SEP 09: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced a 1-week residential Administrative Training Programme for science administrators, developed by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). The initiative, led by INSA President Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, aims to equip upcoming science leaders with critical administrative and leadership skills. The announcement was made following a meeting at Kartavya Bhawan.
The minister directed that the programme be modelled on Civil Services training modules and emphasized the transition from “rule-based” to “role-based” capacity building. He further instructed that the training be integrated into the iGOT Karmayogi platform under Mission Karmayogi, enabling wider access, continuous feedback, and upskilling opportunities.
Targeting PhD scholars, assistant professors, and mid-career faculty, the module will offer training in areas such as grant writing, scientific communication, lab safety, stress management, innovation, and administrative leadership. Special sessions in collaboration with the American Chemical Society will focus on decision-making and change management for mid-career scientists.
Dr. Singh underscored the need for developing not just science administrators, but visionary science leaders for Viksit Bharat. He highlighted the democratization of science in the past decade, with more youth, women, and researchers from remote areas contributing to research and innovation.
He also called for integrating Environment, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) principles into the training to align Indian science with global sustainability goals. Communication skills and industry interaction will also be emphasized to enhance the real-world impact of scientific research.
This initiative marks a significant step in fostering a more inclusive, skilled, and forward-looking scientific community in India.
