An agenda for science

The first Recommendations of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister:

* Establishment of National Science and Engineering Research Foundation (NSERF), an autonomous body to oversee basic science research in the country;

* creation of a Technology Acquisition Fund to facilitate the import of high-end technology equipment used in research;

* establishment of National Institutes for Science (on the lines of the Indian Institute of Science) at Kolkata and Pune, which are major centres of academic research and national laboratories;

* to make the regulatory framework conducive to carry out animal testing in research and drug development;

* a mission on drinking water, an aspect of the impending acute water shortage in the years to come that has not received the deserved attention; and,

* focus on scientific literacy through emphasis on teaching of science and mathematics at all levels.

Of these, all but the second recommendation are reported to have got the in-principle approved of the Prime Minister.