NITI Aayog launched the “India S&T Scoreboard” in New Delhi on Tuesday, an interactive platform designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the science and technology landscape across Indian states and Union Territories (UTs).
The platform, unveiled by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri at the Civil Services Officers’ Institute (CSOI) in New Delhi, aims to facilitate evidence-based policymaking, enable comparisons among states and strengthen research and innovation ecosystems.
Developed as a key NITI Aayog initiative, the Scoreboard integrates data on science and technology infrastructure, research publications, patents and innovation activities, allowing states and UTs to assess their performance and identify areas for improvement.
Welcoming participants, NITI Aayog Senior Adviser Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh outlined the objectives of the initiative, saying the platform goes beyond measuring research output to assess quality, impact and collaboration. He said the Scoreboard would help states identify areas of expertise and prioritise interventions.
Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, said the platform would strengthen the national evidence base by providing state-level insights into science and technology development. He also highlighted the importance of State S&T Councils and universities in expanding India’s research capabilities.
Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, emphasised the importance of strengthening scientific capacity at the state level, particularly in using weather forecasts, early warning systems and opportunities in the ocean sector.
NITI Aayog Member (Science and Technology) Prof. Abhay Karandikar said effective policymaking requires reliable and comparable data. He noted that information on research and innovation had remained fragmented across multiple sources, making it difficult for states to evaluate their performance.
The Scoreboard addresses this challenge by consolidating data on research ecosystems, publications and patents into a single interactive dashboard, enabling states to monitor progress and analyse trends over time.
Addressing the gathering, Lahiri stressed the need for greater participation by states in advancing India’s science and technology sector.
Highlighting the principles of cooperative and competitive federalism, he said the platform would help states identify their strengths and gaps, exchange best practices and formulate more effective policies and programmes. He also urged states and UTs to make full use of the initiative.
The Scoreboard provides information on higher education institutions, research and development (R&D) organisations, deep-tech startups and incubators, along with indicators covering research publications and patents.
It also assesses research quality, impact, collaboration and open-access practices across priority research areas and three major sectors — academia, government R&D laboratories and industry.
The platform allows side-by-side comparisons of states and UTs and offers detailed state profiles, including information on policies and best practices.
The launch was followed by a demonstration of the platform and a technical session covering its methodology and data sources.
Representatives from state governments and academic institutions shared feedback and suggestions for further development of the Scoreboard. State representatives said the platform would support planning, institutional capacity-building and the development of skilled human resources in science and technology.
The discussions highlighted the importance of reliable and comparable state-level data in strengthening India’s science and technology ecosystem and supporting the country’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
