New Delhi: A collective of prominent scientists, academicians, and activists issued a joint appeal to the Union Government on Saturday during the Mumbai chapter of the India March for Science. The signatories called for an immediate shift toward evidence-based policymaking, raising concerns over shrinking public funding for research, the promotion of pseudoscience, and environmental degradation.
The joint statement was backed by notable figures including Padma Bhushan awardee Prof. M.S. Raghunathan (CEBS, Mumbai), Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee Prof. S.G. Dani (President, Breakthrough Science Society), Prof. Aniket Sule (HBCSE-TIFR), Prof. B.M. Arora (University of Mumbai, ex-TIFR), Dr. N. Krishnan (ex-TIFR), and Anil Kumar Singh (Secretary, Mumbai Press Club).
Key Demands Raised in the Appeal
The signatories outlined several urgent policy interventions across energy, education, and social reform:
Suspension of E20 Fuel Policy
The collective called for an immediate halt to the mandatory 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20) rollout. They cited a lack of comprehensive lifecycle environmental assessments and adequate engine compatibility infrastructure. The appeal warned that diverting water-intensive food crops for biofuel production threatens food security and dangerously depletes groundwater reserves. Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party and Shiv Sena (UBT), have similarly criticized the mandate amid consumer complaints over reduced fuel efficiency.
Scrapping the National Testing Agency (NTA)
Addressing recent controversies around paper leaks and the widespread NEET protests, the scientists demanded the scrapping of the NTA and a complete overhaul of the public examination framework to restore transparency and institutional accountability.
Enactment of a Central Anti-Black-Magic Law
Invoking Article 51A(h) of the Constitution, which mandates fostering a scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry, the group urged the government to pass a stringent central anti-superstition and anti-black-magic law to eliminate fraudulent faith-healing practices, human sacrifice, and witch-hunting.
Increased Spending on Education and R&D
The appeal highlighted that India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) remains below 0.7% of GDP, compared to 2.8%–3.5% in scientifically advanced nations. To remedy this, the collective demanded allocating at least 10% of the Union Budget and 30% of state budgets to education, alongside raising total R&D funding to at least 3% of GDP.
Background of the Movement
The India March for Science is part of a global movement originating from the 2017 demonstrations across nearly 600 cities worldwide. Indian chapters hold annual rallies to push back against environmental law dilutions, climate change denial, and the inclusion of unverified claims in educational curricula, rallying under the slogan “Adopt Science, Secure the Future.”
