Public Understanding of Science 2014, Vol. 23(4) 472–488 © The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0963662512452231 pus.sagepub.com P U S Public understanding of participation in regulatory decision-making: The case of bottled water quality standards in India Saradindu Bhaduri and Aviram Sharma Jawaharlal Nehru University, India Abstract “Science-based” standards are an integral part of modern regulatory systems. Studies on “public understanding of science” mostly focus on high technology areas in advanced economies. In contrast, the present study analyses the public understanding of regulation in the context of standard-setting for bottled water quality in India. Using primary data, the econometric models of this paper show that public understanding of participation in regulation depends on awareness of, and trust in, existing regulatory practices in a complex, non-linear manner. In this light, the paper argues that “deficit model” and “dialogue model” frameworks cannot be seen as two mutually exclusive frameworks of analyses. Keywords bottled water, India, participation, public understanding, regulatory decision-making, standards, trust 1. Introduction Standards provide public guarantees against undesirable practices and occupy a crucial position in the regulatory governance of modern economies (Thévenot, 2009). From their limited original mandate to regulate economic (financial) activities and labour practices, there has been an enor- mous expansion in the scope and coverage of standards to include science-based regulatory prac- tices (Majone, 1984; Schmandt, 1984; Collins and Evans, 2002; Leach et al., 2007; Majone, 2010). The making of science-based standards has been shaped by the evolving nature of science–society interactions. Studies in the tradition of Public Understanding of Science (PUS) suggest that science was initially viewed as a repository (and provider) of objective knowledge (Jasanoff, 2005; Bauer, 2009). Scientists and technologists enjoyed high public trust and played the dominant role in the making of science-based standards (Noble, 1977; David, 1995; Lundvall, 1995). This view is being fast replaced by an alternative framework, where scholars emphasise the politics of science and its Corresponding author: Saradindu Bhaduri, Centre for Studies in Science Policy, #217, School of Social Sciences-I, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India. Email: saradindu@mail.jnu.ac.in 10.1177/0963662512452231Bhaduri and SharmaPublic Understanding of Science 12 Article at JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY on February 2, 2015 pus.sagepub.com Downloaded from