Policy Update
Meenu Mohan
History
The Department of Science & Technology (DST) was established in May 1971, with the objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology and to play the role of a nodal department for organizing, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in the country.
Mandate
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is responsible for formulating S&T policies, promoting emerging areas of research, and developing indigenous technologies, especially in bio-fuel and value-added chemical production. It coordinates cross-sectoral S&T initiatives, supports scientific institutions, and provides grants for research. Key functions include overseeing the Science and Engineering Research Council, Technology Development Board, international cooperation, spatial data infrastructure, and promoting ventures for domestic technology commercialization. DST also focuses on S&T capacity building, grassroots development through State Councils, and applying S&T for the benefit of weaker and disadvantaged sections of society.
Human Capacity Building Programmes
INSPIRE Scheme (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)
The INSPIRE program by the Department of Science & Technology aims to attract and nurture young talent in science through internships, scholarships, and fellowships from school to post-PhD level, without competitive exams, supporting careers in research across various fields including engineering, medicine, and agriculture.
INSPIRE-MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge)
The INSPIRE-MANAK scheme aims to foster a culture of innovation among school students aged 10-15 by inviting innovative ideas from over 5 lakh schools, with 1 lakh students receiving awards of Rs. 10,000 each. Selected students participate in competitions at various levels, with top projects receiving mentorship and national recognition.
WISE-KIRAN (Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN)
Enhances the participation of women in Science, Technology, and Engineering fields, fostering gender equality and empowering women through various fellowship and capacity-building programs. Such as fellowships at PhD and Postdoctoral levels, fostering interdisciplinary research, providing infrastructure and international opportunities. It encourages women to deploy S&T to address societal challenges, and increase participation via institutional transformation.
Institutional Capacity Building Programmes
The program focuses on supporting interdisciplinary problems, solution-centric and translational research, and increasing the scope for participation of industries and start-ups and new ideas, aiming towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. The financial support circumscribes six basic purposes i.e. Equipment, Infrastructural Facilities, Networking & Computational Facilities, Industrial R&D Support, SSR Activities and Maintenance.
PURSE (Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence)
A combination of i10-index of faculty members in the University, H-index of the University along with NIRF Ranking is used to formulate the new criteria for selection of Universities under PURSE to strengthen capacity.
SATHI (Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes):
This scheme initiates the setting up of shared, professionally managed facilities readily accessible to academia, start-ups, manufacturing units, industries and R&D Labs. SATHI Centres will be equipped with a major analytical instrument and advanced manufacturing facility, which is usually not available at Institutes/ Organisations.
STUTI (Synergistic Training program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure):
Designed to cater to human resource and its capacity building through open access to S&T Infrastructure across the country by organizing short term courses/ workshops on the awareness, use and application of various instruments and analytical techniques.
(SUPREME) Support for Up-gradation Preventive Repair & Maintenance of Equipment
Provides financial support for repair/ upgradation/ maintenance/ retrofitting or acquiring additional attachment to increase functional capabilities of existing analytical instrumentation facilities (AIFs) supported by DST in various Institutions/laboratories/academic institutions.
Research & Development Programmes
Nano Science and Technology (NS&T)
The mission comprises various components. The National Program for Nano Science and Technology (NPNST) promotes research in advanced materials, with a focus on affordability, sustainability, and bio-inspiration. The DST-Nano Mission Postdoctoral Fellowship supports research in frontier areas of nanoscience and technology across India. The Unit on Nano Science & Technology (UNANST-DST) at JNCASR, Bengaluru, and the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bangalore, conduct research on nanoscience and technology.
National Geospatial Programme (NGP)
Promotes geospatial science and technology (GST) for sustainable development. It supports research, develops solutions for national priorities, and builds capacity.
Key activities:
- Research programs in geodesy, geospatial intelligence, and water resource management.
- Geospatial solutions for disaster risk reduction, rural development, and urban governance.
New initiatives: National and Regional Centres for Geodesy to expand national coverage.
Cognitive Science Research Initiative (CSRI)
Facilitates a platform to the scientific community to work for better solution of challenges related with cognitive disorders and social issues through various psychological tools & batteries, early diagnosis & better therapies, intervention technologies and rehabilitation programmes.
Innovation and Technology Development Programmes
S&T Entrepreneurship Development (S&TED)
Established by the Indian government in 1982 to promote science and technology based startups, it supports entrepreneurs through various programs like NIDHI, which offers funding, incubation, and training at various stages of a startup’s journey, from ideation to scaling. NIDHI also has programs specifically for aspiring student entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs.
Technology Mission Programme on Water and Clean Energy (EWO)
Fosters research, development, and demonstration of technologies, promotes collaborations, and builds capacities to accelerate India-centric innovations. The program focuses on developing affordable and accessible solutions for societal benefit, ensuring water and energy security.
Technology Development and Transfer (TD&T)
Supports activities aimed at developing technologies both in the advanced/emerging areas and in traditional sectors/areas. Under the Programme, feasibility of fresh ideas/ concepts is also assessed for their potential conversion into useful technology/product.
Technical Research Centres (TRC)
Translates scientific discoveries and technological inventions into products and services of societal and industrial relevance. TRCs have been instrumental in building R&D translation ecosystem by supporting advancements in technology readiness levels of background R&D capabilities and intellectual properties, streamlining multi-stakeholder involvement (including industry-academia partnerships), technology out-licensing, setting-up platforms for start-ups, and strengthening state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure.
SHRI (Science and Heritage Research Initiative)
Plans to engage experts from diverse fields for data capture and analysis, to form new collaborations, and provide viable technology to address cultural heritage related issues.
Science for Society Programmes
Science For Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED)
Provides opportunities to motivated scientists & technologists from national Research and Development (R&D) labs, S&T-driven Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and field-level workers to take up action-oriented and location-specific projects aiming at Socio-economic development of disadvantaged sections of the society through appropriate intervention, leading to their improved quality of life and livelihood.
National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC)
Focuses on outreach activities, training in Science and Technology communication, development, production & dissemination of S & T software, incentive programmes, and field based Sci-Com projects, research in S&T communication, international cooperation, motivating students and teachers, environment awareness and programmes with a special component exclusively for women.
National Missions
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS)
Aims at complete convergence with all stakeholders by establishing strong linkages between academia, industry, Government and International Organizations, and development of technology platforms to carry out R&D, Translational Research, Product Development, Incubating & Supporting Start-ups as well as Commercialization.
National Quantum Mission (NQM)
Aims to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT) to make India a leader in the field. Involves efforts to support the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures, and topological materials for the fabrication of quantum devices. Single photon sources/detectors, and entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing, and metrological applications.
National Super Computing Mission (NSCM)
Provides the country with supercomputing infrastructure to meet the increasing computational demands of academia, researchers, MSMEs, and startups. It is a first of its kind attempt to boost the country’s computing power. Steered along with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
Focuses on building human and institutional S&T capacities in climate change and developing strategic knowledge in the key areas of climate change science, adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on developing a capacity to scientifically assess the vulnerability of the Himalayan region to climate change and continuously assess the health status of the Himalayan ecosystem.
International Cooperation & Mega Science
International S&T Cooperation (IS&TC)
Has the mandated responsibility of (i) negotiating, concluding and implementing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agreements between India and other countries; (ii) providing interventions on STI aspects in international forums.
Mega Facilities for Basic Research (MFBR)
Aimed to create mega facilities and launch mega projects in and out of the country to improve access to such state-of-the-art facilities for the Indian scientific community, especially from the academic sector for pursuing basic research. Because of technical complexities and requirement of large resources, such projects are manifestly multi-agency, multi-institutional and, quite often, international in character. DST and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) have been jointly promoting most of such projects in the country.
S&T Data, Policy and Training
National Science & Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS)
Responsible for collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of information on resources devoted to S&T activities in the country.
Policy Research Cell (PRC)
Aims to strengthen science, technology, and innovation in India through policy research. It establishes centers for policy research (CPRs) and supports a policy fellowship program to generate evidence-based input for policymaking, create a critical mass of policy researchers, and contribute to STI policy development.
Science and Technology Training Cell (S&TTC)
Conducts training programmes for scientists and technologists working in Govt. sector.
State S&T Initiative
State Science & Technology Programme (SS&TP)
Aims to foster a holistic STI ecosystem for socio-economic development at state and national levels. It focuses on human resource development, catalyzing STI in states, strengthening S&T delivery systems, promoting scientific temper, and supporting S&T-based business models and IPR protection.
Patent Facilitation Programme (PFP)
Creates awareness and extends assistance on protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) including patent, copyright, geographical indication etc. at state level. Intellectual Property Cells in Universities (IPCU) established in respective states to enlarge the network. In addition, they are also liable to provide assistance to the inventors from Govt. organizations, State Universities, for patent searches to find out the potential and assessment of the invention.
Good Laboratory Practice
National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA)
Establishes through data that use of certain chemicals does not pose any hazards to human health and the environment. Non-hazardous nature needs to be established through studies and data, which will be examined by the regulatory authorities of the concerned countries. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is a system, which has been evolved by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) used for achieving the above goals.
References
- Annual Reports | Department Of Science & Technology. (n.d.). https://dst.gov.in/annual-reports
- Schemes/ Programmes | Department Of Science & Technology. (n.d.). https://dst.gov.in/schemes-programmes
About the Contributor – Meenu Mohan is a Research Intern at the Impact and Policy Research Institute, and holds a BSMS Degree in Mathematics from IISER, Bhopal.
Acknowledgement – The author extends sincere thanks to Dr. Arjun Kumar, Aasthaba Jadeja, Dipannita Sinha, and Sana Ansari.
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