Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday saluted the talent and tenacity of Indian scientists on the National Science Day.

"Their innovative zeal and pioneering research has helped India and the world," Modi wrote on Twitter.

"May Indian science continue to thrive and may our young minds develop even greater curiosity towards science," he said. "National Science Day is an occasion to salute the talent and tenacity of our scientists," the prime minister added.

National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28 to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir C V Raman on this day in 1928. In 1986, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication asked the Government of India to designate February 28 as National Science Day. The event is now celebrated all over the country in schools, colleges, universities and other academic, scientific, technical, medical and research institutions. On the occasion of the first NSD (National Science Day)(28 February 1987) NCSTC announced the institution of the National Science Popularization awards for recognizing outstanding efforts in the area of science communication and population.