Compendium of S and T policy statements of India vol.1

Science Policy, as per UNESCO's definition, is "the sum of the executive and legislative measures taken to increase, organise and use national scientific and technological potential with the objective of achieving the country's overall aims and enhancing its international reputation". The formulation of S&T policy begins with the perception of a vision for the country and corresponding scenarios of mixed goods and services. It seeks to set the national scientific and technological goals and objectives and induces development of appropriate and inter-related policy instruments.

Science its development and applications has played a vital role in the emergence of modern India. The Policy planers in India, while recognising the importance of science and technology (S&T), having a major role in national development, has had put emphasis on its growth in the country, all through its Five-Year Plans, since 1950. The development of S&T in India has been to meet the social and techno-economic needs of the society which is not only spread over the vast geographical size/area, but has also uneven levels of economic growth, in relation to the global advances taking place in the new and frontier areas.