The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) is the chief advisor to the government on matters related to scientific policy.[1] It is currently a Cabinet Secretary level position created in 1999 by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.[2] The first appointed Principal Scientific Adviser was A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[3] This was followed by Rajagopala Chidambaram who held the rank of a Minister of State and was the PSA for 16 years.[4] The current PSA is Ajay Kumar Sood.[5]

The 'Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser', through the Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) helps scientific cross-sectoral synergy across ministries, institutions, and the industry.[6]

Appointees

There have been a total of four PSAs so far:

No. Portrait Principal Scientific Adviser Took office Left office Ref.
1
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Kalam, A. P. J. AbdulA. P. J. Abdul Kalam
(15 October 1931–27 July 2015)		19992002
2
Rajagopala Chidambaram
Chidambaram, RajagopalaRajagopala Chidambaram
(born 12 November 1936)		20022018
3
K. VijayRaghavan
VijayRaghavan, KrishnaswamyK. VijayRaghavan
(born 3 February 1954)		April 2018April 2022
4
Ajay K. Sood
Sood, Ajay K.Ajay K. Sood
(born 26 June 1951)		April 2022Incumbent[7]

Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India advises the government in science and technology policies and interventions that are of strategic socio-economic importance to the country. This is done in collaboration with various ministries, institutions, academia, and industry. The PM-STIAC is one of the catalysts for such tasks and also oversees the implementation of the tasks.[8]

Nine National Missions

On 6 March 2019, the PSA announced nine new science and technology missions with a focus on 'Science for People and People for Science':[9][10]

Other major projects include Research Clusters, Earth Museum, Brahmaputra River System, I-STEM Facilities Map, and Energy Security.[11]

Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)

The Council allows the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to ascertain the status, challenges and interventions needed in the science and technology domain so as to advise the PM is as best a manner as possible.[12] The PM's STIAC increases the collaboration and focus needed to answer complex problems in appropriate time periods.[13] One of the ways this is done is through it missions.[13]

Members

Members include:[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) | India Science, Technology & Innovation - ISTI Portal". www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Development : About Us". cabsec.gov.in. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Remembering India's missile man APJ Abdul Kalam: His 10 big achievements". The Times of India. 15 October 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  4. ^ Somasekhar, M. (2 April 2018). "Is the Centre downgrading the office of Principal Scientific Advisor?". The Hindu @businessline. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  5. ^ Roy, Esha (21 April 2022). "Renowned physicist Ajay Sood appointed new PSA". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Principal Scientific Adviser Holds Meeting with Leading MNCs to Position India as a Favoured Destination for R&D". pib.gov.in. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  7. ^ Mohan, Vishwa. "Ajay Kumar Sood of IISc Bangalore appointed new Principal Scientific Advisor". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Overview | Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India". psa.gov.in. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Principal Scientific Adviser details nine new science and technology missions for the country". Research Matters. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  10. ^ "National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NMQTA)". tifac.org.in. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b (6 March 2019). Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STAIC) Press Release. PIB.
  12. ^ "Nine Science and Technology Missions with Focus on Science for People and People for Science". pib.gov.in. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Nine Science and Technology Missions with Focus on Science for People and People for Science". pib.gov.in. Ministry of Science & Technology. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2020.((cite web)): CS1 maint: others (link)
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