Daily News Analysis

Opportune pause - Indian Science Congress (ISC)

stylish_lining

Context: The Indian Science Congress (ISC) 109th edition, originally to be held in  Lucknow University in 2024, has been cast in doubt after the University pulled out citing an  ongoing dispute between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the ISC Association. 

News:

  • The Indian Science Congress (ISC) is an annual event for scientific discussions, with PM inaugurations and Nobel Laureate participation.
  • However, recent years saw its reputation damaged as it provided a platform for pseudoscientific claims, aligning with hyper-nationalist narratives.
  • ISC's 109th edition, initially set for Lucknow University in 2024, faces uncertainty as the university withdraws due to a dispute between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the ISC Association, which organizes the event.
  • The association selects Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar as an alternative, leading to DST's criticism, including allegations of "financial irregularities."
  • Lovely Professional University withdraws from hosting ISC 109th edition, and the ISC Association takes legal action against the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for alleged government interference. The association seeks alternative hosts and forms a committee for venue selection. This pause in the activities put a question mark on ISC's relevance.

Indian Science Congress (ISC)

  • The Indian Science Congress (ISC) is an annual event that serves as a gathering for the country's scientific community to present and discuss research, fostering communication in the scientific field.
  • The event carries prestige, typically being inaugurated by the Prime Minister and sometimes featuring Nobel Laureates.
  • The Department of Science and Technology (DST) plays a crucial role by providing significant funding, and the ISC Association, an autonomous body under the DST, is responsible for organizing the congress.
  • In recent years, the ISC's reputation has suffered due to its association with pseudoscientific claims made by certain members of the scientific community, raising concerns about the credibility of the event.
  • The ISC itself has inherent flaws, including questionable speaker selections, a disjointed agenda, and a hectic schedule that hinders meaningful engagement.
  • Despite its drawbacks, the ISC holds significance as it attracts thousands of school and college students each year and includes talks by researchers, contributing to learning and awareness in the scientific community.

India International Science Festival

It  has been organized by the Indian government since 2015. This event is a collaborative effort involving the Ministries of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, the Departments of Space and Atomic Energy, and Vijnana Bharati.

While some criticize post-2014 events, ISC also serves as a platform for student participation, researcher talks, and educational contributions.The Indian Science Congress (ISC) is flawed, featuring disjointed agendas and a hectic schedule. The government supports the India International Science Festival as an alternative. A critical evaluation is needed for ISC to become an independent, frequent, and coherent event reflecting the contributions of the national scientific community, with political and Nobel Laureate presence considered ornamental.

Mahatma Gandhi and Sree Narayana Guru

Introduction India recently commemorated the centenary of the historic conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi, organized by the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust. The discu
Share It

Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manavvad)

Introduction In the mid-1960s, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya introduced Ekatma Manav Darshan or Integral Humanism as an indigenous ideological framework to guide India’s post-independence de
Share It

Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme

Introduction The Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme was launched by the Government of India with the objective of promoting clean energy solutions to combat pollution and reduce the consumptio
Share It

India-China Foreign Ministers Meeting & Bilateral Relations

Why in News? India’s External Affairs Minister held the first ministerial-level meeting with China’s Foreign Minister in Delhi since the LAC disengagement in November 2024.
Share It

Axiom-4 Mission

Why in the News? The Axiom-4 Mission, carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla along with three others, successfully returned to Earth on July 15, 2025. About Axiom-4 (Ax-4)
Share It

Tourism Sector

Context: In light of the 50% US tariffs imposed on Indian goods, experts like former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant have suggested leveraging India’s tourism sector to offset potential export
Share It

Balancing Public Safety and Animal Welfare

The Supreme Court of India has recently issued a suo motu directive to remove stray dogs from the National Capital Region (NCR) following tragic attacks on children. This move has ignited a critic
Share It

Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision

As India aims to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, a transformative vision dubbed Viksit Bharat@2047 calls for comprehensive reforms across various sectors to drive economic, social, and tech
Share It

Starlink

Starlink, the satellite internet service by SpaceX, has recently received a Unified Licence from the Indian government to provide satellite internet services in the country. This significant devel
Share It

Women in Armed Forces

The first-ever batch of 17 female cadets graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA), marking a historic step toward greater gender inclusion in India's armed forces. Significance of
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS