CPI questions government's claim on science policy origins

A member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the Rajya Sabha has raised questions about conflicting information given by the Indian government regarding which state first implemented a science and technology policy. P Sandosh Kumar highlighted discrepancies in the government's responses during a statement made on Monday. According to the CPI, the government stated that Gujarat was the first state to introduce such a policy in 2018, in a reply dated July 21, 2022. However, in a more recent response on March 13, 2025, it acknowledged that Kerala was actually the first state to implement a science and technology policy back in 1974. This policy was introduced under the leadership of then Chief Minister C Achutha Menon, who was also a CPI leader. The CPI expressed concern about this contradiction, calling it misleading. They stated that incorrect information in Parliament is serious, especially regarding essential subjects like science policy that affect education and technological development in India. Kumar has requested a discussion in the Rajya Sabha to clarify the situation and to discuss the current state of scientific research and policy in the country. This request has received support from other party members, including CPI MP PP Suneer and Javed Ali Khan from the Samajwadi Party. The CPI is pushing for the government to correct its previous statements and commit to providing accurate information in the future, while also recognizing Kerala's early role in science and technology policy in India.