Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking to a cohort of Indian Science and Technology Research Students in Berlin, announced a new initiative to reverse the brain‑drain that has seen thousands of Indian scientists leave the country.
He argued that any policy must be calibrated against Indian democratic principles, warning that unchecked government funding could create a culture of dependency.
During the session, Goyal took a sharp jab at Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, accusing him of lobbying for state sponsorship of student education and suggesting it would undermine self‑reliance.
The minister also compared India’s democratic framework with China’s authoritarian model, noting that while China can pull back talent smoothly, India must guard against misuse of incentives.
He called on the students to submit concrete proposals, promising to forward the best ideas to the Ministry of Commerce for drafting the policy blueprint.