Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS)

The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism recently provided an update in the Rajya Sabha regarding the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS), a flagship initiative aimed at fostering scientific temper and awareness across India.

About the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science

• Objective:

  • The scheme is designed to promote scientific temper and awareness among the general public, with a special focus on students. It aims to increase public engagement with science and cultivate a culture of science, innovation, and technology across India.

• Initiatives under the Scheme:

  • Establishment of Science Cities and Science Centres.

  • Innovation Hubs and Digital Planetariums in various regions to promote interactive and informal science education.

• Nodal Agency:

  • The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, serves as the nodal agency for the scheme’s implementation.

• Target Areas:

  • Under the scheme, Science Centres/Digital Planetariums (Category-III) are established in regions with a population of less than 5 lakhs, providing rural and smaller urban areas access to scientific resources and education.

Key Developments & Achievements

• As of July 2025, a total of 27 Science Centres have been established across India under the SPoCS scheme.

• These institutions have significantly contributed to increasing scientific awareness through:

  • Hands-on exhibits that offer practical learning experiences.

  • Innovation hubs to encourage creativity and invention among students.

  • Digital planetariums that provide interactive astronomy and space science education.

  • Outreach programmes that extend scientific education to communities in remote areas.

Significance of the Scheme

1. Promotion of Scientific Temper:

   • The scheme works towards instilling a scientific mindset in the general public, particularly students, thus helping them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

2. Access to Science Education:

   • By establishing Science Centres in smaller towns and rural areas, the scheme makes science more accessible to people who may not have the resources to visit larger cities.

3. Hands-on Learning:

   • Through interactive exhibits and activities, the scheme promotes experiential learning in science and technology, moving beyond traditional book learning.

4. Innovation Encouragement:

   • The Innovation Hubs foster creativity and invention, empowering the youth to become innovators and contribute to the country’s technological advancement.

5. Public Engagement:

   • The establishment of Digital Planetariums has made the study of astronomy and space science more engaging, especially for students and the general public interested in the mysteries of the universe.