State S&T Council

Context: The NITI Aayog has recommended that the Department of Science and Technology (DST) cut its ‘core grant support’ for State Science and Technology Councils and pare them down to ‘project-based support’. 

• These are part of the recommendations in the report “Roadmap for Strengthening State Science and Technology Councils”.

Key Challenges Facing State Science & Technology (S&T) Councils

• Weak Governance Structure: Most State S&T Councils do not conduct regular governing council meetings, leading to delays in decision-making and fragmented policy implementation.
• Funding Constraints and Poor Utilization: Councils rely heavily on central grants, with irregular fund releases and under-utilization due to cumbersome approval processes.
• Shortage of Skilled Manpower: Many sanctioned positions remain vacant, affecting research output and project implementation.
• Limited Institutional Collaboration and Low Industry Engagement
• Regulatory and Administrative Bottlenecks: Rigid rules and complex procedures hinder timely fund utilization and project implementation.

Recommendations

• Financial Support and Resource Mobilization
  • Adequate State Funding: States to allocate at least 0.5% of GSDP for S&T.
  • Project-Based Central Grants: Shift from core to performance-driven funding (except for NE & UTs).
  • Performance-Based Incentives: Introduce outcome-driven funding linked to defined KPIs.
• Human Resources and Capacity Building
  • Balanced Workforce: Maintain 70:30 scientific to non-scientific ratio.
  • Regularized Staff: State to support core positions financially and structurally.
• State-Focused Role and Sub-Structures
  • State S&T Mapping: Identify local needs and build sectoral policies.
  • Create Sub-Structures: Establish patent cells, incubation hubs, TRL units, tech transfer units, etc.
• Revamping Programs and Activities
  • R&D Project Support: Prioritize state academic/R&D institutions; support central institutions only for state-relevant projects.
  • Awards: Launch annual awards in line with Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar.
  • Fellowships & Grants: Offer scholarships, internships, and travel grants to nurture young talent.
• Collaboration and Ecosystem Linkages
  • Central Government Linkages: Build active collaborations with departments like DBT, MEITY, CSIR, MOE, DPIIT, etc.
  • Industry & PSU Networks: Engage local industries and public sector enterprises to co-fund programs.

National Fish Farmers Day

Context: India’s fish production has more than doubled from 95.79 lakh tonnes to 195 lakh tonnes over 11 years, attributed to the success of the ‘Blue Revolution’ launched by the Centre.

• The Department of Fisheries, MoFAH&D, GoI, celebrated National Fish Farmers Day on 10 July 2025 at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar.

Growth and Achievements

• Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture: A 140% growth was recorded in inland fisheries and aquaculture, showcasing the effective use of India’s water resources.
• Shrimp Production and Exports: Shrimp production saw a 270% jump in the last decade.
  • Seafood exports surpassed ₹60,500 crore, with India retaining global leadership in shrimp exports.

Key Initiatives Launched

• 17 Fisheries Clusters (total number of clusters – 34)
  • Existing examples: Pearl (Hazaribagh), Seaweed (Lakshadweep), Tilapia (Chhattisgarh), Brackish-water (Andhra Pradesh), etc.
• ICAR Training Calendar
• Seed certification and hatchery operation guidelines (to ensure quality and standardization)

Blue Revolution

• The “Blue Revolution” refers to the rapid and sustainable development of aquaculture and fisheries, aiming to increase fish production and improve the livelihoods of fishers and fish farmers

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