Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates 'Makers Lab' at MNIT Jaipur; highlights India's self-reliance in Nano SIM manufacturing
Jaipur, June 11
Union Minister for Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, visited the Malaviya National Institute of Technology in Jaipur on Thursday to inaugurate the state-of-the-art 'Makers Lab' and interact with the student community.
Upon his arrival at Prabha Bhawan, the Union Minister inaugurated three specialised laboratories designed to bolster technical education and research.
The highlight of the visit was the inauguration of the 'Makers Lab,' an initiative aimed at fostering innovation.
During an interactive session at the institute, Vaishnaw engaged with students through a quiz and an extensive Q&A session focusing on Nano SIM technology. Addressing the gathering, the Minister emphasised India's growing prowess in the electronics sector, noting that Nano SIMs are now being manufactured domestically.
Furthering the government's vision for high-tech education, Vaishnaw announced that plans are already underway to launch Quantum and AI labs at the institute.
Vaishnaw stated, "A highly effective simulation system for learning this technology--specifically a semiconductor system--will be launched at MNIT Jaipur. This will enable students to receive training in semiconductor fabrication. Additionally, access to state-of-the-art semiconductor design tools is being provided. Acknowledging that there is still more to learn, he challenged the students to design and manufacture their own chips.
He noted that similar initiatives are already being implemented across 323 colleges in India and expressed his desire for MNIT to be a frontrunner in this league.
"Similar initiatives are already underway in 323 colleges, and he has challenged MNIT to join this league. A third initiative will also be launched to integrate the institute into the broader network of this mission," he added.
Earlier today, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated a 20-kW FM transmitter at Ramgarh, Rajasthan, via a program held at the Akashvani premises in Jaipur.
The event was attended by Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi, and Akashvani Director General Rajeev Kumar Jain, among other senior officials.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Vaishnaw, focusing on strategic infrastructure, highlighted the government's commitment to strengthening communication in border regions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
MNIT alumnus here! Really proud to see our institute getting such facilities. Makers Lab and Quantum labs will give students hands-on exposure that most IITs still lack. Vaishnaw ji has been genuinely pushing tech education. But I hope these labs don't become just for show—regular access for students is key.
FM transmitter in Ramgarh is also a great move. Communication in border areas has been neglected for too long. Hope similar infrastructure comes to Ladakh and Northeast too. Ek baat aur—ye semiconductor simulation system details kab aayenge? Students need transparency about what tools they'll get.
As someone in tech, I'm cautiously optimistic. India has talked about semiconductor self-reliance for decades. But training 323 colleges is ambitious—are there enough faculty who can teach chip design? Hope this isn't just another PR move before elections. Would love to see actual first-year students fabbing chips.
Very good initiative! My brother is at MNIT and he says students are genuinely excited. Nano SIM manufacturing kyun important hai? Because every smartphone uses them and we were importing crores of them annually. Atmanirbhar in electronics is not just about mobile phones, it's about components too. 🇮🇳
Impressive speed of implementation. From announcement to inauguration in months. But I want to know: will Makers Lab be open to startups in Jaipur? Or only students? Collaboration with local industry could make this a real innovation hub. Also, 20 kW FM transmitter seems small for border coverage—hope it's part
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