National Contributions Through Mashelkar Committees
In the post-liberalized India, Mashelkar has played a critical role in shaping India's S&T policies. He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and also of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet set up by successive governments. He has chaired twelve high powered committees set up to look into diverse issues of higher education, national auto fuel policy, overhauling the Indian drug regulatory system, dealing with the menace of spurious drugs, reforming Indian agriculture research system, etc.
Mashelkar has chaired several important high-powered committees at National level during the last 10 years in diverse fields dealing with higher education, institutional restructuring, energy, research and development, telecom, national auto fuel policy, spurious drugs, recombinant pharma, etc. These Mashelkar Committees have made a major difference in post liberalised India.
The Mashelkar Committee on ‘National Auto Fuel Policy’ has given India a policy that uses an integrated approach by taking a holistic view, which balances diverse aspects of emission, auto technologies and auto fuel quality on the one hand and the social cost and security of fuel supply on the other. This exhaustive scientific evidence-based analysis in a unique landmark in policy setting in India.
The Mashelkar Committee report on ‘Review of Regional Engineering Colleges’ (National Institutes of Technology) was fully accepted and implemented by the government. 17 Regional engineering Colleges have been converted to National Institutes of Technology, while changing the entire pattern of funding as well as governance.
Mashelkar Committee on ‘R&D in Drugs and Pharmaceuticals’ has led to several changes, including giving a new vision to this vital sector including setting up a Drug Development Promotion Foundation with the formation of Rs 150 crore annual fund.
Mashelkar Committee on ‘A Comprehensive Examination of Drug Regulatory Issues, including the Problem of Spurious Drugs’ has led to a new legislation as well as proposed fundamental changes in the Indian drug regulatory system, so that it becomes world class.
Mashelkar Committee on ‘Recombinant Pharma’ has eliminated the multiple regulatory controls and it has been heralded by Indian biotechnology industry.
Mashelkar Committee in ‘ICAR reorganisation’ has suggested sweeping changes in the working of ICAR to make it a vibrant organization.
Read more about this topic: Raghunath Anant Mashelkar
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