Description: India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) in 2019 released a draft Scientific Social Responsibility Policy, aiming to be one of the first national policies linking scientists directly with societal needs. While not explicitly labeled “RRI,” it aligns with ORRI principles by formalizing the ethical obligation of scientists to “give back” to society. The SSR policy proposes that researchers and institutions engage in activities like science education in communities, sharing of infrastructure, and citizen-centric research agenda-setting. This can be seen as a governance innovation: it creates a framework where transparency, societal engagement, and accountability are expected parts of a scientist’s role. By building synergies among stakeholders and linking science more tightly with society’s developmental needs, it echoes the governance dimension of ORRI (just at a national, policy-driven scale).
Key Resources: The Draft SSR Policy document (2019) is the key text, outlining definitions, objectives, and implementation mechanisms. It defines SSR as “the ethical obligation of knowledge workers in all fields of science and technology to voluntarily contribute their knowledge and resources to the widest spectrum of stakeholders in society, in a spirit of service and reciprocity.” . Also, India’s Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2020) references concepts of open science and social responsibility, reinforcing this approach. Articles from India’s science community (e.g., in Current Science or IndiaBioscience) discuss how SSR can nurture a culture of responsible innovation in academia and industry.
https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Final%20SSR%20Policy%20Draft_2019.09.09_0.pdf#:~:text=An%20important%20justification%20for%20SSR,the%20knowledge%20ecosystem%20and%20bring
How It Helps Researchers: If implemented, SSR would provide recognition and structured opportunities for scientists to engage in ORRI-aligned activities (such as mentoring school students, contributing to local problem-solving, or making their research more transparent). For researchers in India, this means their governance obligations are clear and supported: for example, time spent on outreach or capacity-building could be formally credited. It also means more interfaces between research and society – which can lead to new collaborations or research questions that are directly relevant to societal challenges. Overall, it embeds a sense of co-responsibility: researchers become key players in national development and are guided to conduct their work in a way that is ethically and socially conscious, increasing the impact and acceptance of science and innovation outcomes.
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