Science & Technology Policy

Module 9 · ISRO, nuclear energy, biotech, research funding, and the politics of innovation.

Science Technology Innovation Policy

Topics

ISRO and the Space Program — From Aryabhata to Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, and India's commercial space push
India's Nuclear Program — Civil and military dimensions, NSG, liability law, thorium strategy
Research Funding & Institutions — CSIR, DST, DBT, IISc, IITs; India's R&D spending gap
Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals — Vaccines, generics, clinical trials, stem cell research, gene editing
Digital India & IT Policy — Software exports, hardware gap, semiconductor mission, data centres
Emerging Technologies — Quantum computing, AI, 5G/6G, green hydrogen, critical minerals

Why Science & Technology Policy Matters

Science and technology are not neutral forces — they are shaped by policy decisions about funding, regulation, intellectual property, and national security. India's S&T journey, from the atomic energy program of the 1950s to the semiconductor mission of the 2020s, reveals how technological ambition intersects with geopolitical strategy, economic development, and social equity.

This module examines the institutions, policies, and controversies that define India's scientific landscape. It asks: Who funds research? Who benefits from it? And who is left behind by the digital and technological transitions that are reshaping Indian society?

Resources

Official Sources:

Department of Science and Technology (DST) — dst.gov.in
ISRO — isro.gov.in
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) — dae.gov.in
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) — dbtindia.gov.in

Reports:

Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020
NITI Aayog, National Strategy for AI (2018)
ISRO, Annual Report — isro.gov.in