Government of West Bengal
Department of Science and Technology
and Biotechnology
The West Bengal State Council of Science and Technology (WBSCST) is functioning as a major implementing body under the administrative control of the Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal. The Council plays a vital role in promotion, demonstration and facilitation activities in Science & Technology for assisting the development of the State.
Based on the location-specific and social needs as identified from time to time, various Research & Development Projects, Science & Technology (S&T) schemes of the Department are implemented through the Council to address the identified problems and simultaneously generating awareness among the public especially among the students. In addition WBSCST is also taking up different activities in project mode which are funded by different Institutes, line Departments of the Government of India for specific reasons.
The Remote Sensing & GIS projects being implemented through the Council is now providing essential spatial database for use by various Departments, Districts Offices and other organizations. The Patent Information Centre of WBSCST is providing facilitation service for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and G.I. Registration for indigenous food, handicraft, textile, agriculture and other traditional products of the State.
At the instance of the Planning Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India launched a scheme entitled ‘Assistance for Development of State Council for Science and Technology’ in the Sixth Five Year Plan. The main objectives of the scheme were to assist all the States / Union Territories to set up State Council of Science and Technology which could act as a focal point for the formulation, planning, coordination and promotion of Science and Technology activities within their respective States.
In the year 1988 the Government of West Bengal created the Science and Technology Department and accordingly, as per the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961 a Memorandum of the Society for the West Bengal State Council of Science and Technology was also prepared. In the same year the Council was established to function as an advisory body with the then Chief Minister as its Chairman. Later in the year 1994 the Council obtained Autonomous Status and is continuing to operate under the Government of West Bengal.
At present the Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge of the Dept. of Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal is the Chairman and the Secretary in charge of the Department is the Member Secretary of the Council.
Promotion of scientific research in areas appropriate for fulfilment of socio-economic objectives of the Government including the objectives of tackling the problems of backwardness, unemployment and poverty particularly in the rural areas, through society related Science and Technology programmes; Arrangement for holding periodical discussions of the Science and Technology plans of the State of West Bengal and other major issues of Science policies by representatives across sections of scientists, educationists, policymakers and other stakeholders
Research and Development (R & D) work on Science and Technology including determination of the pattern of development of scientific and technological research to be followed in the State and the measures needed for correcting imbalance
Coordination of schemes concerning popularization of science, introduction of approved appliances and technology and other allied programmes
To interact with other State and National Science and Technology bodies having similar or related objectives
To identify priority areas of Science and Technology needed for long-term development of the State
To establish or assist in the establishment of infrastructure, institutions and organizations necessary to achieve the aforesaid objectives
To take any other steps which are relevant to the promotion of Science and Technology and its application to the developmental need of the State.
