Maarg Manthan · Topic 17.1

S&T Policy Resolutions of 1958, 1983, 2003 and 2013

Science & Technology › Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India · Topic 17.1

India has had four major national policies on science and technology. The Scientific Policy Resolution of 1958, moved by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and adopted by Parliament, committed the state to promote scientific research and a scientific temper. The Technology Policy Statement of 1983, issued under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, stressed technological self-reliance and the use of indigenous technology. The Science and Technology Policy of 2003, released under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with the slogan Jai Vigyan, sought to raise research spending to 2 percent of GDP and to link science with the economy. The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of 2013, announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Indian Science Congress in Kolkata, put innovation at the centre and aimed at a people-centric ecosystem.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India

At a Glance

1958 Scientific Policy Resolution, Nehru
1983 Technology Policy Statement, Indira Gandhi
2003 S&T Policy, Vajpayee, Jai Vigyan
2013 STI Policy, Manmohan Singh
Target 2 percent of GDP on R&D
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India

Where Does It Fit?

This is the first topic of the macro on science and technology policy and institutions. The four policies set out the direction that later institutions such as DST, CSIR and SERB follow. Previous topic: Rukmini (GSAT-7) Naval Communication Satellite. Next topic: Technology Vision Document 2035.

What Did the Four Policies Say?

Policy	Main features
Scientific Policy Resolution, 1958	Adopted by Parliament on 4 March 1958 on the initiative of Nehru, with Homi Bhabha and S S Bhatnagar as key advisers. It aimed to foster, promote and sustain scientific research in all branches, to train scientists, to ensure adequate recognition and to secure for the people the benefits of science. It is the root of the idea of scientific temper
Technology Policy Statement, 1983	Issued in January 1983 after the Government found a gap between science and its use in industry. It stressed technological self-reliance, indigenous technology, selective import and a focus on employment, energy, and use of local resources
Science and Technology Policy, 2003	Released in January 2003 at the Indian Science Congress. Set a goal of raising spending on R&D to 2 percent of GDP, called for investment in basic research, a stronger link of research with industry and the nation’s needs, and protection of intellectual property
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, 2013	Released on 3 January 2013 at the 100th Indian Science Congress, Kolkata. Added innovation to the title, aimed at a larger role for private sector in R&D, wider participation of women, rural innovation, and a 2 percent target again
Common themes	Self-reliance, human resource development, the link between research and economy, and public funding of basic science
Gap	Actual R&D spending has stayed near 0.6 to 0.7 percent of GDP
New policy	A fresh national policy was being drafted from 2020 onward. Check the latest position

Why Were These Policies Important and What Are Their Gaps?

Institution building: the 1958 resolution led to labs, IITs and atomic and space programmes
Self-reliance: the 1983 statement addressed dependence on foreign technology
Economic link: the 2003 policy tried to connect research with industry and markets
Innovation: the 2013 policy added innovation, inclusion and public private partnership
Low spending: India’s gross expenditure on R&D is low compared with China (about 2.4 percent) and South Korea (above 4 percent)
Private share: private firms fund a smaller share of R&D than in developed economies
Researchers: India has fewer researchers per million people than major economies
Implementation: policies often lacked targets, funding and monitoring

What Else Should You Remember?

Scientific temper: an attitude of questioning and reasoning, a fundamental duty under Article 51A(h)
Nehru’s book: The Discovery of India popularised the phrase scientific temper
Homi Bhabha: founded the atomic energy programme in 1954
S S Bhatnagar: first Director of CSIR
IITs: the first IIT was set up at Kharagpur in 1951
Space programme: INCOSPAR was set up in 1962 and ISRO in 1969
Department of Science and Technology: set up in 1971, as in Department of Science and Technology (DST)
Indian Science Congress: the annual science meeting began in 1914 and is organised by the Indian Science Congress Association
Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan: a campaign of 2015 to promote science in schools
Science policy and gender: the 2013 policy highlighted women in science
ANRF: the Anusandhan National Research Foundation was set up by law in 2023 to fund research
PM-STIAC: the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council
Principal Scientific Adviser: an office that advises the Prime Minister on science
Technology Vision: the long term plan is in Technology Vision Document 2035
Link to HRD: skill and research training is in Science and Technology as a Source of Human Resource Development
Link to institutions: see Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Caution: dates of release differ in some sources, so remember the year and prime minister

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Years: 1958, 1983, 2003, 2013
Leaders: Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh
Themes: scientific temper, self-reliance, innovation
Current affairs link: new STI policy and ANRF
Common errors: giving 2 percent as achieved or mixing the policy names

As an analytical point, India’s policies have been good at stating goals but weak on funding and delivery. Raising public and private R&D spending and linking labs with industry are the repeated recommendations.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Years Four policies
Aims Self-reliance, innovation
Gap Spending

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Technology Vision Document 2035. Next topic: Technology Vision Document 2035.

Key People and Terms

Scientific temper Rational outlook
GERD Gross expenditure on R&D
STI Science, technology and innovation
ISCA Indian Science Congress Association
PSA Principal Scientific Adviser
ANRF Anusandhan National Research Foundation

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

1958: Nehru; 1983: Indira Gandhi.
2003: Vajpayee, Jai Vigyan; 2013: Manmohan Singh.
2013 policy released at Kolkata.
R&D target: 2 percent of GDP.
Scientific temper: Article 51A(h).

Do Not Confuse With

1958 and 1983 Scientific policy versus technology policy
2003 and 2013 S&T policy versus STI policy
Basic and applied research Knowledge versus use

Memory Hook

Fifty-eight Nehru’s temper, eighty-three self-reliance, oh-three Jai Vigyan, thirteen innovation.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for years, leaders and aims. These points help.

Evolution Four stages
Gaps Spending
Way forward Industry link

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Trace the evolution of India’s science and technology policy since 1958 and suggest reforms.”

How to Answer

1958 Foundation.
1983 Self-reliance.
2003 and 2013 Economy and innovation.
Reform Spending.

GS Relevance

Prelims: years, prime ministers and key aims of each policy. GS Paper 3: science and technology, innovation policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Scientific Policy Resolution of 1958?

The Scientific Policy Resolution of 1958 was a statement adopted by Parliament on the initiative of Prime Minister Nehru. It committed the state to promote scientific research, train scientists, give them recognition and secure the benefits of science for the people. It is seen as the base of India's science policy and scientific temper.

What did the Technology Policy Statement of 1983 emphasise?

The Technology Policy Statement of 1983, issued under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, emphasised technological self-reliance. It called for developing indigenous technology, careful import of foreign technology only where needed, using local resources and skills, and technology that creates jobs and saves energy.

What was special about the Science and Technology Policy of 2003?

The Science and Technology Policy of 2003, announced under Prime Minister Vajpayee, added the slogan Jai Vigyan to Jai Jawan Jai Kisan. It aimed to raise R&D spending to 2 percent of GDP, strengthen basic research, link research with industry and protect intellectual property.

What is the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013?

The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013 was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 100th Indian Science Congress in Kolkata. It put innovation at the heart of policy, encouraged private sector investment in R&D, supported inclusive and rural innovation, and again set a target of 2 percent of GDP.

What percentage of GDP does India spend on research?

India's gross expenditure on research and development has been about 0.6 to 0.7 percent of GDP in recent years, well below the policy goal of 2 percent and the levels of countries like China, South Korea and Israel. The Government is trying to raise private sector investment through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The 2003 S&T Policy used the slogan Jai Vigyan.

True

Under Vajpayee.

2 The Technology Policy Statement was issued in 1958.

False

It was issued in 1983.

3 The STI Policy 2013 was released at the Indian Science Congress in Kolkata.