The Economic Survey 2025–26 has revived discussion on creating an Indian Scientific Service (ISS), a proposed all-India cadre of scientists and technocrats aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking.
Unlike the generalist IAS framework, the ISS would integrate domain experts directly into government decision-making structures. The service is envisioned to function under specialised rules emphasising scientific autonomy, peer review, and research-based inputs rather than conventional administrative neutrality.
It seeks to provide a structured career pathway for researchers to participate in governance and policy formulation without constraints of traditional civil service conduct frameworks, thereby improving science–policy coordination.
APSC Relevance:
Relevant for Governance reforms, Civil Services structure, and science-driven policymaking debates.
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