The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated an exhibition of grassroots innovations in Rashtrapati Bhavan today (March 12, 2016) kicking off thereby a week-long Festival of Innovations fromMarch 12-19, 2016. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion wereDr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences; Dr. Najma A. Heptulla, Union Minister for Minority Affairs; Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Chairperson, National Innovation Foundation (NIF); Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST and Prof. Anil Gupta, Executive Vice-Chairperson, NIF.

A total of 65 grassroots innovations are part of this Exhibition. The Festival is being organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan in collaboration with NIF.

The Exhibition of Innovations will remain openbetween1000 to 1700 hrs fromMarch 12-19, 2016for the public. Allvisitors to the Mughal Gardens will be able to visit the Exhibition.

Background information on the innovations and innovators whose exhibits are on display in the Exhibition is attached.

This release issued at 1520hrs.