Govt holds consultations with states for formulating new STI policy

<p style="font-weight: 400;">Minister of Science Technology Harsh Vardhan has called on the states to join the exercise of building an evidence-driven, inclusive national Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020 that would percolate to the grassroots level.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“We would like to make this truly an inclusive policy in all aspects – each and every state should become an equal partner and should share ownership and responsibility not only in the formulation of this policy but also in implementing them,” Harshvardhan said.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“This policy aims to re-energize our scientific ecosystem and redefine the priorities and sectoral focus so as to directly translate our efforts in science and technology for the benefit of our society and the economy,” the minister said.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">He added that the current pandemic stands witness to the immediate need for indigenous STI development and growth that can be achieved through harmonized center-state relationships based on the ideals of cooperative federalism. “Center-state cooperation thus remains at the heart of building a truly Atmanirbhar Bharat.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The minister pointed out that the consultation on STIP 2020 with the state the science and technology Ministers is a milestone event towards building greater synergy between the Center and States and also among states. “This meeting looks forward to deliberating the processes that would bolster this inter-connectedness. To empower the STI ecosystem, there is a need to strengthen institutional linkages and joint funding systems. State Science and Technology councils must be reinvigorated as they remain crucial in achieving these goals,” he said.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Outlining the previous national science policies, Science Policy Resolution 1958, Technology Policy Statement 1983, Science and Technology Policy 2003 and Science Technology and Innovation Policy 2013, The minister also informed the participants that the sixth India International Science Festival 2020 (IISF-2020) will be a mega event to be held at digital platform from December 22-25, 2020 and invited all to participate in the IISF-2020 in a big way through the virtual media.</p>.