Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Department of Science & Technology (DST) was established in May 1971, with the objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology and to play the role of a nodal department for organising, coordinating and promoting Science & Technology activities in the country.

Responsibilities of DST

DST has major responsibilities for specific projects and programmes as listed below:

• Formulation of policies relating to Science and Technology
• Matters relating to the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Cabinet (SACC)
• Promotion of new areas of Science and Technology with special emphasis on emerging areas
  • Research and Development through its research institutions or laboratories for development of indigenous technologies concerning bio-fuel production, processing, standardization and applications, in co-ordination with the concerned Ministry or Department
  • Research and Development activities to promote utilization of by-products to development value added chemicals
• Futurology
• Coordination and integration of areas of Science & Technology having cross-sectoral linkages in which a number of institutions and departments have interest and capabilities
• Undertaking or financially sponsoring scientific and technological surveys, research design and development, where necessary
• Support and Grants-in-aid to Scientific Research Institutions, Scientific Associations and Bodies
• All matters concerning
  • Science and Engineering Research Council
  • Technology Development Board and related Acts such as the Research and Development Cess Act, 1986 (32 of 1986) and the Technology Development Board Act, 1995 (44 of 1995)
  • National Council for Science and Technology Communication
  • National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board
  • International Science and Technology Cooperation including appointment of scientific attaches abroad (These functions shall be exercised in close cooperation with the Ministry of External Affairs)
  • Autonomous Science and Technology Institutions relating to the subject under the Department of Science and Technology including Institute of Astro-physics, and Institute of Geo-magnetism
  • Professional Science Academies promoted and funded by Department of Science and Technology
  • The Survey of India, and National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation
  • National Spatial Data Infrastructure and promotion of G.I.S.
  • The National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad
• Matters commonly affecting scientific and technological departments/organisations/ institutions e.g. financial, personnel, purchase and import policies and practices
• Management Information Systems for Science and Technology and coordination thereof
• Matters regarding Inter-Agency/Inter-Departmental coordination for evolving science and technology missions
• Matters concerning domestic technology particularly the promotion of ventures involving the commercialization of such technology other than those under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
• All other measures needed for the promotion of Science and Technology and their application to the development and security of the nation
• Matters relating to institutional Science and Technology capacity building including setting up of new institutions and institutional infrastructure
• Promotion of Science and Technology at the State, District, and Village levels for grass- roots development through State Science and Technology Councils and other mechanisms.
• Application of Science and Technology for weaker sections, women and other disadvantaged sections of society

Scientific Programmes

Scientific & Engineering Research

• Mega Facilities for Basic Research
• Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme
• R & D Infrastructure (FIST, SAIFs, PURSE, SATHI)
• Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM)
• Programme for Science Students
• Swarnajayanti Fellowships
• National Science & Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS)
• Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
• Cognitive Science Research Initiative (CSRI)
• VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme

Technology Development

• Technical Research Centres Programme
• Technology Development and Transfer
• National Good Laboratory Practice Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA)
• Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS)
• Climate Change Programme
• Joint programme on Electric Mobility and Technology Foresighting
• Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (ICPS) Division
• Patent Facilitation Programme (PFP)

International S & T Cooperation

International S & T Cooperation

S & T for Socio Economic Programme

• National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC)
• Science For Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED)
• National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB)
• State Science & Technology Programme
• Patent Facilitation Programme (PFP)

Technology Missions Division

• Water Technology Initiative Programme
• Clean Energy Research Initiative
• Nano Science & Technology Mission
• National Super Computing Mission

Women Scientists Programs

• Women Scientists Scheme
  • Women Scientist Scheme-A(WOS-A): Research in Basic/Applied Science
  • Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B): S&T interventions for Societal Benefit
  • Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C): Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for the Self-Employment
  • Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN)
  • Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE)
• Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) jointly with Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF)

Autonomous Science & Technology Institutions

• Agharkar Research Institute, Pune
• Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational-Sciences, Nanital
• Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow
• Bose Institute, Kolkata
• Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Mumbai
• International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials, Hyderabad
• Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali
• Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
• National Innovation Foundation
• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore
• Raman Research Institute, Bangalore
• Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology
• S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata
• The Institute of Advanced Study in Science & Technology, Guwahati
• Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)
• Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun
• Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi
• North East Centre for Technology Application & Reach (NECTAR)

Attached Institutions

• National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO)
• Survey of India

Useful Links

• Science & Technology Articles
• Strides E-News Letter
• India Science (DD Science)
• India Science, Technology and Innovation Portal (ISTI)

Source :  Department of Science & Technology (DST)