NITI Aayog on 3 November 2026 launched the India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard, an interactive platform that tracks research and innovation across 36 States and Union Territories. Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri released it in New Delhi, and its first data shows Tamil Nadu leading the country in both research publications and patent applications for 2024-25.
The launch at the Civil Services Officers’ Institute was attended by NITI Aayog Member (S&T) Prof. Abhay Karandikar and CEO Anurag Jain. It adds a state-level science dashboard to the Aayog’s earlier governance tools such as the NITI Aayog CPO portal for real-time governance monitoring.
Which states lead the India S&T Scoreboard?
According to the first figures released with the scoreboard, the top five states for research publications in 2024-25 are:
- Tamil Nadu: 44,611 publications
- Uttar Pradesh: 29,298 publications
- Maharashtra: 28,947 publications
- Karnataka: 27,970 publications
- Delhi: 24,417 publications
On patent applications filed in 2024-25, Tamil Nadu again ranks first with 16,048, followed by Maharashtra (8,567), Karnataka (8,413), Uttar Pradesh (5,375) and Telangana (5,200). The ranking echoes earlier state comparisons, including NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index, where Karnataka, Manipur and Chandigarh led.
What the scoreboard measures
The platform brings together data on each state’s S&T ecosystem, including higher education institutions, R&D institutions, deep-tech startups and incubators, along with outputs such as research publications and patents. It also shows trends over several years so that states can track their progress.
Beyond volume, the scoreboard reports indicators of research quality, impact, collaboration and open access across priority research areas. It splits the data across three sectors, namely academia, government R&D labs and industry, and offers side-by-side comparison of states along with detailed state profiles that list state policies and best practices.
Why NITI Aayog built it
Lahiri said the scoreboard is not merely a ranking exercise but a platform to help states understand their strengths and gaps and align their development priorities with science, technology and innovation. Guided by cooperative and competitive federalism, he said, it should help states learn from one another and design better programmes. He urged every State and UT to make full use of it and called for incentives for universities and institutes whose research reaches the factory floor.
Prof. Karandikar said research and innovation data has so far been fragmented across many sources, making it hard for states to see where they stand. The scoreboard addresses this by putting ecosystem, publication and patent data on a single dashboard. Department of Science and Technology Secretary Umesh V Waghmare said it adds a state-level picture to the national evidence base and highlighted the role of state S&T councils and state universities.
The launch follows the Centre’s recent push on research and innovation, including the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026. It is also one of the first major data initiatives since Ashok Lahiri took over as Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog.
Key takeaways
- NITI Aayog launched the India S&T Scoreboard on 3 November 2026, covering 36 States and UTs.
- Tamil Nadu leads in research publications (44,611) and patent applications (16,048) for 2024-25.
- The dashboard tracks R&D ecosystems, outputs, quality, collaboration and open access, with state profiles and best practices.
FAQ
What is the India S&T Scoreboard?
It is an interactive NITI Aayog platform that compares the science and technology performance of 36 States and Union Territories to support evidence-based policymaking.
Which state tops the scoreboard?
Tamil Nadu leads in both research publications and patent applications filed in 2024-25.
Who can use it?
The platform is meant mainly for state governments, S&T councils and universities, which can use it to benchmark themselves and plan research policy. More details are available on the NITI Aayog website.
Featured image: NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, April 2026. Photo: Prime Minister’s Office (GODL-India) / Wikimedia Commons