The Department of Science and Technology was set up in May 1971 with the objective of promoting research in the new areas and to play the role of nodal department for organizing, coordinating and promoting science and technology in the country.
Over the years, the department has evolved policy guidelines provided mechanisms for coordination in the areas of S & T in which a number of institutions and professional bodies.
The department has been playing a crucial role identifying and promoting front-line areas on research and development in various disciplines of science and engineering. It is also playing catalytic role in supporting the setting of new R & D alone with modernization of existing one. Identification of research in high priorities areas has helped in strengthening the infrastructure and research in selected areas of science and technology.
The department is also supporting different programmes related to Human Resource Development which aimed at identifying new talent and provide them with financial assistance in the form of fellowships for pursuing research. Also for the researches, the department supports training programmes, summer schools and contact programmes.
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To involve young scientists (below 35 years) in national S & T development process and to provide opportunities to them for pursuing exciting and innovative research ideas an exclusive scheme for young scientists is being implemented by the department. In order to motivate bright young minds at secondary school/ college levels and encourage then to stick to a carrier in science, a new scheme called Kishore Vagyanic Protsahan Yojana has been initiated.
A women scientist scheme has been launched during the year 2002 by the department. The Department of Science and Technology under its scheme on “Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research supports collaborative R&D projects jointly submitted by R & D institutes.
The department has guided 24 socio-economic ministries in the setting up of Science and Technology Advisory Committee for the formulation of long term/short terms joint technology development programmes. The department is also responsible for setting up an autonomous body -Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council with the objectives of generation of Techno-Market Survey (TMS) documents and enabling a Technology Information Systems.
Thus, the department of science and Technology has been catalytic in identifying, formulating and implementing a number of technology development programmes with the help of industries and socio-economic ministries and the efforts of the department in this direction has helped in the initiation of multi-institutional programmes in the emerging areas of technology.