The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood chaired the 29th Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) meeting in New Delhi. The deliberation of this meeting focused on Advanced Manufacturing Systems, proposing a national mission to reduce import dependence in robotics and 3D/4D printing.
About Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)
- It is an overarching advisory body to provide evidence-based advice to the Prime Minister of India on matters related to science, technology, and innovation.
- Genesis: Constituted in 2018
- Predecessor: It replaced the earlier Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
- Role:
- It facilitates the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA)in assessing current scientific challenges, formulating interventions, and developing futuristic roadmaps for national progress.
- It identifies critical gaps, recommends targeted missions, and ensures cross-sectoral synergy across ministries, industry, and academia.
- Composition: It is a 21-member council comprising eminent scientists, researchers, and industry leaders.
- Chairman: The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of Indiaserves as the chair. The current chairman is Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood.
- Nine National Missions The council has identified nine missions of national importance aimed at addressing major scientific challenges
| Mission | Primary Objective |
|---|---|
| Natural Language Translation | Making S&T accessible in Indian languages using machine and human translation. |
| Quantum Frontier | Developing capabilities in quantum computing, communication, and sensors. |
| Artificial Intelligence | Focusing on societal needs in healthcare, education, and agriculture. |
| National Biodiversity Mission | Cataloguing and mapping India’s biodiversity for conservation and economic use. |
| Electric Vehicles (EVs) | Building indigenous capacity for motors, batteries, and power electronics. |
| BioScience for Human Health | Genomic analysis to address rare and inherited diseases. |
| Waste to Wealth | Leveraging technology to treat waste for energy and recycled materials. |
| Deep Ocean Exploration | Scientifically exploring the blue frontier and its resources. |
| AGNIi | Connecting innovators to the market to commercialise innovative solutions. |
- Recent Developments (2024–2026): The council continues to deliberate on emerging strategic sectors through its regular meetings
- 25th Meeting (July 2024): Focused on Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) and carbon credit schemes to help India reach its Net Zero targets.
- 26th Meeting (October 2024): Discussed accelerating industry-academia partnerships for research and innovation.
- 27th Meeting (January 2025): Deliberated on Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) products to enhance domestic capability and affordability.
- 28th Meeting (August 2025): Deliberated and initiated the National Plant Health Initiative (NPHI) to strengthen agricultural resilience through AI-driven pest surveillance, advanced technology, and sustainable, eco-friendly plant health management