18th All India Peoples Science Congress is taking place in Kolkata from 27 Dec 2024 to 30 Dec 2024. It is a sangamam of about 40 peoples science movements and organisations coming together under All India Peoples Science Network to participate, exchange ideas, discuss, debate. The theme of the Congress this year is "The theme of this 18th Congress is S & T for Self Reliance and Democratic Climate Resilient Development". Click the link for more details
NSTD2024 emphasis is on the Kolkata 2024 Declaration on Scientific Temper, which underscores the urgent need for a renewed commitment to evidence-based reasoning and critical analysis in India. ....The issues related to IKS outlined here exemplify a broader agenda that necessitates critique. Similarly, the coercive influence exerted at institutions like South Asian University poses a significant threat to academic freedom and demands vigilant oversight. These developments highlight the critical importance of NSTD 2024, which is anchored in the Kolkata Declaration on Scientific Temper, serving as a vital advocate for scientific integrity and unhindered rational inquiry in India. Click the link to read full statement
But the government’s misuse of FCRA provisions and cancellation of permissions smacks of vindictiveness, intolerance towards criticism and manipulation of regulatory institutions and mechanisms. The government has clearly weaponized FCRA to silence dissenting civil society voices and intimidate others. AIPSN calls upon the government to stop harassing organisations that criticise actions and policies of the government. .. AIPSN is acutely aware that science and a scientific temper cannot thrive if critical thinking and pluralism are suppressed in all spheres... ...exposing the hypocrisy of the on-going onslaught on NGOs receiving foreign assistance. Why is there no level playing field? This is yet another reason for an independent regulatory mechanism, oversight and quasi-judicial review processes. click link to read more
Jan Vigyan Samachar is the Hindi version of the AIPSN newsletter. The second issue is now available - On Education. We were happy to publish earlier our newsletter after a long break. The newsletter People's Science was released at the National Education Assembly in New Delhi on 30 April and was updated after that. We hope to have more content in the future
....In view of the above, AIPSN is of the view that the proposed Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, placed by the Union Government in the Lok Sabha be withdrawn in its present form. The need of the hour is restoration, protection and improvement of devastated forest ecosystems, rather than diversion or alteration in the use of forest lands in large parts of the country in one guise or another. click the link to read the details..
AIPSN rejects all kinds of centralized entrance examinations for any kind of state hr. education admissions including NEET, CUET, etc., . NEET is against federalism. NEET is against social justice. NEET contradicts the fundamental requirements of our constitution. To fulfill the needs of the medical aspirants and the demands of society, the union govt. may permit state medical colleges and medical college hospitals for every district of the state, which is deficient in many of the states.
We are happy to publish our newsletter after a long break. The newsletter People's Science or Jan Vigyan was released at the National Education Assembly in New Delhi on 30 April and has been updated after that. We hope to have more content in the future