Formulation of National Science Technology and Innovation Policy initiated 

Formulation of National Science Technology and Innovation Policy initiated 

Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Innovation 

In News:

• Recently, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (Office of PSA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have jointly initiated the formulation of a new national Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2020).

Key takeaways 

• It will be the 5th STIP of India. 
• It will integrate the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic including the building of an Atmanirbhar Bharat by taking advantage of India’s strengths in research and development, science and technology, huge markets, demographic dividend and data.
• The STIP 2020 formulation process will be six-months long. 
• It has been organised into 4 highly interlinked tracks:
  • Track I: It involves an extensive public and expert consultation process through Science Policy Forum. 
  • Track II: It comprises experts-driven consultations to formulate recommendations for the policy.
  • Track III: It involves extensive intra-state and intra-department consultation with Ministries and States.
  • Track IV: It constitutes an apex level multi-stakeholder consultation.

Important value additions 

Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser

• It was set-up in November 1999 by the Cabinet Secretariat.
• Objectives:
  • To evolve policies, strategies and missions for the generation of innovations and support systems for multiple applications.
  • To generate science and technology tasks in critical infrastructure, economic and social sectors. 
  • To function as the Secretariat to the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet. 
• The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) is an overarching council that facilitates the PSA’s office.