Cabinet to discuss science policy

The Cabinet is expected to approve a new science policy that lays greater thrust on innovation, encouraging women scientists with an aim to positioning India among the top five scientific powers in the world by 2020.

The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy, 2013, is a revision of the 2003 document which sought to bring science and technology together and emphasised on the need for higher investment into research and development to address national problems. The STI Policy is scheduled to be released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 3 at the centenary edition of the Indian Science Congress in Kolkata.

Officials said the aim of the policy is to accelerate the pace of discovery, diffusion and delivery of science-led solutions for serving the aspirational goals of India for faster, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The key features of the STI Policy, 2013 include making careers in science, research and innovation attractive and establishing world-class infrastructure for research and development for gaining global leadership in some select frontier areas of science.