Government constitute Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council

Union Government has constituted a new 21-member advisory panel on science, technology and innovation called Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council 

(PM-STIAC).

• It will be headed by the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government- K Vijay Raghavan.
• It will replace the earlier Scientific Advisory Committee to Prime Minister and to Cabinet.

About PM-STIAC:

• The council will advise PM on science, technology, as well as innovation.
• It will also coordinate implementation of PMs scientific vision.
• It will actively aid in formulation and timely implementation of major science and technology missions and evolve interdisciplinary technology development programmes.
• It will also advise Government on developing 'Clusters of Excellence' in science including city-based R&D clusters.
• It will work to bring together all science and technology partners from academia and institutes to industries near such centres or cities.

Composition of PM-STIAC:

• Besides the chairperson, the panel has eight members and 12 special invitees.
• Secretaries of at least 10 central ministries, related to science, technology, energy and education, are special invitees to the panel.
• The members include noted mathematician and Princeton University professor Manjul Bharghava; former Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar and industrialist and MD of Bharat Forge Baba Kalyani.
• The panel also has provision to include an additional member, decision of which has to be taken by the chairman of the committee.

Questions:

Q1. What is the new 21-member advisory panel on science, technology and innovation constituted by the Union Government called?
a. Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Cabinet (PM-STIAC)
b. Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Comittee (PM-STIAC)
c. Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)
d. None of the above

Q2. Who will head the advisory panel?
a. H Vijay Raghavan
b. K Vijay Raghavan
c. M Vijay Raghavan
d. None of the above