Principal Scientific Adviser, Govt. of India

Very special partnership for @raisinadialogue with the @PrinSciAdvOff India must continue to invest in being the hub of human centred and inclusive scientific collaborations … excited to be bringing over 50 global science leaders to Delhi @PMOIndia @MEAIndia @aparnaray_ifs

The Office of @PrinSciAdvGoI is pleased to announce a partnership with @orfonline for the inaugural edition of the Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI). The Initiative is currently scheduled to take place during the next edition of the @raisinadialogue from March 5-7, 2026, in New Delhi. The SDI initiative aims to create a dedicated platform within the #RaisinaDialogue2026 to deliberate on the intersection of science, technology, and diplomacy. The initiative will focus on key dimensions of pursuing S&T diplomacy in an era of strategic autonomy, disruptive technology governance, and navigating the future of S&T partnerships in a multipolar world. Read the Press Release: pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa… @MEAIndia #Raisina2026

𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐈 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. With AI becoming central to innovation and economic progress, access to compute, datasets, and model ecosystems must be made broad, affordable, and inclusive. These resources are concentrated in a few global firms and urban centres, limiting equitable participation. For India, democratising access means treating AI infrastructure as a shared national resource, empowering innovators across regions to build local-language tools, adapt assistive technologies, and create solutions aligned with India’s diverse needs. The White Paper highlights key enablers aligned with India’s AI governance vision: 🔹 Expanding access to high-quality, representative datasets 🔹 Providing affordable and reliable computing resources 🔹 Integrating AI with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Read the White Paper here: psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/…

WATCH: @PrinSciAdvGoI, Prof. @AjaySoodIISc was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel on 20th December 2025 at the 21st Convocation Ceremony of King George’s Medical University (KGMU). He was joined by Hon’ble Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda; Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary; Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh; and Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Brijesh Pathak. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/OYalp-WryxU

The ceremony witnessed the conferment of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar on 24 awardees in recognition of their outstanding contributions to science and technology. The event underscored the Government of India’s continued commitment to celebrating scientific excellence and advancing a culture of research, innovation, and national service. @rashtrapatibhvn | @PMOIndia | @CSIR_IND | @DrNKalaiselvi | @CSIRCIMAP | @GYANENDRAPSIN11 | @SVenkataMohan2 | @lab_sengupta | @dibyenduiitb | @astrosumo |

The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, @AjaySoodIISc , and Scientific Secretary, Dr. Parvinder Maini joined the Honourable President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and the Honourable Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, @DrJitendraSingh , at the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Award Ceremony held on 23 December 2025 at Ganatantra Mandap, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚 | 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐀𝐕𝐬 The November 2025 Edition of Vigyan Dhara Magazine was released during the inaugural session of the '1st International Science & Technology Clusters Conference 2025'. This issue focuses on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), their growing ecosystem and use case scenarios in India, as well as what indigenous innovation in this sector means for the country’s security and citizen empowerment. From India’s growing drone ecosystem, powered by the government’s policy reforms, to its critical role in recent tactical operations, in this #VigyanDhara, we cover various aspects of UAVs. Read the magazine at: psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/… @PrinSciAdvGoI | @AjaySoodIISc | @DRDO_India | @Ministry_CA | @IAF_MCC | @iitmadras | @dronefed @BlameItOnSmit | @AsteriaAero | @Aereo_NextisNow @Vipul_sing | @endureair | @ideaforge_tech @ankit_ideaForge | @RoterLtd | @SagarDefence @Nikunj_Parashar | @ChagunBasha | @ayushee_17 #VDUAV

LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu confers Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar at Rashtrapati Bhavan twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

@PrinSciAdvGoI Prof Ajay Kr Sood @AjaySoodISc arrived in #Zurich for a 3-day visit to 🇨🇭 to lead the 🇮🇳delegation in the @GESDAGlobal Summit, focusing on bringing Science & diplomacy together to anticipate global challenges. @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia

Vigyan Dhara | Shaping AI for INDIA and the WORLD The Office of @PrinSciAdvGoI (OPSA) is pleased to announce the release of the Vigyan Dhara Magazine, September 2025 Edition, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence(AI), its journey, and what it means for India’s strategic and economic progress. From the national developments under India’s AI mission to the impact of AI across sectors, this edition focuses on important efforts that are shaping AI for India and for the world. Read the magazine here: psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/… @AjaySoodIISc | @PreetiBanzal | @amit_a_shukla | @abhish18 | @shivkuma_k | @kavitabha | @NalawadeHarish | @iPPSingh | @AnilBhatt4939 | @Tim40863844 | @sharads | @dkishorebalaji | @swapniljain89 | @shramdas | @deepakmsharma1 | @AmitProthi | @harshitkacholia | @ChagunBasha | @animesh07731362 | @ayushee_17

The @PrinSciAdvGoI, Prof. @AjaySoodIISc, and Scientific Secretary Dr. Parvinder Maini, held a bilateral meeting with Prof. Dame Angela McLean, @uksciencechief, and an introductory meeting with Prof. Sir John Edmunds, recently appointed as Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence, @FCDOGovUK. The meeting took place on the sidelines of @G20_CSAR, under the South African G20 Presidency @g20org. The discussions encompassed the India-UK Technology Security Initiative focused on strengthening cooperation for emerging technologies and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) which is central to expanding bilateral engagements. They also deliberated on the upcoming International S&T Clusters Meet being organised by the Office of PSA, envisioned as a platform for global collaboration and partnerships for the 8 Clusters under the S&T Clusters initiative. @PMOIndia @ChagunBasha @dakshatasd

Prior to the adoption of the outcome statement, Scientific Secretary Dr. Parvinder Maini stressed on the sustained continuation of the @G20_CSAR initiative beyond individual presidencies and encouraged the CSAR members to work towards making the outcome statement a living document that drives real impact. “Technology-led capacity development and inclusive progress for people at the bottom of the pyramid are essential. This progress should be facilitated by equitable access to knowledge resources while addressing the digital divide, especially in AI and ensuring that the scientific and technological achievements benefit everyone,” Dr. Maini added. @PMOIndia @PrinSciAdvGoI @AjaySoodIISc #G20SouthAfrica @g20org @dstigovza @naci_council

Prof. @AjaySoodIISc, @PrinSciAdvGoI , took part in a panel discussion “Towards an STI Advice platform and capacity building programmes for Africa and developing countries” during the open session of the Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable (CSAR) at #G20 South Africa in Pretoria, on 21st September 2025. The panel discussed global STI advisory mechanisms, sharing challenges, capacity-building strategies, and models to enhance inclusivity, transparency & international collaboration. PSA Prof. Sood highlighted India’s 75-year journey of science advice, stressing capacity, inclusivity & South-South partnerships, with global collaboration key to strengthening STI advisory systems. #G20SouthAfrica @g20org @dstigovza @naci_council

Launching India’s International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum (ITES-Q) | A conversation with Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood On the occasion of World Quantum Day on April 14 2025, the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor is pleased to announce a podcast with — Prof. @AjaySoodIISc, the @PrinSciAdvGoI. The interaction will explore the foundational concepts in the world of Quantum, its real-world applications & disruptive potential and India’s initiatives towards harnessing this technology while zooming out to understand global trends shaping the quantum landscape. In line with 2025 declared as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by the United Nations, we unveil the first edition of India’s International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum (ITES-Q) in this podcast. The foundational report is a comprehensive analysis of global and Indian quantum ecosystems—highlighting investments, talent, institutions, research and industry activity, including detailed insights into India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM). Find more details about the release: pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa… The full report of ITES-Q report can be accessed through the Office of PSA website: psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/… Tune into World Quantum Day 2025 Podcast with PSA: youtu.be/454E5OY2ygA #WorldQuantumDay #NationalQuantumMission #InternationalYearofQuantumScienceTechnology

We are pleased to release The Anthology of Science and Technology Activities 2.0 (2024) from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The Anthology of Science and Technology Activities 2.0 (2024), encompasses all the missions, activities & key initiatives undertaken by the Office of PSA in the domain of science, technology & innovation from January 2024 to December 2024. Access the Anthology Report here: psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/…

On the occasion of National Science Day, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India organized a Townhall on "Public Perception of Science Shaping Societal Developments", in partnership with Republic TV. The event featured the @PrinSciAdvGoI, Prof. @AjaySoodIISc; Indian musical composer and environmentalist @rickykej; and Indian film director @aruraje. The discussion was moderated by Mr. @itootweet (Senior Executive Editor) and Ms. @rakshitamisra (Anchor) from @republic TV. With the National Science Day 2025 theme, "Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat," the Townhall focused on the challenges of making scientific advancements more accessible to the public. It also explored ways to inspire Indian youth to pursue careers in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) and contribute to the nation's scientific progress. During the event, the public consultation for the draft Self-Assessment and Reporting Framework on Inclusivity in STEMM (Inclusivity-STEMM-SARF) was launched. Developed by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, this framework aims to assess and enhance institutional efforts in key areas such as gender equity, support for historically underserved groups, plurality in knowledge, languages, and perspectives, and the promotion of just and open science. Please find more details on the draft Inclusivity-STEMM-SARF on psa.gov.in/sarf . Watch the full episode of Townhall on Republic TV on youtu.be/D7bNyw68epc

Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. @AjaySoodIISc participated in National Science Day celebration organized by @IndiaDST. Prof. Sood was joined by Hon’ble Minister of Science and Technology, @DrJitendraSingh; Secretary, @IndiaDST, Prof. @karandi65; Secretary, @DBTIndia, Dr. @rajesh_gokhale ; Director General, @CSIR_IND, @drnkalaiselvi; Secretary, @moayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha; President, @insa_academy, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood in his inaugural remarks, emphasized the crucial role of India’s youth in driving the vision of Viksit Bharat through science and innovation. With India poised to contribute 25% of the global workforce in the next decade, investing in STEM education, interdisciplinary research, and deep tech innovations is imperative. Prof. Sood highlighted India's global scientific leadership and the remarkable rise of Indian entrepreneurs, with over 1.6 lakh startups and 190+ unicorns shaping the future. As we honor the legacy of C.V. Raman, Prof. Sood urged all the stakeholders to continue fostering a culture of scientific inquiry and innovation to propel India to new heights. #ScienceForViksitBharat

The second meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) took place in New Delhi on 28 February 2025. It was co-chaired on the Indian side by India’s External Affairs Minister(@MEAIndia) @DrSJaishankar ; Commerce and Industry Minister Shri @PiyushGoyal; and Minister for Electronics and Information Technology(@GoI_MeitY) Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw. Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Ms. @HennaVirkkunen, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Mr. Maros Šefčovič and Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ms @EZaharievaEU co-chaired on the EU side. The India-EU TTC comprises of three working groups. The second working group on Green & Clean Energy Technologies is co-chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Director-General of the Directorate-General of Research and Innovation, @EU_Commission. The WG2 session during the TTC meeting included a progress update and discussions on potential future cooperation between India and the EU. Senior representatives, Prof. @AjaySoodIISc, @PrinSciAdvGoI, and EU Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva, highlighted the shared vision for strengthening research & innovation (R&I) partnerships. Other attendees from the Office of PSA included Dr. Monoranjan Mohanty, Adviser, and Dr. Hafsa Ahmad, Scientist D. The session concluded with an open discussion, where both sides explored ways to strengthen S&T collaboration under the Working Group 2. They emphasized joint R&I efforts, investment opportunities, and the alignment of technology standards between India and the EU. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation-driven cooperation in clean energy and sustainability. For more details, read the Joint Press Statementhere: pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa…

Participated in the 2nd India - EU Trade and Technology Council meeting along with my cabinet colleagues @PiyushGoyal and @AshwiniVaishnaw. Thank @HennaVirkkunen, @MarosSefcovic and @EZaharievaEU for their partnership. Took stock of the significant progress made in digital partnership, clean & green energy initiatives and trade, investments & resilient supply chains. Exchanged views on new opportunities in semiconductors, AI, 6G, EVs, Green Hydrogen and a mutually beneficial trade regime. Confident that today’s discussions will translate into new economic, trade and tech linkages. 🇮🇳🇪🇺

Prof. @AjaySoodIISc, @PrinSciAdvGoI, and Ms. @EZaharievaEU, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation co-chaired the India-European Union (EU) Meeting on Science & Technology Cooperation on 27th Feb 2025 at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi. The meeting was also joined by Prof. @karandi65, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (@IndiaDST); Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (@moesgoi); Dr. @rajesh_gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (@DBTIndia); Dr. Sanjay Mishra, Scientist ‘H’, @DBTIndia ; Dr. Monoranjan Mohanty, Adviser, Office of PSA, Dr. Praveen Kumar S, Head, International Cooperation, DST; Dr. Aparna Shukla, Scientist ‘E’, @moesgoi and Dr. Hafsa Ahmad, Scientist ‘D’, Office of PSA from Indian side. The EU delegation included. Marc Lemaître, Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation; Ms. Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit, International Cooperation; Ms. Sophie Alexandrova, Deputy Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Zaharieva; Mr. Ivan Dimov, Member of Cabinet to Commissioner Zaharieva; Mr. Pierrick Fillon-Ashida, First Counsellor & Head of Research & Innovation Section, EU Delegation to India, and Dr. Vivek Dham, Policy Officer, Research & Innovation Section, EU Delegation to India . The meeting explored future opportunities in areas such as quantum computing, bio economy, green hydrogen, blue economy, EV & battery technology, high-performance computing, and responsible AI. Delegation from both sides emphasized the importance of joint funding mechanisms, increased scientific exchange programs, and stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate progress in these fields and acknowledged the long-standing India-EU Science & Technology Agreement, originally signed in 2001 and renewed in 2015 and 2020, which is now set for extension for 2025-2030.. In their concluding remarks, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood and Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva reaffirmed their commitment to deepening India-EU scientific collaboration and leveraging joint expertise to address global challenges. Read the full Press Release here: pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa…