NITI Aayog Report on State S&T Councils
The NITI Aayog released a report titled ‘Roadmap for Strengthening State Science and Technology Councils’ on July 10, 2025. The report emphasizes the need to transition from core grant support to project-based support for State Science and Technology (S&T) Councils.
Background and Significance
- State S&T Councils have been pivotal since the 1970s in decentralizing scientific governance to align with state-specific socioeconomic contexts.
- These councils fund scientific research, popularization, patent applications, and policy-support activities at the state level.
Current Funding Landscape
- Central government funding, primarily from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), constitutes a minor revenue portion for state councils.
- Example: Gujarat's ₹300 crore budget only received ₹1.07 crore from the Centre; Kerala received no central contribution for its ₹150 crore budget.
Recommendations
- Shift focus from core grants to project-based support to enhance accountability and performance.
- Improve governance within councils and strengthen ties with industrial units and public sector enterprises.
- Encourage directing resources to state-funded universities instead of centrally funded research institutes.
Findings
- Central institutions contribute significantly to India's S&T output, while state institutions have yet to make a substantial impact.
- There is a need for collective efforts from both Central and State institutions to accelerate India's S&T advancements.
Budget Analysis (2023-24 and 2024-25)
- Total funding for State S&T Councils increased by 17.65%, indicating growing investment in state-level scientific research and innovation.
- Disparities in fund allocation raised concerns about regional imbalances in S&T development.
- States like Kerala, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh utilized higher budgets compared to others.
- Maharashtra's budget increased by 130%, whereas Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand experienced budget cuts.
Challenges
- Over-reliance on core grants and insufficient efforts to secure project-based funding from various central entities.
- State S&T Councils need to better utilize available funding structures from the central government.
