Science and technology policies: The case of India
Section snippets
Prior to independence
Before India became independent on August 15, 1947, science policy, if any, was determined entirely by the British government. There was no apparent, well-defined policy at that time, except that science and technology were not considered important elements in the development of India. There were few scientific institutions, and no obvious attempt to increase the scientific content of educational institutions or to create institutional structures and agencies devoted to science and technology.
Planning Commission, National Science Advisory Committees
The Planning Commission of India has played a major role in the country's development, particularly with regard to government investment in various sectors. The importance of the Planning Commission may decrease as the role of the private sector grows, but it has played an important role in national development. The Planning Commission Chairman is the Prime Minister, and then there is a Deputy Chairman with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. There is a Finance Minister, as well as members who deal
Structure of government agencies and related aspects
Today, there are many government departments and agencies devoted to science and technology. Under the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of India, there is the Department of Science and Technology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Department of Biotechnology, and the Department of Earth Sciences. The Minister of Science and Technology is responsible for these departments. Then there is the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Space, both
Broad objectives
Some of the important policy objectives are to:
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maintain sustained efforts to alleviate poverty; enhance livelihood security; remove hunger and malnutrition; reduce drudgery and regional imbalances, both rural and urban; generate employment; and at the same time ensure that the message of science reaches every citizen of India, ensuring them that the government is advancing science so as to emerge as a progressive and enlightened society;
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ensure food, agricultural, nutritional, environmental,
Concluding remarks
The preceding makes it clear that there is firm commitment from the Government of India to support science and technology in a major for years to come. It is likely that India will soon invest 2–3% of GDP in research and development (including contributions from both the public and private sectors) and 6% of GDP on education. If the private sector also contributes to science and technology efforts, India will be in a good position in the future. There are already signs that this is not just a
C.N.R. Rao obtained his Ph.D. from Purdue University and D.Sc. from the University of Mysore. He is the Linus Pauling Research Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and Honorary Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (both at Bangalore). His research interest lies in the chemistry of materials. He has authored nearly 1000 research papers and edited or written 30 books in materials chemistry. A member of several academies, including the Royal Society and
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