• National Science Day is celebrated every year on February 28. This day recalls the discovery of the "Raman Effect" by India's greatest scientist C V Raman. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1930.

    • Since that day, February 28 has been commemorated as National Science Day to recall the great discovery of CV Raman.

    • The theme for National Science Day 2021 is "Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work".

    • The National Science Day 2021 aims 

        ◦ To widely spread a message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people,

        ◦ To display all the activities, efforts and achievements in the field of science for welfare of human being,

        ◦ To discuss all the issues and implement new technologies for the development of the science,

        ◦ To give an opportunity to the scientific minded citizens in the country,

        ◦ To encourage the people as well as popularize the Science and Technology.

    • The celebration of National Science Day was organized by the National Council for Science Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology.

    • On the occasion Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “The 30 percent increase in the budget of Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences put together for the year 2021-22 would provide stimulus to S&T infrastructure resources in the country”. 

    • He presented the National S&T Communication Awards, Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) awards, and SERB Women Excellence Awards and conferred Rajendra Prabhu Memorial Appreciation Shield for outstanding work in science media and journalism.

    • The Minister also released the first-ever National S&T Databases on S&T Awards in India and Indian Origin Academicians abroad.

    • The database of Indian Origin Academicians is a unique database developed in the country and has a huge information base of about 23,472 Indian academicians and research scholars working in various countries.

About NCSTC

    • National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), DST acts as a nodal agency to support, catalyze and coordinate the celebration of the National Science Day throughout the country in scientific institutions, research laboratories, and autonomous scientific institutions associated with the Ministry of Science and Technology.

    • NCSTC has supported various programmes countrywide through State S&T Councils & Departments for organization of a range of activities, such as lectures, quizzes, open houses, etc.

    • DST also instituted National Awards for Science Popularization in 1987 to stimulate, encourage and recognize outstanding efforts in the area of science and technology communication and popularization as well as inculcating scientific temper among masses.

    • These awards are presented every year on National Science Day. The awards consist of a memento, citation, and award money.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)