Lok Sabha Question No. 2813 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-02
Subject: Return of Indian Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: ASHWINI KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2813 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2/08/2017

## RETURN OF INDIAN SCIENTISTS

## 2813.  SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Indian Scientists who have returned to work in India leaving reputed foreign institutions during each of the last three years;
- (b) whether all such scientists have since been absorbed;
- (c) whether the Government has initiated any scheme to lure more scientists by giving incentives to come and work in India; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY  AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

- (a)  &  (b):    The  number  of  Indian scientists  who  have returned  to  work in  India  leaving reputed foreign  institutions  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  through  various  schemes  initiated  by  the Government are as under:

Ramanujan Fellowship: 123 scientists returned to  India in  past  three years  and  52 scientists got absorbed. Year-wise details are as below:-

|   Year |   Nos of Scientists returned to India in past three years (under Ramanujan Fellowship) |   Nos of Scientists got absorbed |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|   2014 |                                                                                     40 |                               17 |
|   2015 |                                                                                     34 |                               19 |
|   2016 |                                                                                     49 |                               16 |

Ramalingaswami re-entry  Fellowship:109  scientists  returned  to  India  in  past  three  years  and  55 scientists got absorbed. Year-wise details are as below:-

|   Year |   Nos of Scientists returned to India in past three years (under Ramalingaswamire- entry Fellowship) |   Nos of Scientists got absorbed |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|   2014 |                                                                                                   48 |                               28 |
|   2015 |                                                                                                   32 |                               15 |
|   2016 |                                                                                                   29 |                               12 |

INSPIRE Faculty Scheme:141 scientists returned to India in past three years and 18 scientists got absorbed. Year-wise details are as below:-

|   Year |   Nos of Scientists returned to India in past three years (under INSPIRE Program) |   Nos of Scientists got absorbed |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|   2014 |                                                                                40 |                               14 |
|   2015 |                                                                                53 |                                2 |
|   2016 |                                                                                48 |                                2 |

(c)  &  (d):    Yes,  Madam.  Government  has  initiated  various  schemes  to  attract  more  scientists  to come  and  work  in  India.  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  through  Ramanujan Fellowship and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) through Ramalingaswami re-entry Fellowship provides  attractive  avenue  and  opportunities  to  Indian  Researchers  of  high  calibre,  who  are residing in foreign, to work in Indian Institutes/Universities of their respective interest and domain. Under the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme of DST, young Indian citizens and people of Indian origin with PhD (in science, mathematics, engineering, pharmacy, medicine, and agriculture related subjects) from any recognized university in the world are  offered  contractual  research  positions  in  Indian  Institutions  /  Universities  to  carry  out independent research. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has a scheme to attract Scientists/ Technologists of Indian Origin (STIO) under which they are appointed at an identified CSIR  laboratory  so  as  to  nurture  a  research  field  in  their  area  of  expertise.  The  Ministry  has ensured sufficient funds depending upon the availability of brilliant scientists and engineers from all over the world to take up scientific research positions in India.

Department of Science and Technology through SERB has launched a new scheme, named VAJRA  (Visiting  Advanced  Joint  Research  Faculty  Scheme).  VAJRA  scheme  is  a  dedicated program  exclusively  for  overseas  scientists  and  academicians  with  emphasis  on  Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of  India (OCI) to work as adjunct  /  visiting  faculty  for  a  specific  period  of  time  in  Indian  Public  funded  academic  and research institutions.

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