Scientific Social Responsibility Guidelines 2022

SSR UPSC: Relevance

• GS 3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Scientific Social Responsibility UPSC: Context

• Recently, Ministry of Science and Technology has released the Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) Guidelines to harness the potential of the scientific community in achieving social goals.

वैज्ञानिक सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्व दिशा निर्देश 2022

Scientific Social Responsibility : Key points

• Scientific Social Responsibility is in tune with the spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• SSR is aimed at creating an effective ecosystem for optimum use of existing assets with an objective to empower the marginalised and exploited sections of society by enhancing their capacity and capability.
• All central ministries and state governments are required to plan and strategize their SSR as per their respective mandates.

Scientific Social Responsibility DST: Key provisions of the guidelines

• Evert scientist in the country is expected to contribute at least 10 days in a year towards Scientific Social Responsibility.
• Such voluntary activities would be above and over their routine works and will be duly acknowledged in their annual performance appraisal.
• The Ministry has enlisted 17 broad activities which can be taken up by the scientists as part of their SSR to bridge the gap between science and society.
• The activities include:
  • Lectures by scientists in schools and colleges to inspire students to take up a career in science;
  • Mentoring of school students in their innovation projects;
  • Organising visits to planetariums, laboratories, science centres, skill development through training and workshops;
  • Delivering scientific talks on popular themes like artificial intelligence in simple language.
• The guidelines would be applicable to scientists working in public and private knowledge institutions, government ministries and departments, and associated autonomous agencies.
• As per the guidelines, individual and institutional SSR activities would be incentivised by the government with budgetary support.
• The SSR activities would not be allowed to be outsourced or subcontracted.

Scientific Social Responsibility SERB: Benefits of SSR

• Expanding the domain of science and its benefits to the community. Encouraging students into science through handholding and nurturing their interest.
• Creating an opportunity for cooperation and sharing of S&T resources in laboratories with other researchers in universities and colleges.
• Providing training for skill development and upgrading scientific knowledge.
• Helping MSMEs, Start-ups and informal sector enterprises in increasing their overall productivity.
• Facilitating scientific intervention in rural innovation.
• Empowering women, disadvantaged and weaker sections of the society through scientific intervention.
• Facilitating actions towards addressing Technology Vision 2035 Prerogatives and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the country such as water, ecology, health and livelihood.

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