tribes, etc. New technologies are being devolved for agriculture like Happy seeder machines or precision irrigation tools, which can transform the way agriculture is being done and environmentally friendly.
India can become self-reliant in the field of energy where energy can be generated through Innovative methods of energy generation like from waste to energy. Renewable sources can be beneficial for our country's energy security and thus can lead us to the path of development.

Innovation in Social Welfare and Human Services

Social welfare can be broadly described as an act or a bundle of acts that help society become more citizens friendly and implement policies that help in the welfare of a larger section of our society. Innovation is happening everywhere around us. We are taking technology to the most inaccessible areas of human life. Technology is acting as an impetus in transforming millions of lives.
Social welfare can also be promoted through Innovation, where the citizens need a broad mindset to accept new things, creative and inventive ideas. But social welfare can actually be achieved, only when these innovations can be made reachable to the most remote corners of our country. Welfare and development through the use of Innovation reduce barriers like castes and religion.
The agricultural market can be benefited much by the Innovative ideas as for the past few years we have felt the necessity to have a uniform market setup for agriculture in our Country which shall be efficient and price discovery of Goods happen instantaneously to provide a transparent platform, current E-NAM (National Agriculture Market) and E- Chaupals can be improved with adding Innovative measures on a larger scale to help nearly 50% of Indian population which are dependent on agriculture sector for their livelihood.
Better medical care through Innovation like telemedicine to remote areas and precision medicine which are targeted in nature. Innovation can, in fact, help in the promotion of education in rural areas through the use of Tele-education, which can serve a large chunk of the population who remain illiterate.
Speedy justice delivery through e-courts, integrated and interconnected network of courts shall reduce paperwork and save millions of trees every year. Innovative ideas like Advanced CCTV cameras and Quick response teams of police forces can protect women and children against abuse.

Role of IT in Innovation

Governments and policymakers should evaluate the areas where Innovation is needed and take calculated risks while introducing a novel system of governance in various sectors. Economic development is driven by the progress a country makes in promoting its scientific knowledge. Institutions at various levels have to use the liberty to innovate using the application of IT. Social media can also be used to spread awareness about schemes that can help the citizens in numerous ways.
Innovation should be promoted, encouraged, sustained, and monitored. Innovation is India’s only bet to deal with the incumbent issues of socio- economic development with a primary focus on uplifting even the last person in the line (antyodaya), which was Mahatma Gandhi's dream.
Innovations have changed everyday life, transformed our thinking, and enabled technological interference in every aspect in a good way. Educational institutions are building incubation centres on their campuses to encourage students to develop free and unique thinking by inducing scientific temper and using technology to enable them to innovate socially beneficial technologies. India is gaining momentum vis-a-vis other developing nations and has become a big technological hub of innovations and innovative thinking. The courage to think differently, the courage to travel the unexpected path, the courage to invent makes one a leader. Creativity and innovation are the keys.