Why in news?

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has instructed top medical institutions, including all AIIMS, not to allow representatives from the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) on their boards or committees for now.

The DST has also advised the Health Ministry to obtain a no-objection certificate before nominating any ISCA office-bearers to the governing bodies or committees of any autonomous organizations under its domain. It should be note that earlier, members of the ISCA were deputed as ex officio members of governing bodies in different institutions such as AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Patna etc.

In a recent letter to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the DST stated that it does not recognize the current Executive Council of ISCA, having suspended all its office-bearers. Consequently, ISCA representatives should be excluded from the boards of medical institutions such as AIIMS and PGI Chandigarh.

What’s in today’s article?

• Indian Science Congress (ISC)

Indian Science Congress (ISC)

• About
  • ISC is a one-of-its-kind event in the country which brings together the scientific communities on a platform for their interaction with students and the general public on matters related to science.
  • The event is organized by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
    • ISCA is an independent body functioning with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in the central government.
  • Dubbed as the largest gathering of scientists and students in the country, the Science Congress is an annual five-day event from January 3 to 7, a permanent fixture on the Prime Minister’s calendar.
  • The first session of the Indian Science Congress was held in 1914 at the premises of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta.
• Funding
  • The DST pays the salaries of ISCA’s permanent secretarial staff and also provides a grant every year to enable the holding of Science Congress.
  • In September 2023, DST withdrew its funding for the Science Congress due to 'financial irregularities' and amended the by-laws to impose stricter controls on the use of government funds.
• Declining glory of ISC
  • In more recent times, the event has attracted attention for all the wrong reasons:
    • lack of serious discussion, the promotion of pseudoscience, outlandish claims by random speakers, and the absence of useful outcomes.
  • As a result, several top scientists have advocated the discontinuation of the event, or at least withdrawal of government support.
    • For organising the Science Congress, the government provides an annual grant.
    • Besides this, the government has no role to play in organising the ISC.
• ISCA in tussle with the DST in recent years
  • ISCA has faced ongoing disputes with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in recent years, stemming from allegations of financial irregularities and misappropriation of government funds
  • The association has taken legal action against the government, with the issue still pending resolution.
  • For the first time in its history, the Science Congress, a key event on the Prime Minister's annual calendar, could not be held this year.
    • The Science Congress had to be abandoned in 2021 and 2022 as well but those were because of the disruption caused by Covid pandemic.
• DST decided not to accept the new Executive Council constituted by ISCA
  • In March 2024, DST informed ISCA that it would not recognize the new office-bearers due to non-compliance with established by-laws and previous directives, deeming their election "unlawful and unacceptable."
  • In May, DST further prohibited ISCA from holding a meeting of the newly constituted Executive Council for similar reasons.