Article 51A of the Constitution lists the fundamental duties of citizens, which include development of scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform. It means the Indians must have an open mind to learn new things.

India is ready for this:

• Technology- ISRO’s success, Push to Make in India, digital revolution, nuclear and defense technologies, increasing pace of R&D etc.
• Rational thinking- Many rational thinkers, scientists are getting recognition and people are getting aware against many old superstitions.
• Political leadership- Encouragement to innovation, science & technology etc. under political leadership.
• Education- Setting up higher education institutions and taking care of the quality, efforts made for Indian universities to appear in top universities in the world.

India is not ready:

• Ignorance- Even literate and well-educated people believe in superstitions and follow those.
• Intolerance- Killing of rational thinkers
• Social media- Instead of thinking rationally and researching about something, people blindly follow what social media propagates.
• Status of women- Issues like temple entry during menstruation, child marriages, triple talaq etc. which are not based on rational thinking.

Conclusion:

Scientific temper needs to be promoted across all sections of the society systematically, using tools like National Knowledge Network. Public and political understanding of science should be based on evidence and debate with open mind.