Secretary | DST |Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India
Mr. Ashutosh Sharma is Secretary to the Government of India since January 2015, heading the Department of Science and Technology (DST), where he helped initiate several new programs related to: infrastructure and human capacity building; innovation and startups; R&D in advanced manufacturing, waste processing, clean energy and cyber-physical systems; industry-academia cooperation; science communication; women scientists; and major international collaborations in the areas of priority for the nation.
Ashutosh received his PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNYAB; 1988), his MS from the Pennsylvania State University (1984) and B.Tech. from IIT Kanpur (1982). He has been a professor (1997-), an Institute Chair Professor (2007-) and the Head (2003-05) of Chemical Engineering, and the founding Coordinator of Nanoscience Center and Advanced Imaging Center at the Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur.
Ashutosh’s research contributions are highly interdisciplinary, spanning a wide spectrum in nanotechnology; thin polymer films; nanocomposites and devices in energy, health and environment; functional interfaces; micro/nano-mechanics of soft matter; nano-patterning and nanofabrication; colloid and interfacial engineering; biomaterials &bio surfaces; wetting and adhesion. He has published over 350 peer reviewed papers, filed over 15 patents, given over 150 invited or keynote conference presentations and mentored a successful nanotechnology startup.
Ashutosh is a recipient of numerous honors and awards including the inaugural Infosys Prize in Engineering and Computer Science, TWAS Science Prize of the World Academy of Sciences, Bessel Research Award of the Humboldt Foundation, J. C. Bose Fellowship, S. S. Bhatnagar Prize, Homi J. Bhabha Award of UGC, The Syed Husain Zaheer Medal and the MeghnadSaha Medal of INSA, Distinguished Alumni Awards of IIT Kanpur and SUNY Buffalo, Firodia Award, the Life-time Achievement Award of the Indian Science Congress and several Doctor of Science honor is causa, including from SUNY Buffalo, and Jadavpur University.
Ashutosh is an elected Fellow of The Indian National Science Academy, The Indian Academy of Sciences, The National Academy of Sciences, India and Indian National Academy of Engineering, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Asia-Pacific Academy of Materials. He has also served on the Councils of the first two. He has been an associate editor of ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Proceedings of Indian National Science Academy and ASME Journal of Micro- and Nano-Manufacturing and has been on the editorial boards of several journals: Carbon; ACS Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; Current Science; Nanomaterials and Energy; Chemical Engineering Science; Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering and Indian Chemical Engineer.
Ashutosh’s other interests are in ancient history and philosophy, poetry and art. Scientific Details: http://www.iitk.ac.in/che/as.htm/
- Under your able stewardship, DST is witnessing substantial milestones to enhance India’s developmental endeavors from global to local level. How has the organization been successful to become the bedrock of India’s scientific engine in the 21st century?
The Department of Science and Technology completes 50 years on 3rd May 2021 and looking back at the journey it becomes evident that the Department has played a pivotal role in successfully launching India onto the path of scientific leadership. The DST supports and encourages the whole gamut of the S & T ecosystem from seeding and capacity building in cutting-edge research areas; translational research; technology development and deployment; innovation and startup ecosystem; and international collaborations. It nurtures 25 Autonomous Bodies (ABs). These include 16 research institutions, 4 specialized knowledge institutions and S&T service organizations and 5 professional bodies. These institutions have a long and varied history and all of them have significantly contributed to the S&T ecosystem of the country. Along with this, the Department has always ensured broadening of the STI ecosystem by encouraging young scientists, creating equitable opportunities for participation and supporting innovations at all levels of society. The Department has also played a seminal role in establishing bilateral ties that augment the course of our national STI related growth.
My association as the Secretary began in January of 2015 and it gives me immense pride to look at the collective efforts of the Department in catalysing India’s scientific journey during my tenure. The latest global statistics are a testament to our growth. India has doubled its per capita R&D expenditure at PPP in the last 10 years along with the Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) increasing by more than 3 times in the same period. A personal moment of achievement has been the doubling of women’s participation in extramural R&D projects in the last 6 years. The last decade has doubled the R&D personnel which now stands at 3.42 lakhs. There are several other indicators which substantiate this stance. For the first time, India has ranked at 48 in the Global Innovation Index, up by 33 positions from 81st rank during last 5 years. The Department has played a proactive role in the current pandemic by invigorating the research ecosystem and supporting innovations related to combating COVID-19. We have also begun the process of formulating a new national Science Technology and Innovation Policy that will significantly reorient the nation’s approach to the STI ecosystem in alignment with our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s clarion call for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Is India’s National Science Policy 2013 swinging between theoretical and practical applicability as per contemporary trends? How can we unquestionably realize an effective all-inclusive policy addressing some challenges like climate change, environment and sustainable development?
The STIP 2013, with aspiration to discover and deliver science-led solutions to foster sustainable and inclusive growth, has provided multiple milestone recommendations. The policy has addressed a plethora of issues related to private sector participation in STI, women’s participation in STEM, awareness and scientific temper, R & D etc. However, there are certain gaps in the policy that create a challenge in terms of translating the policy directive into successful implementation strategies. There is a strong need for connecting S&T to Innovation, Industry and Society for effective implementation of the policy.
Since STIP 2013 was formulated, India made some unprecedented progress in STI. STI in India is undergoing rapid transformation in recent years in terms of relevance, scope and scale. India has also evidenced a sharp rise in disruptive and impactful technologies along with the challenges and opportunities created due to it. The current pandemic is likely to have short and medium term impact on STI resources, strategies and priorities. In the backdrop of this, a country needs a strong, decentralized, evidence informed, experts driven, bottom-up and inclusive policy to supplement the recent STI developments and to boost the STI ecosystem. With this aspiration the country is currently formulating its 5th National STI policy by the end of 2020.
To address the theoretical and practical applicability issue, STIP-2020 is consulting with the multiple stakeholders of the STI ecosystem in the sectors such as research, academia, industry, health, environment, climate, agriculture etc. to understand the sector specific challenges. Extensive public consultations were also carried out to understand the ground realities and expectations of the public. Four month long expert driven thematic discussions were conducted to build a strong theoretical base for the policy. The consultation with Ministries and States is currently being conducted. The amalgamation of both expert driven evidence informed deliberations and capturing people’s opinion and aspirations would build a strong theoretical and practical base for the upcoming policy which in turn will translate the policy into effective program level implementation.
- How and to what extent do you feel that youth acting as ‘Catalyst of Science’ are the harbinger of disseminating science, technology and innovations from Lab-to-Land, especially at Ground Zero?
“If we are to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with children.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
It is my strong belief that our children are our best shot at making our world a better place. It is within them that the vision and transformational capacity of a new future lies. In my extensive travelling around the country, meeting new people, hearing their ideas and looking at their innovations, this belief has only strengthened. The best innovations arise from situations of scarcity and crisis and in our nation of “jugaad” the most creative expressions come from children and young people. As a Department, we have always been in full recognition of this capacity, leading to formalization through scholarships, fellowship programs and a diverse set of program level interventions to encourage participation of young children in science.
One of the greatest success stories for this has been the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) program which aims to attract talent to the study of science from an early age and build the required human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the R&D base and the Science & Technology (S&T) system of the country. In 2019, About 98 INSPIRE Internship camps were organized during the year wherein about 20,000 students studying science in Class XI were provided an opportunity to interact with science icons from India and abroad including Nobel Laureates. 10,220 INSPIRE scholarships were offered during the year. This year, despite the trying circumstances, we have received over 6 lakh applications for the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) which aims to motivate one million original ideas/ innovations rooted in science and societal applications by students in classes 6 to 10 by to foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children. This was largely an outcome of the creative campaign where inspirational personalities motivated children to participate. To ensure that gender disparity can be addressed from the foundational stages, we launched the VigyanJyoti Scheme to encourage girl students for STEM careers especially in underrepresented areas for women. DST has time and again through the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) worked towards last mile connectivity through community radios taking the message of science to children far and wide. New programs are continuously being envisaged and ongoing programs are being expanded to ensure every child in the country develops a scientific temper becoming harbingers of change in the years to come.
- SCIENCE has taken a new lead in the COVID-19 times to realize SDGs and aspirations of New India by 2022. What, in your considered opinion, are the prospects of leveraging science towards accelerating our country’s actions and targets?
In a large-scale outbreak such as COVID-19, India has shown an exceptional ability to contain and manage the spread of the pandemic as compared to many developed countries. While doing so our country has exhibited our great potential in rapidly responding to the crisis especially the health and technology sectors in terms of diagnostics, recovery, vaccine development, developing rapid technological capacities etc. While this pandemic has altered our lives significantly, it also has created multiple new dimensions of developments such as making our country a global leader in manufacturing. The idea of sustainable and futuristic development takes a centre stage in this situation as a result, aligning countries S&T goals with the SDGs becomes of utmost importance. As the new and rapid technology development garners the importance, DST has been playing a proactive role since the beginning of the pandemic for developing and promoting the technologies for prevention, cure, and management of the pandemic.
In the post Covid world, public health, new age technologies, MSME, underprivileged sectors of the society etc. are the areas which will need a boost and Science and Technologies can work as catalysts in the development of these areas. Science and Technology-led innovation can revitalize the sectors affected due to the pandemic. To compensate for the losses in most of the sectors during the crisis, a country needs speedy growth and development. At the same time a country needs to be prepared for any such crisis in the future with a strong forecast, mitigation, recovery and rehabilitation mechanism. STI plays an important role by developing and deploying disruptive and futuristic technologies. Technology as a sector can contribute in job creation, startup incubation, developing and encouraging grassroot and frugal technologies especially for rural areas and agriculture, developing world class medical products, technologies and healthcare service. To realize the opportunities and aspirations, S & T needs to work in the alignment of all sectors.
- A lot more has been spoken on Atma-NirbharAbhiyan towards inclusive and self-reliant culture. How is the Department of Science and Technology ensuring that we drive sustainable action through science, technology and innovation?
In the wake of the current pandemic Hon’ble PM gave a clarion call for achieving a “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. To realize this, development of indigenous technologies and encouragement to grass root level innovation needs a greater focus. The advanced S & T capacities should also be backed by the idea of self-reliance. As India marches ahead on a sustainable development pathway that includes economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustainability towards achieving an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, greater focus on development of indigenous technologies and grass root level innovation would be required. COVID 19 has created an urge to build resilience to future disruptions of different nature, the knowledge creation and tech development is essential in this context. The GDP of the country is hampered due to multiple reasons. there are chances of GDP loss due to import in the upcoming future. If this import can be reduced by developing indigenous technologies and modes of production, the potential GDP loss can be curtailed.
To foster real development, it is essential to reach the unreached sections of the society through vocal for local approach. In order to have a free flow of knowledge, we must have last mile connections besides creating new small business opportunities, social entrepreneurship, and grassroot organizations and NGOs.
- Climate action is now counted in years, rather than decades. Do you agree with the statement? What are your thoughts on spearheading science-related actions towards reasonably realizing to strive for 1.5C, climate neutral and resilient future on track?
Climate change is the most pressing issue of our times. How every nation in the world responds to the crisis collectively will decide the future of our planet. The crisis has presented us with a unique opportunity to come together globally and create a sustainable future for our predecessors and the planet at large. The Paris Climate agreement became a watershed moment in this battle envisioning the possibilities of what could happen if the world truly came together.
India launched its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008 and DST was entrusted with responsibility of coordinating and implementing two national missions on climate change. These include the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC). The Strategic Programmes, Large Initiatives and Coordinated Action Enabler (SPLICE) Division currently implements these national missions. Over the years, well-strategized inclusive efforts have marked the development of the two missions to systematically increase awareness at all societal levels and build overall community resilience to climate change. As many as 15 Centres of Excellence, 30 Major R&D programs, 14 Network programs which comprise of nearly 100 projects, 6 Task Forces; 25 State CC Centres, 8 Technology Watch Groups and 8 Human capacity building programs have been launched. During last 6 years, nearly 1500 research papers in high impact factor journals were published. More than 100 new techniques have been developed and nearly 50,000 people are trained, 1.5 lakh given exposure as part of these missions. More than 1200 scientists and students are working in these mission projects.In 2019, the Human and Institutional Capacity Building Programme (HICAB) was launched which led to 3 Centres of Excellence (CoEs), 8 Major R&D Programmes (MRDPs), 2 projects under State Network Programmes and 1 project for the Vulnerability profile for India: State and District level.
We have done exceptionally well in climate change mitigation area. India as part of Nationally Determined Contributions committed to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20-25% by 2020 and 33 to 35 % by 2030 from 2005 level. We already achieved Emission intensity of our GDP by 21% between 2005 and 2014. We targeted to achieve about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossilfuelfossil fuelbased energy resources by 2030: We already have renewable energy share account for 34.6% of the total installed power capacity- 13% hydro and 22% renewable. Wind power capacity is 36,625 MW, making India the fourth-largest wind power producer in the world. The government targeted of installing 20 GW of solar power by 2022 which we achieved much ahead of time by 2018. India has set a new target of achieving 100 GW of solar power by 2022.
