The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 10 February 2026 at INSA, New Delhi. The partnership aims to promote collaborative activities in science communication, evidence-based policy research, and strengthen India’s STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation) policy ecosystem.
The programme began with welcome remarks by Dr. Brajesh Pandey, Executive Director, INSA. Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Former Senior Advisor, DST, explained the rationale behind the MoU and emphasized the need for sustained institutional collaboration for advancing evidence-based STI policy research.
Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, highlighted the complementary strengths of the two institutions in science communication, policy research, and academic engagement, noting that the partnership would enable meaningful impact in STI policy research. Prof. Anurag Agrawal, Vice President (Policy), INSA, stressed the importance of effective policy design to build a sustainable, future-ready science and innovation ecosystem.
Prof. Shekhar C. Mande, President, INSA, described the collaboration as significant in an era of rapid scientific and technological transformation and emphasized the need for strong policy foundations for societal well-being and human survival.
Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, congratulated both institutions and highlighted the importance of human-centric policies for disruptive technologies, citing tools like pilot studies and digital twins for assessing policy effectiveness.
The MoU will facilitate joint policy research, publications, pilot projects, capacity-building initiatives, outreach programmes, and stakeholder consultations, engaging government bodies, international organizations, think tanks, researchers, and young scholars.
Through this collaboration, INSA and CSIR-NIScPR reaffirm their commitment to advancing robust, inclusive, and forward-looking STI policies via research, knowledge exchange, and dialogue at both national and global levels.
देव मिलन उत्सुकता व लोगों की प्रतीक्षा का पर्व : महाशिवरात्रि – डॉ. कमल के. प्यासा
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
