India's innovation policy is a story of resilience, aspiration, and transformation. From a technological follower to a leader, India has charted its own course of development, driven by scientific excellence and self-reliance. The policy landscape, shaped by historical events and changing needs, reveals a nation that is determined to harness science and technology for its progress and prosperity. How has India's innovation policy evolved over time to meet the changing demands and opportunities of the global and domestic contexts? To answer this question, we need to trace the history of India's science, technology and innovation (STI) policy from its inception in 1958 to its latest iteration in 2020. We will see how India has adapted its STI policy to address the challenges of poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, health, education, energy, security, and competitiveness. We will also explore how India has leveraged its STI policy to create a vibrant ecosystem of innovation that fosters creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.

The Genesis: 1958-1983

The seed of India's innovation journey was planted in 1958 with the Scientific Policy Resolution, aiming to cultivate scientific temper. With the creation of the Science Policy Resolution (SPR), a groundbreaking document drafted by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, India began a revolutionary path in 1958. SPR 1958, which had its roots in Nehru's idea of India as a welfare state, acknowledged that science and technology were essential to attaining socioeconomic advancement. The resolution underlined the necessity of making significant investments in research and technology in order to advance industrialization and give all residents access to basic utilities. Nehru saw science and technology as tools for transforming the country and closing the divide with affluent countries like the US. SPR 1958 sought to stimulate a culture where creative skills were recognized and possibilities in scientific activities were abundant, with a focus on the development of a cadre of top-notch scientists, especially in agriculture and defense. However, it was in 1983 that the nation articulated its commitment to technological self-reliance through the Technology Policy Statement. This era saw major investments in space and nuclear science, yet Desai (1980) observed limitations in translating research outcomes into market-ready products. Also Prof. Chaturvedi and Srinivas noted that changes in FERA and patent policies in the 1970s unintentionally weakened science and technology capacities in universities. A paradoxical consequence of expanding higher education was a limited translation of research into tangible products.

Policy Evolution: 2003-2013

The Science and Technology Policy Statements of 2003 emphasized the need for a symbiotic relationship between science, technology, and indigenous knowledge. By the beginning of the 21st century, India had established a strong foundation in science and technology, both in terms of institutions and human resources. However, it was also recognized that science and technology had undergone significant changes in their generation, application, and societal impact. Science had become more transnational, involving multiple disciplines and countries. This required the formation of institutional networks and international collaborations. Even in basic research areas, substantial investments in R&D were essential.

Fast forward to 2013, the National Innovation Decade celebrated by the National Innovation Council marked a pivotal moment. The focus shifted towards building a robust National Innovation Ecosystem and a knowledge-based economy. STIP 2013 emphasized the importance of directing scientific discoveries and the outcomes of science and technology efforts toward major development goals (agricultural, industry, water, health, environment, and infrastructure).

India's involvement in international mega-science projects like the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) increased as a result of this policy. 

Milestones: Achievements and Initiatives

India's strides in recent years are noteworthy. From being the third-largest contributor to SCI journals to ranking 40th in the Global Innovation Index, the nation has showcased its prowess. The participation of women in extramural R&D doubled in the last six years, and there's been a 40% increase in R&D personnel.

As the third nation to create its own DNA fingerprinting probe, India was first introduced to DNA fingerprinting in 1988 when researchers at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR–CCMB) perfected the technique and made it operational.

On May 11, 1998, India conducted five underground nuclear tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan. These tests, known as “Pokhran-II”, demonstrated India’s scientific and technological prowess. The then-prime minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, announced that this day would be celebrated as “National Technology Day” every year to honor the achievements of Indian scientists and engineers.

Chandrayaan-I was India’s first-ever mission to the moon, launched on 22nd October 2008 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The spacecraft hovered around the moon to deliver chemical, photo geologic, and mineralogical mapping to ISRO. India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission successfully orbited the Moon and captured high-resolution images of its unexplored south pole, advancing the scientific knowledge of lunar geology and water distribution.

India's first-ever interplanetary mission, a historic first. Mars-Orbiter Mission(MOM) established India's position in the space exploration community. MOM, which was launched on November 5, 2013, investigated the topography, morphology, atmosphere, and mineralogy of Mars. In addition to the scientific advancements, MOM is praised for its affordability.

India has achieved remarkable milestones in the fields of COVID-19 vaccination, space exploration, and entrepreneurship through its various initiatives and projects. Some of the highlights are:

India has registered its highest-ever annual FDI inflow of US $74.39 billion in 2019-20, thanks to the Make in India and Startup India initiatives that have boosted domestic and foreign investments in the country.

India has also launched the National Startup Awards to recognize and reward outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers building innovative products or solutions and scalable enterprises.

India has administered over 200 crore doses of COVID vaccines as of October 2023, making it one of the fastest and largest vaccination drives in the world.

India has also approved nine COVID vaccines, five of which have been locally made, and has started vaccinating children of the age group 12+ years with Covovax, Corbevax, and Covaxin.

India is also gearing up for its first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, which aims to send three astronauts into low Earth orbit for up to seven days by 2025.

India is also collaborating with other countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to create a Special Working Group for Startups and Innovation (SWG) to foster cooperation and exchange of best practices among the member states.

STIP 2020- A Paradigm Shift

Amidst the challenges posed by Covid-19, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP) of 2020 emerged as a beacon of change. It was jointly initiated by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor and the Department of Science and Technology, and it embodied core principles of decentralization, evidence-informed decision-making, a bottom-up approach, expert-driven insights, and inclusivity. With four tracks, STIP 2020 set out on a multifaceted journey.

• The first track concentrated on creating an archive of various voices through extensive public and expert consultation.
• 21 expert-led collectives offered evidence-based recommendations during thematic group consultations.
• States and ministries engaged in active participation in Track III, resulting in significant interactions.
• Utilizing high-level participation at both the national and international levels, the apex-level multi-stakeholder consultation emerged as the unifying factor.

Key Recommendations: Paving the Way Forward

The Future Roadmap presented by STIP 2020 called for the creation of a National ST & I Observatory, the adoption of hybrid funding models, the adoption of open science frameworks, and the establishment of Higher Education Research Centers. A new era of innovation governance was ushered in with the establishment of a Strategic Technology Board and the integration of cutting-edge AI and machine learning tools for the preservation of heritage knowledge. Furthermore, the policy promotes the establishment of cooperative industry-academic research consortiums to cultivate synergies between the private and academic domains. Furthermore, STIP 2020 emphasizes the necessity of fostering an innovative culture by means of specialized innovation hubs and incubators, thereby offering a favorable environment for the emergence of innovative concepts and technologies.

Conclusion

India has come a long way in its innovation journey, from a modest start to a global leader in science, technology, and innovation. The policies of the past built the base, and STIP 2020 is guiding the way toward a future where India is self-reliant, inclusive, and at the forefront of emerging technologies. India’s innovation saga is not over yet but rather continues with a passion for exploration and a vision for a better, more advanced tomorrow.

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REFERENCES:

• amritmohatsav.nic.in
• indiabioscience.org
• Draft on 5th Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
• thesciencepolicyforum.org/initiatives
• Some more articles published on Hindustan Times and the Hindu