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COMMISSION FOR SCIENTIFIC and TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY

8th May, 2023 POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

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Context: The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), which operates under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Education, is tasked with developing technical and scientific terminology in 10 Indian languages that are underrepresented in the learning landscape.

Details

  • The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) announced a new initiative to create basic dictionaries with 5,000 words each in 10 Indian languages that are underrepresented in the learning landscape.
  • It will be available in digital form, searchable, and free to use.
  • It will also print about 1,000-2,000 copies of each dictionary and distribute them to various educational institutions and libraries across the country.

Languages covered under the initiative

  • The 10 languages are Assamese, Bodo, Dogri, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, Nepali, Sanskrit and Sindhi.

Objectives

  • To provide free and accessible resources for students, teachers and researchers who want to learn or teach these languages in the fields of science and technology.
  • Promote the use and development of these languages and enrich the linguistic diversity of India.

Focus

  • The immediate emphasis is to cover 15 disciplines:
    • Journalism, Public Administration, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology,
    • Psychology, Physics, Economics, Ayurveda, Mathematics,
    • Computer science, Political science, Agriculture, Civil and Electrical engineering.
  • To Support textbook formulation at the middle- and senior school as well as university levels.

Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)

About

  • It is an organization under the Union Ministry of Education.
  • It is responsible for creating and updating scientific and technical terms in various Indian languages.
  • It was established in 1960 to promote the use of regional languages in science and technology education and research.

Significance

  • It has developed more than 2 lakh terms in 14 languages, covering 139 subjects.
  • It publishes bilingual dictionaries, glossaries, textbooks, journals, and other publications related to scientific and technical terminology.
  • It works in collaboration with various academic institutions, research organizations, and experts to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the terms.
  • It organizes workshops, seminars, conferences, and training programs to disseminate the terms and create awareness among the stakeholders.

Way forward

  • Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) is committed to enriching the linguistic and cultural diversity of India by fostering the development of scientific and technical vocabulary in Indian languages.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Recently, the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) announced the release of technical and scientific terminology in 10 Indian languages that are underrepresented in the learning landscape. The CSTT comes under which ministry?

A.      The Ministry of Education

B.      The Ministry of Science and Technology

C.      The Ministry of Home Affairs

D.      The Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer: A

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/10-indian-languages-to-get-technical-term-dictionaries/article66820568.ece