The report outlines issues and challenges and identifies pathways for evolving State S&T Councils into strategic enablers of innovation, aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- State S&T Councils were established in 1971 under the initiative of the National Council for Science and Technology.
Issues and challenges in functioning of State S&T Councils
- Inadequate financial resources and utilization issues: E.g. Uneven funding & delayed budgets limit operations and research sustainability.
- Shortage of skilled manpower: E.g. Unfilled scientific positions and poor work culture reduce research output.
- Weak inter-institutional and industry linkages (low global exposure and poor tech-transfers) and
- Regulatory and administrative bottlenecks: It leads to delays & unaccountability.
Recommendations of NITI Aayog
- Financial Support and Resources:
- State governments should allocate at least 0.5% of GSDP as S&T budget.
- Shifting from core-grant by the Central Government to project-based and performance-based grants.
- Human Resources:
- Maintain a 70:30 scientific to non-scientific staff ratio
- Enhance capabilities via Faculty and Researcher secondment and utilizing retired scientists from centre-level.
- Collaboration and Linkages with industries & redefine programs (map state resources with institutional partnerships)
