Date: 25/08/2022

Relevance: GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Key Phrases: Science in India, Scientific temper, Development of Science in India, inculcating scientific temper, Pseudoscience, Disinformation

Context:

• As we move into the 76th year of free India we see science and scientists in India have not received the same attention vis-a-vis other professions and this general apathy towards science, and the lack of scientific temper among the public and politicians needs a quick fix.

Is there a loss of a scientific temper?

• In the past seven decades India has made significant scientific advances in research fields such as molecular biology, agricultural/pharmaceutical science, and solid-state chemistry.
• India has also made creditable leaps in space, nuclear science, and information technology.
• Parliament underscored India’s commitment to propagate scientific temper by including a duty in Article 51A of the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment which lays development of scientific temper as a duty of every citizen.
• But India has failed to propagate scientific literacy not only among the public, but also among scientists themselves and thus scientific temper has remained merely a lofty ideal and has not percolated into the society.
• At the same time it seems India has deviated from its intended path and led a way for retrogressive religion based politics at the expense of constitutional values despite laying strong foundations of modern science in the early 1960s.

Lack of scientific advancements and scientific temper: The Causes

• Insufficient timely actions: Partly The scientists themselves and the science academies they belong to are to be blamed for underdevelopment of scientific temper because Scientists half-heartedly stood up for scientific causes, even when the situations demanded that they fully do so.
• Lack of commitment:
  • According to eminent molecular biologist P. Bhargava most of the scientists in India, including many who were occupying high positions, were themselves not committed to scientific temper.
  • Dr. Bhargava also protested on many occasions stating that there was a lack of commitment to science-related social problems in India, a major cause of underdeveloped scientific temper in India.
• Prevalence of Pseudoscience: Although Pseudoscience is prevalent across the world and India is no exception in providing a fertile ground for pseudoscience to prevail. Some recent examples include
  • A course in astrology was introduced in a national open university in India.
  • There is official backing of the theory that cow excreta has therapeutic properties despite no scientific validation of such claims.
  • Official circulars quote ancient texts to support the curative properties of cow urine for ailments.
• Onslaught of Disinformation: Dissemination of fake news, conspiracy theories and manufactured ‘truths’ using information technology and the internet.
  • It has dampened scientific temper development and people are fed with such material which reaches millions of consumers in seconds.
• Political unwillingness: Most of the policymakers and the politicians to increase their vote banks include the stagnant ideologies and beliefs of the people in their public policies
• Prevalent orthodoxy: In India, people still have an orthodox ideology and will not adhere to the scientifically obtained solutions.

Boosting scientific advancements : What needs to be done?

• Science will flourish only if a scientific temper is generated across the country. It is the job of the science academies to chip in and inspire the country to attain greater science literacy among the public.
• Increase expenditure in research and development in science and technology which is very low vis-a-vis developed countries.
• Science has been greatly successful at explaining natural processes, Universal events and has led to major improvements in technology and public health and welfare.
  • Thus the growing role that science plays in modern life requires that science, and not religion, be taught in science classes.
  • Irrational curricula change should not be implemented to score political points.
• Despite great foundations in the early 1960s we failed primarily because our leadership lacked a sense of destiny compounded by India’s intelligentsia, who were more interested in self-aggrandizement, and by a rule bound bureaucracy, which needs to be reformed.
• Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge thus Simplification of the intricacies of science in a format that is best understood by the public should be encouraged.
• Citizens should be informed through awareness campaigns against the fake news so that people can take evidence-based decisions against the current onslaught of fake news, conspiracy theories and manufactured truths.

Way forward

• Develop a knack for critical thinking using the time-tested and highly successful methodologies followed in science
  • This will help in overcoming the dual challenge of cognitive bias and pseudoscience.
  • The celebrated scientists across the globe have emphasized on the need of critical thinking.
• The higher echelons should be encouraged to do away with pseudoscience in the larger interest of the country.
• The masses must be educated using various means of communication so that self-awareness and cognitive ability can be enhanced.
• Information technology coupled with social media platforms can be used to leverage and increase mass outreach.

Conclusion:

• For the overall development and growth of the country and society, it is necessary to develop scientific temper among all the people irrespective of their age, caste, creed, religion, etc.
• Thus the 75th year of Independence should not be merely a flag-waving event, marked by self-congratulatory notes and speeches of achievements or ancient greatness.
• It should be seen as an opportunity for India to critically assess its successes and failures and prepare for a promising future. Science and scientific literacy have a key role in bringing home that future.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. “Despite laying a strong foundation for modern science in the early 1960s India’s full potential in scientific innovations is yet to be realized”, give your arguments in favour and against of the statement. Also suggest ways to boost India’s scientific advancements. (250 words).