Effective policies on different aspects of science, technology, and innovation could help realise the dreams of becoming “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and could reach science and technology to the masses, experts highlighted at a programme on public policy and governance.

“Four policies formulated by Department of Science and Technology (DST)—on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR), Liberalised Geospatial Guidelines and Scientific Research Infrastructure Sharing Maintenance and Networks (SRIMAN) would go a long way in taking benefits of science, technology and innovation to the common man and realise the dreams of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” stressed Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Adviser, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India at the programme organised by the University of Lucknow.  

He said that the Fifth Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) can play a significant role in creating India’s vision for STI led economic growth, the Policy on Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) could help empowering the society, the Policy on Scientific Research Infrastructure Sharing Maintenance and Networks (SRIMAN) can facilitate the creation, use, access, sharing, maintenance and disposal of  R&D infrastructure and the Liberalised Geospatial Guidelines and Policy could facilitate access to geospatial data and geospatial data services and mapping.

While acknowledging India’s progress in science and technology globally, Dr Anupam Jha, Professor of Law at the University of Delhi, highlighted that science policies should be so formulated that people can relate to science and technology, understand it and the benefits of science reach the last person of the society and country.

Dr. Varun Chachhar, Co-ordinator, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Institute of Democracy, University of Lucknow, University of Lucknow, underlined the importance of consultations and centre-state partnerships in the formulation of policies.