Lok Sabha Question No. 3604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Fellowship Scheme to Retain Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3604 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7/12/2016

## FELLOWSHIP SCHEME TO RETAIN SCIENTISTS

## 3604. SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is implementing fellowship scheme to attract and retain Indian scientists who have settled in various parts of world; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether despite the scheme being implemented by the Government still majority of experts, scientists are undertaking their research projects in foreign land; (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  total  number  of  scientists  returned to the  homeland for  pursuing research in India in their respective fields of expertise since inception of this programme; and
- (e) the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY) 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): Yes, Madam. The Government is implementing various fellowship schemes to attract and retain Indian scientists who have settled in various parts of world. These schemes include Ramanujan Fellowship of the  Science  and  Engineering  Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Ramalingaswami re-entry Fellowship of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) which are aimed to attract highly skilled Indian researchers working overseas by providing them attractive avenue to pursue their R&D interests in Indian institutions. The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme of DST, provides opportunities to young Indian citizens and people of Indian origin, to work in Indian Institutions/ Universities to carry out independent research and emerge as a leader in science & technology.

(c) & (d): Though there are better avenues for undertaking cutting edge research in many areas of science and engineering in the country, several of the scientists continue their research work in overseas institutions due  to  various  socio-economic  reasons.  209  scientists  under  Ramanujan  fellowship,  211  Ramalingaswami fellows,  and  344  INSPIRE  Faculty  Fellows  have  returned  to  India  to  pursue  their  research  in  Indian Institutions/ Universities.

- (e) A number of scientists who had undertaken these fellowships are absorbed as faculty in several Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research, Central Universities, and other leading National Laboratories in the country. The fellows are further supported through various competitive extramural  funding  schemes  of  the  Departments.  In  addition,  Government  through  various  schemes  has strengthened the research infrastructure of the academic and research institutions so that the fellows can continue with high quality research.
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