India Science and Technology Scoreboard

Context

On 3 November 2026, NITI Aayog launched the India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard in New Delhi. The platform provides comparable State- and UT-level evidence on research and innovation to support benchmarking and evidence-based policymaking.

What is the India S&T Scoreboard?

1. National S&T data platform: It is an interactive platform developed by NITI Aayog to bring State- and UT-level science, technology and innovation data into one place.
2. State benchmarking tool: It allows comparison of States and UTs across research institutions, publications, patents, startups, funding and innovation policies, helping identify relative strengths and gaps.
3. Quality-based assessment: It examines not only research volume but also citation impact, collaboration and open access, giving a more complete picture of scientific performance.
4. Policy-use platform: Comparable data and State profiles help governments design more targeted research, innovation and capacity-building policies.

What Does the Scoreboard Measure?

1. Research ecosystem: It maps higher education institutions, R&D organisations, deep-tech startups and incubators, showing the institutional base available for innovation.
2. Scientific output: Publications and patents are tracked along with indicators of quality and collaboration, helping distinguish research activity from research impact.
3. Priority technologies: It covers 11 priority research areas, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean energy, critical minerals and agriculture, enabling sector-wise comparison across States.
4. Policy environment: State S&T, startup and innovation policies and selected best practices are documented, helping compare institutional approaches as well as outcomes.

How Does Benchmarking Help States?

1. Comparable evidence: State-to-State comparison reveals relative strengths and weaknesses, helping governments prioritize research funding, institutions and infrastructure more precisely.
2. Specialization mapping: Research and patent data can identify sectors where a State already has comparative capability, allowing targeted support for emerging innovation clusters.
3. Policy learning: State profiles and best practices allow governments to study successful approaches elsewhere, strengthening competitive and cooperative federalism.

Significance

1. Institutional visibility: By mapping academia, government laboratories, startups and industry, the Scoreboard can reveal where scientific capacity is concentrated and where institutional linkages remain weak.
2. Targeted intervention: Evidence on publications, patents and research infrastructure can help States direct funding and skills towards specific gaps rather than rely on broad policy measures.
3. Regional innovation capacity: Comparing State ecosystems can highlight uneven research capability, helping policymakers design more focused capacity-building measures.
4. Innovation-led growth: Stronger State-level S&T ecosystems can support productivity, technology adoption and long-term national capabilities under Viksit Bharat@2047.

FAQs

Q1. Who launched the India S&T Scoreboard?
NITI Aayog.

Q2. What is its main purpose?
To map and compare the science and technology ecosystems of States and UTs.

Q3. What data does it include?
Institutions, publications, patents, startups, incubators, research funding and State policies.

Q4. How many priority research areas does it cover?
11 priority research areas.

Q5. Why is the Scoreboard important for States?
It helps identify strengths, gaps and policy priorities using comparable evidence.