The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology, functioning as the nodal institution for scientific and technological activities in India. It was established in May 1971 with the objective of promoting new areas of Science and Technology and coordinating S&T activities across the country. The creation of the DST was intended to solve the problem of organizing and promoting scientific pursuits by providing a central department to formulate policies and foster growth in emerging areas.
The DST's mechanism involves formulating national policies related to Science and Technology and handling matters concerning the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Cabinet (SACC). It works by providing financial backing, including grants and fellowships, to research projects in universities and laboratories, and by strengthening research infrastructure. Key programs include the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme, which aims to attract talent to science. The DST connects to statutory bodies like the Technology Development Board (TDB), which is linked to the Technology Development Board Act, 1995, and the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
A significant recent change occurred in February 2021 with the announcement of sweeping changes to India's mapping policy, making previously restricted geospatial data freely available to Indian corporations and innovators. More recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme in July 2025, with an outlay of ₹1.0 Lakh crore over six years, to incentivize private sector R&D. The core mandate of promoting and coordinating S&T activities, however, has remained the same since its inception.