New Delhi: 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, to promote collaborative activities in science communication and policy research and strengthen evidence-based policymaking in India.
The programme began with welcome remarks by Dr Brajesh Pandey, Executive Director, INSA.
Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Former Senior Advisor, Department of Science and Technology (DST), outlined the genesis and rationale of the MoU and emphasised the importance of sustained institutional collaboration for advancing evidence-based STI policy research.
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Collaboration to Advance Science Communication and Policy Research
Dr Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, highlighted the complementarity between the two organisations and noted that the partnership would enable both institutions to leverage their respective strengths in science communication, policy research, and academic engagement to create meaningful impact in STI policy research.
Prof Anurag Agrawal, Vice President (Policy), INSA, underlined the importance of designing effective policies to guide India towards a sustainable and future-ready science and innovation ecosystem.
Prof Shekhar C Mande, President, INSA, reflected on the shared legacy of the two institutions and described the collaboration as particularly significant in the present era of rapid scientific and technological transformation.
He emphasised the need for strong policy foundations to guide STI development in the broader context of societal well-being and human survival.
Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, congratulated both institutions on the partnership and stressed the importance of policy frameworks that support the responsible and human-centric adoption of disruptive technologies.
He highlighted the role of pilot studies, digital twins, and similar tools in assessing policy effectiveness and strengthening implementation mechanisms.
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The MoU on science communication and policy research aims to promote collaborative policy research studies, joint publications, pilot projects, capacity-building initiatives, outreach programmes, and stakeholder consultations.
It will also facilitate engagement with government institutions, international organisations, think tanks, researchers, and young scholars to strengthen India’s STI policy ecosystem.
Through this partnership, INSA and CSIR-NIScPR reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing robust, inclusive, and forward-looking STI policies through collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and dialogue at national and global levels.
