Shillong: The Northeast has witnessed a dramatic expansion in its scientific infrastructure over the past decade, with the number of weather radars increasing from just two to 13 and seismological observatories doubling, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.
Reviewing science and technology institutions at the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) in Shillong, Singh said the region, once underserved despite its vulnerability to natural disasters, is now seeing major investments in weather forecasting, earthquake monitoring and technology-driven development.
“Before 2014, the entire Northeast had only two weather radars, including one in Meghalaya, even though Cherrapunji records some of the highest rainfall in the world. Today, there are 13 weather radars across the region,” he said.
The minister added that the number of seismological observatories has increased from 84 to 171, while lightning detection stations, absent in the region before 2014, have now been established in Meghalaya and Tripura.
Describing the expansion as a significant strengthening of the region’s scientific capability, Singh said the investments are improving early warning systems and disaster preparedness in a region prone to floods, earthquakes, landslides and extreme weather.
During his visit, the minister inaugurated NECTAR’s Geo-Informatics Laboratory, equipped with advanced drones, LiDAR technology, hyperspectral imaging systems and high-performance computing facilities for geospatial applications.
He said institutions like NECTAR are helping bridge the gap between laboratory research and grassroots development by delivering practical technologies to farmers, entrepreneurs and rural communities.
Among the technologies showcased was a Mobile Food Processing Unit, developed jointly by NECTAR and the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), which enables farmers to process agricultural produce at the farm gate, reducing post-harvest losses while creating opportunities for value addition and rural entrepreneurship.
Singh also reviewed the Vasundhara Soil Organic Carbon Detection Laboratory-cum-Manufacturing Unit, developed under the PM-DevINE programme using technology transferred from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Officials said nearly 2,500 farmers have already received soil testing kits, with the initiative expected to generate a comprehensive soil health database for the Northeast.
The minister visited NECTAR’s STEM Education Laboratory, where students are being trained in robotics, coding, artificial intelligence and 3D printing. The programme plans to establish 50 STEM laboratories across five northeastern states in partnership with IIT Kanpur, benefiting nearly 25,000 students, particularly in remote areas.
The newly inaugurated Geo-Informatics Laboratory has already mapped more than 2,000 sq km for projects related to forest carbon assessment, biodiversity conservation, mining restoration and disaster resilience. Drone-based surveys have also supported mapping in over 700 villages under the SVAMITVA Scheme and scientific organic farming projects covering nearly 25,000 farmers under PM-DevINE.
Highlighting NECTAR’s growing role in capacity building, Singh said the centre has trained 569 drone technicians, 247 GIS and remote sensing professionals, 107 certified drone pilots, and more than 4,500 students in emerging technologies, creating livelihood opportunities for over 190 youth from the region.
He also reviewed progress on NECTAR’s upcoming permanent campus at New Shillong, which is expected to emerge as a regional hub for geospatial science, technology incubation, innovation and research.
Expressing confidence in the institution’s future role, Singh said NECTAR is well positioned to harness emerging technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence and geospatial mapping to address the Northeast’s unique developmental challenges while contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.