Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)

Source: This post on Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) has been created based on the article “What role does CSTT play in standardising technical terms?”, published in The Hindu on 13^th Sep 2024.

Why in news?

The government, in line with the National Education Policy 2020, is enhancing technical education in Indian languages, including engineering and medicine. The CSTT has launched a new website providing technical terms in all 22 official Indian languages to support this initiative.

About the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)

1. About: The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It was established in 1961.

2. Objectives of CSTT: The primary objective of CSTT is to standardize and evolve scientific and technical terminology in Indian languages to ensure clarity and uniformity in usage across academic and professional spheres.

3. Aim: CSTT aims to encourage the use of Hindi and other Indian languages as mediums of instruction in higher education, particularly in technical and scientific disciplines, where English has traditionally been dominant.

Activities of CSTT:

1.  CSTT develops and publishes numerous glossaries and bilingual dictionaries, regularly updating them to reflect new advancements in science and technology.

2.  The organization conducts workshops, training programs, and seminars to promote standardized terminology among educators, students, researchers, and professionals.

3. It also works with state governments and institutions to develop scientific and technical terminology in regional languages, enhancing linguistic diversity.

4. It has introduced digital platforms and tools for easy access to scientific and technical terminology in multiple languages, benefiting students and professionals.

5. It also releases quarterly journals such as ‘Vigyan Garima Sindhu’ and ‘Gyan Garima Sindhu’.

6. CSTT is responsible for publishing glossaries, dictionaries, and other reference materials in Indian languages, covering a wide range of subjects such as science, technology, law, medicine, and engineering.

7. CSTT works closely with universities, research institutes, and professional bodies to introduce scientific and technical terms in Indian languages into curricula, textbooks, and research papers.

8. CSTT contributes to the implementation of the Official Language Policy of India, which emphasizes the use of Hindi in official and educational settings. It also provides technical assistance to other national bodies engaged in similar linguistic development work.

About the ‘Shabd’ Glossary Platform

1. The “Shabd” platform is a digital repository for CSTT’s glossaries.The “Shabd” portal was launched in March 2024.

2. It provides searchable access to technical terms across Indian languages.

3. Features: Users can search for terms by language, subject, dictionary type, and language pairs. The platform also allows for feedback on existing terms and supports the inclusion of digital glossaries from other institutions.

4.  Scope: The platform hosts around 322 glossaries, encompassing approximately 2,184,050 headwords. It covers a broad range of subjects, including Humanities, Social Sciences, Medical Sciences, Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, and more than 60 specific disciplines.

5. Process of Collating Terms: CSTT’s terminology is developed by Expert Advisory Committees comprising subject and language experts and linguists. These committees work to find equivalent terms in various languages and subject areas.

The terminology is utilized by Granth Academies, textbook boards, and institutions like NTA, NCERT, and AICTE for educational purposes.

UPSC Syllabus: Governance