Lok Sabha Question No. 5445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Science Diplomacy & Strategic Autonomy
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Smt. Himadri Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5445 ANSWERED ON 25/03/2026

## SCIENCE DIPLOMACY & STRATEGIC AUTONOMY

## 5445. SMT. HIMADRI SINGH:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the SDI has fostered global cooperation on the governance of disruptive technologies and ethical AI frameworks;
- (b) the specific role of the Principal Scientific Adviser in aligning scientific research with country's strategic autonomy;
- (c) whether the Government has established a Science Diplomacy Desk to strengthen trusted international research networks in the year 2026 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  manner  in  which  the  SDI  is  facilitating  pre-competitive research collaborations to  address global challenges like pandemic preparedness?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) The Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI) facilitated deliberations among scientists, diplomats, policymakers, and industry  leaders on the governance  of disruptive technologies including ethical AI frameworks, and highlighted the importance of strengthening capacity for  science  diplomacy,  leveraging  scientific  cooperation  to  reduce global  inequalities,  reinforcing  multilateral  engagement,  promoting collaborations  in  pre-competitive  research  areas  and  addressing technology governance challenges through practical, use-cases driven approach.  The  deliberations  focused  on  emerging  equitable  and effective  governance  models  for  frontier  technologies,  including anticipatory policy process, inclusive norm-setting, and the importance  of  aligning  technological  innovation with  contextual ethical and societal considerations.

- (b) The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser operates at the interface  of  the  larger  scientific  enterprise  and  the  governance architecture of the Government of India. The PSA and his office play a catalytic role in synthesising scientific evidence and expert inputs to support  informed  and  strategic  policy  decision-making.  Through mechanisms such as the Prime Minister's Science,  Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) and the Empowered Technology Group (ETG), the Office of the PSA evaluates the country's technological  capabilities,  external  dependencies,  and  potential  for indigenisation. Based on these assessments, it helps shape national missions and strategies in frontier and critical technologies, including quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, and drones, to strengthen India's strategic autonomy posture.
- (c) The  International Cooperation  Division  of  the Ministry of Science  and  Technology  plays  a  central  role  in  facilitating  science diplomacy  for  negotiating,  concluding  and  implementing  Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agreements between India and other countries  through  bilateral,  multilateral  &  regional;  and  thematic cooperations to strengthen trusted international research networks.
- (d) As technologically  advanced nations increasingly incorporate research security and technology security into their policy frameworks,  science  diplomacy  initiatives,  including  that  of  SDI, international  science  diplomacy  panels  and  voluntary  networks  of domain experts, provide important avenues for fostering collaborative global research partnerships. These are particularly relevant in precompetitive, frontier technology domains, such as quantum technologies, vaccine research, and synthetic biology, to collectively address shared developmental challenges, including pandemic preparedness. India engages in R&D collaborations with the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Japan and others in climate change  and pandemic  preparedness through programmes  like  Horizon  Europe,  vaccine  partnerships,  and  clean energy research initiatives, strengthening global scientific cooperation and resilience.

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