Introduction

The Indian Science Congress, a significant annual event for scientists and science students in India, has been postponed from its usual start date of January 3.

About Indian Science Congress

	Details
Headquarters	Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Establishment	1914 in Kolkata
Annual Meeting	First week of January
Membership	More than 30,000 scientists
First Congress	1914 at the Asiatic Society in Calcutta
Recent Policy Change	Speakers at future conferences to be vetted; scrutinizes content of talks due to past controversies
Notable Participants	Prominent Indian and foreign scientists, including Nobel laureates
Genesis	Initiated by British chemists Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. MacMahon
Objectives	Advance and promote science in India Hold an annual congress Publish proceedings and journals Manage funds for science promotion Perform acts conducive to these objectives
Sections, Committees, and Forums	Grown from 16 sections in 2000 to 14 sections, including various scientific disciplines
International Interaction	Represented in various foreign scientific academies/associations
Internal Challenges	Discussions on corruption, need for transparency and overhaul of bureaucratic agencies

Consistent Occurrence: Held every year since 1914, except for 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 108th edition took place in Nagpur from January 3-7, 2023.
Prime Minister’s Involvement: Traditionally inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the congress is a key event in the PM’s calendar and is often their first public engagement of the New Year.

Funding Dispute: The postponement is a result of a disagreement between the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) over alleged “financial irregularities” and funding withdrawal.
Venue Change and Withdrawal: The ISCA’s decision to move the event from Lucknow University to Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar, which later withdrew its offer to host, contributed to the crisis.

Loss of Prestige: In recent years, the Congress has been criticized for promoting pseudoscience and failing to reflect advancements in science, leading to a decline in participation from top scientists and institutions.
Calls for Discontinuation: Some scientists have suggested discontinuing the event or withdrawing government support due to its diminishing scientific credibility.

Limited Influence: While the government funds the ISCA and the Congress, it has no direct role in the event’s organization, leading to challenges in addressing controversies.
Scaling Down Involvement: The government has reduced its involvement, such as no longer presenting awards at the inaugural session and limiting stage sharing with the PM.

Potential for Resumption: ISCA general secretary Ranjit Kumar Verma expressed hope for organizing the congress before March 31, with possible attendance by the Prime Minister.
Continued Government Support: A government official indicated that financial support for future events might resume, despite disagreements over this year’s funding.

Alternative Scientific Forums: Scientists suggest creating alternative forums to discuss the latest scientific developments and foster scientific temper, similar to events in other countries.
Enhancing Indian Science: Such forums could increase the competitiveness of Indian science and encourage collaborative research with leading global institutions.

Assessing the Impact: The postponement of the Indian Science Congress reflects broader issues in India’s scientific community and the need for reform.
Opportunity for Revitalization: This situation presents an opportunity to revitalize scientific discourse in India, potentially leading to more impactful and globally recognized scientific forums.