NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting of Secretaries and senior officials of India’s science ministries and departments, calling for greater coordination among scientific institutions to accelerate national priorities and strengthen public outreach.
The review meeting, held at the CSIR-Science Centre in New Delhi, focused on enhancing collaboration across scientific departments, preparations for the nationwide ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ coastal cleanliness campaign scheduled from September 10 to 19, and expanding communication efforts to showcase India’s scientific achievements.
The meeting was attended by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, along with senior officials from various scientific organisations.
Reviewing the implementation of decisions taken during the previous coordination meeting, Singh stressed that scientific departments should function as an integrated ecosystem rather than as isolated institutions. He said regular interaction, joint initiatives, knowledge sharing and coordinated implementation would help accelerate innovation, improve governance and ensure that scientific advancements directly benefit citizens.
A key focus of the meeting was the upcoming ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ campaign, which aims to combine environmental conservation with public participation and awareness. The nationwide initiative will involve scientific institutions, government agencies, educational institutions, volunteers and local communities in one of India’s largest coastal cleanliness drives.
Singh said scientific institutions must work in close partnership to combine technological innovation, public participation and inter-departmental collaboration to maximise the campaign’s impact and transform it into a people’s movement.
The meeting also reviewed communication strategies of various science ministries to increase public awareness of India’s scientific achievements over the past 12 years, particularly during the last two years. Departments presented plans to strengthen digital outreach through videos, documentaries, thematic campaigns, infographics, success stories and public engagement initiatives highlighting India’s growing scientific capabilities.
The Department of Science and Technology outlined its outreach strategy covering flagship initiatives, including the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), National Quantum Mission, National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, and the Research Development and Innovation Scheme. Officials said a phased communication plan has been prepared to sustain public engagement and promote awareness of these programmes.
The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research informed the meeting that the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is preparing a comprehensive publication documenting its achievements over the past 12 years for release during CSIR Foundation Day later this year. The department also highlighted ongoing dissemination of research success stories through digital platforms and the “Innovation in Action” lecture series.
The Department of Biotechnology presented its initiatives to promote scientific awareness, including thematic publications showcasing achievements in public health, bioeconomy, genomics, agricultural biotechnology, research infrastructure, biotechnology start-ups and sustainable development. It also highlighted the ongoing nationwide #DBTQuest campaign aimed at engaging the public through interactive science-based activities.
Officials also reviewed efforts to strengthen inter-ministerial collaboration involving organisations such as CSIR, ISRO, DST, DBT and BARC, covering technology development partnerships, biomedical research, innovation platforms and programmes for the North Eastern Region. Discussions also focused on creating mechanisms for greater interaction among scientists, researchers and academic institutions.
Progress under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) also came up for review, with discussions on wider adoption of the SARAL_AI platform, expanding participation of researchers across institutions and improving public access to information on research projects through digital platforms.
Preparations for major upcoming scientific events, including ESTIC-2026, the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2026, and National Space Day 2026, were also assessed. Departments briefed the Minister on institutional readiness, outreach strategies and collaborative activities aimed at ensuring broad participation from researchers, industry, start-ups, students and the public.
Singh said India’s scientific ecosystem has entered a new phase where research excellence, technological innovation, institutional coordination and public engagement must advance together. He added that increasing collaboration among scientific departments reflects the government’s commitment to making science more accessible, impactful and aligned with the country’s developmental priorities.
The Minister also reviewed measures related to administrative performance, institutional coordination and capacity building for science administrators, while encouraging departments to continue sharing best practices and strengthening collaborative governance across India’s scientific establishment.