States to have more say in S&T policy, says Centre

At a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister (SAC-PM) here on Saturday, the states have been asked to submit some of their immediate priorities in science and technology which could be discussed at a National Development Council meeting on S&T within the next three months.

For the first time, states would also be involved in the preparation of the 12th plan document on science and technology based on which the Central government may increase the S&T funding, sources told Deccan Herald.

On Friday, at a meeting of the Indian National Science Academy, Prithivraj Chavan stated that the Centre plans to increase the S&T budget by up to two per cent of gross domestic product from the current level of just about one per cent.

Recently, the Centre convened a meeting of the chief secretaries in the capital to showcase the available indigenous technologies on areas ranging from water to transport to agriculture, which could be used by the states to tackle their own problems.