Department of Science & Technology (DST)
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) was established in May 1971. It functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The DST acts as a nodal agency that connects the government, research institutions, industries, and the general public. Its main purpose is to explore new areas of science, formulate policies, and coordinate scientific activities across the country.
Major Objectives and Functions:
The DST plays a crucial role in building India’s scientific infrastructure. Its primary functions include:
Policy Formulation
- It creates national policies to guide science, technology, and innovation.
Funding and Support
- It acts as a major grant agency, providing financial support to researchers and scientific bodies.
Promoting Research and Development (R&D)
- It supports research in modern areas such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and clean energy.
International Cooperation
- It signs bilateral and multilateral agreements to foster scientific collaboration with other countries.
Societal Benefit
- It ensures scientific discoveries help in the socio-economic development of rural areas, women, and marginalized communities.
Science Popularisation
- It works to build a scientific temper among school students and the general public.
Key Programmes and Missions:
For preliminary examination purposes, it is important to remember the specific missions and their core objectives:
INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)
- A programme designed to attract talented young students towards science and encourage long-term research careers.
National Quantum Mission (NQM)
- Focuses on developing advanced technologies in quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensors.
National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)
- Aims to improve India’s overall computing power by building a network of high-speed supercomputers.
NM-ICPS (National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems)
- Promotes research and technology development in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Robotics, and Cyber Security.
Women in Science Programmes
- Schemes like Vigyan Jyoti and GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions) aim to increase the participation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Climate Change Missions
- Projects like the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) study the effects of climate change and find ways to adapt to it.
NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations)
- An umbrella programme that provides support and funding to startups, incubators, and technology-driven entrepreneurship.
Institutional Framework:
The DST provides funds and direction to various statutory and autonomous scientific institutions to carry out specialized work. Key bodies to remember include:
- The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which is currently transitioning into the newly established Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
- The Technology Development Board (TDB).
- National mapping and survey organisations, such as the Survey of India and the National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO).
Statutory and Autonomous Bodies under the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
Name of the Institute / Body | Location |
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) | Nainital, Uttarakhand |
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
Indian Academy of Sciences | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) | Kolkata, West Bengal |
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
Indian Institute of Geomagnetism | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra |
Indian National Science Academy (INSA) | New Delhi |
Indian Science Congress Association | Kolkata, West Bengal |
Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) | Guwahati, Assam |
Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) | Mohali, Punjab |
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
National Academy of Sciences | Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh |
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) | Gurugram, Haryana |
National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) | Kolkata, West Bengal |
Raman Research Institute | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
Raman Science Centre and Planetarium | Nagpur, Maharashtra |
Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) | New Delhi |
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) | New Delhi |
The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India | Gandhinagar, Gujarat |
Vigyan Prasar Science Portal | Noida, Uttar Pradesh / New Delhi |
