Gist of National Science & Tech Policy Draft | Gist of Rajya Sabha TV / RSTV (now Sansad TV) - UPSC PDF Download

The Big Picture: National Science & Tech Policy Draft

Context

Background

• Draft National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) has been uploaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on its website. 
• DST has also invited suggestions, inputs and comments for making changes by 25th January.

Summary of the Debate

Key Features of the Policy

• National STI Observatory: STIP will lead to the establishment of a National STI Observatory that will act as a central repository for all kinds of data related to and generated from the STI ecosystem.
• Open Science Framework: A future-looking, all-encompassing Open Science Framework will be built to provide access to scientific data, information, knowledge, and resources to everyone in the country and all who are engaging with the Indian STI ecosystem on an equal partnership basis.
• Strategies to improve STI education making it inclusive at all levels and more connected with the economy and society will be developed through processes of skill building, training and infrastructure development.
  • Engaged Universities will be created to promote interdisciplinary research to address community needs. 
  • Higher Education Research Centres (HERC) and Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) will be established to provide research inputs to policymakers and bring together stakeholders.
  • Online learning platforms will be developed using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to address the issue of accessibility and to promote research and innovation at all levels. 
  • Teaching-learning centres (TLCs) will be established to up skill faculty members which in turn will improve the quality of education.
• The policy envisions strengthening of the overall innovative ecosystem, fostering Science & Technology (S&T) - enabled entrepreneurship, and improving participation of the grassroots levels in the research and innovation ecosystem.

Aim of the Policy

• It aims to bring about profound changes through short, medium and long-term mission mode projects by building a nurtured ecosystem that promotes research and innovation on the part of both individuals and organizations.
• It aims to foster, develop, and nurture a robust system for evidence and stakeholder-driven STI planning, information, evaluation, and policy research in India. 
• The policy will identify and address strengths and weaknesses of the Indian STI ecosystem to catalyse socio-economic development of the country and also make the Indian STI ecosystem globally competitive.

Broad Vision of the Policy

• To achieve technological self-reliance and position India among the top three scientific superpowers in the decade to come.
• To attract, nurture, strengthen and retain critical human capital through a ‘people centric’ science, technology and innovation (STI) ecosystem.
• To double the number of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researchers, Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GERD) and private sector contribution to the GERD every 5 years.
• To build individual and institutional excellence in STI with the aspiration to achieve the highest level of global recognitions and awards in the coming decade.

Significance of the Policy

• Technology is changing fast and posing many challenges, so it needs a full mechanism to use its full potential. 
• New Policy framework will help in controlling the rise of artificial intelligence machinery.
• New policy will help in encouraging the start-up ecosystem.
• Players from industry and academia will find easy way of collaborations with each other. 

Conclusion