The CSIR National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research marked its fifth Foundation Day in New Delhi, reaffirming its growing role in science communication, policy research and the global dissemination of India’s traditional knowledge. The occasion highlighted the institute’s expanding focus on artificial intelligence driven communication, multilingual outreach and evidence based policy support aligned with national priorities.
Speaking at the event, the leadership of CSIR National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research emphasised the institute’s strong legacy in science communication and its future direction. The institute underscored the need to engage more deeply with global institutions while leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen communication in regional Indian languages, ensuring that scientific knowledge and policy insights reach diverse audiences across the country and beyond.
A major focus of the programme was India’s traditional knowledge ecosystem. The CSIR Traditional Knowledge Digital Library was highlighted as a globally recognised platform that validates traditional knowledge through rigorous scientific processes. With the complete digitisation of TKDL, the institute is now positioned to develop advanced research tools and policy frameworks that enhance the relevance, protection and application of traditional knowledge at national and international levels.
The Foundation Day featured a distinguished address by the Chief Executive Officer of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, who praised the institute’s alignment with the national vision of positioning India as a global research and innovation powerhouse. He emphasised that science policy research must adopt a global outlook and noted that CSIR NIScPR has the potential to become a world class institution by using policy as a tool to address societal challenges. He also encouraged closer collaboration between scientists, engineers and artificial intelligence specialists, and invited the institute to adopt ANRF’s Saral AI tool to simplify research outputs and amplify their impact through digital and social media platforms.
A key highlight of the event was the launch of the SVASTIK web portal, a national initiative implemented by CSIR NIScPR to communicate scientifically validated societal traditional knowledge to the public. SVASTIK, an acronym for Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge, has been developed in response to the national call for preserving and promoting India’s knowledge heritage through credible scientific validation. The portal brings together SVASTIK content on a single digital platform, enhancing accessibility, outreach and sustained engagement with stakeholders.
The SVASTIK initiative disseminates validated traditional knowledge in English and 19 Indian languages, along with five foreign languages, significantly expanding its global reach. The portal is expected to serve as a trusted reference point for researchers, policymakers, educators and the general public, while strengthening India’s leadership in the responsible communication of traditional knowledge.
The Foundation Day programme also showcased the institute’s academic and research depth through poster presentations by CSIR NIScPR doctoral scholars and science and technology project staff. These presentations reflected the institute’s multidisciplinary work spanning science communication, policy research, innovation studies and traditional knowledge systems.
Concluding the event, the institute reiterated its commitment to pioneering new approaches in science communication and policy research, while validating and disseminating traditional knowledge using modern digital tools. As it enters its next phase, CSIR NIScPR aims to further strengthen India’s position as a global leader in innovation, evidence based policymaking and inclusive knowledge dissemination.
