Syllabus: GS3/ S&T
In News
- NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive roadmap to empower State Science & Technology (S&T) Councils across India.
Key Objectives
- Enhance State S&T Ecosystems: Bridge the gap between scientific innovation and socio-economic development at the state level.
- Foster Collaboration: Improve coordination among ministries, state governments, academia, industry, and funding agencies.
- Promote Innovation: Support patent facilitation, remote sensing, grassroots innovation, science popularisation, and capacity-building.
Major Challenges Identified
- Weak Governance: Irregular meetings, lack of executive leadership, and delays in decision-making.
- Inadequate Funding: Disparities in budget allocations, over-reliance on core grants, and underutilization of available central support.
- Manpower Shortages: Many councils have unfilled positions, limited career progression, and insufficient skilled personnel.
- Limited Collaboration: Weak linkages with industry, academia, and central institutions restrict the impact and reach of S&T initiatives.
- Administrative Bottlenecks: Rigid rules and fragmented mandates slow down project execution and resource utilization.
Recommendations
- Structural Reforms: Expand Governing Councils to include representatives from central institutions, universities, industry, and PSUs.
- Appoint a full-time Executive Director with scientific expertise for each council.
- Financial Support: States should allocate at least 0.5% of GSDP to S&T.
- Shift from core grants to project-based grants (except for NE and UTs).
- Encourage performance-based grants and wider funding from industry and central ministries.
- Human Resources: Maintain a 70:30 ratio of scientific to non-scientific staff.
- Ensure regular positions are state-supported with clear career progression.
- Use faculty secondment and retired scientists for capacity building.
- State-Focused Roles: Conduct state-specific S&T need mapping.
- Establish substructures (e.g., Patent Facilitation, Tech Transfer, Biodiversity Cells).
- Program Redefinition: Prioritize R&D support to state institutions.
- Institute state-level awards, fellowships, and internships.
- Regularly update science cities and centres for outreach.
- Collaboration & Linkages: Strengthen ties with central government agencies, industry, PSUs, and academic institutions.
- Organize annual STI conclaves and collaborative activities for knowledge exchange.
Source: PIB
