India Need a Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology (CCST)
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Source: The post has been created, based on the article “A cabinet committee on science and technology is a must today’” published in “Live mint” on 27th January 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Science and Technology and GS Paper 2- Governance-Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Context: The article advocates for creating a Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology (CCST) in India, chaired by the Prime Minister. This committee would coordinate policies, manage trade-offs, oversee strategic plans, and strengthen India’s position in the global technology race.

Why Does India Need a Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology (CCST)?

  1. Global Politics Driven by Technology
  • Technology is now the foundation of global politics.
  • The U.S. protects its semiconductor and AI industries as national interests, while China uses its tech sector to further Communist Party goals.
  • India needs a strategic approach to navigate this global tech race and respond to challenges like sanctions and export controls.
  1. Managing Cross-Ministerial Trade-Offs
  • Ministries often face conflicting goals. For example, while the railway ministry plans full electrification for modernization, diesel locomotives are critical for defence preparedness and troop mobility.
  • A CCST can resolve such trade-offs by ensuring coordinated decisions across departments.
  1. Modernizing Strategic Programme Management
  • Expertise in technology is now spread across private industries, research institutions, and public enterprises.
  • National missions like AI, quantum computing, genomics, and aerospace need cross-sector collaboration for effective implementation.
  • A CCST can unify these efforts and balance the need for speed with long-term planning.
  1. Making Strategic Decisions
  • Technology policy requires prioritization: Should India prioritize market competition or global scale?
  • Should climate goals outweigh energy needs for AI data centers?
  • A CCST can provide direction for such dilemmas and ensure alignment between Union and state policies.

What Can India Learn from China?

  1. China has set up a Central Science and Technology Commission (CSTC) to oversee its tech ecosystem, approve mega-projects, and align science with political goals.
  2. Although this approach has risks, it has helped China maintain a strong global tech presence.

Conclusion

The establishment of a CCST would help India navigate and excel in the ongoing global tech competition, ensuring strategic alignment and effective use of resources at both the national and state levels. This approach mirrors actions taken by other major powers like China, emphasizing the strategic necessity of such a committee.

Question for practice:

Examine the need for a Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology (CCST) in India and its potential role in addressing global technological challenges and internal policy trade-offs.


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