Vigyan Prasar (VP) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

The principal objective of VP is to serve India’s science popularization agenda. This is achieved
through several strategically important two – way stakeholder specific approaches to communicate about principles and practice of science and technology and implications for development and quality of life. Science popularization, therefore serves as a robust knowledge led tool to fulfill three mutually reinforcing public policy objectives.

The first is to create and foster a well-informed citizenry. This is with special emphasis on
developments in science and technology and the open-endedness and continual evolution of science and related knowledge systems. This approach creates the opportunity to assist national missions, duly highlighting dimensions of science and technology. Information clearing house functions and secretariat roles are equally important in this context

The second is about building capacities to communicate. This is through inroads into formal and non –formal teach and learn systems including education and other community centered interventions across thrust areas and regions of the country. This is expected to help reach the unreached through concerted networking at the local level.

The third objective is implicit in the two already stated. It is about engagement that follows knowledge enrichment. This is a non – linear attribute of science communication; determined by the interplay of
regulations, ease of access to alternatives, capacities to use them and the milieu of equity and justice to exert rights. It is important to take note of this facet of science communication so that
popularization efforts and communicators are not trivialized. sets the context for knowledge centered
engagement.