Lok Sabha Question No. 52 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Research and Development
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.52

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16/11/2016

## RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

## 52. SHRI SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a) whether  India's  spending  on  Research  and  Development  (R&D)  is  less  as  compared  to  other developing countries and if so, the reasons for less investment in R&D in the country;
- (b) whether the number of scientists per million people in India is far below other Asian countries;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with steps taken/being taken to encourage scientific activities in the country; and
- (d) the number of patent for new innovations granted to Indian scientists during each of the last three years and the current year?

## 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) No, Madam. According to the UNESCO Science Report 2015, India's Gross Expenditure on R&D is far ahead of many developed and developing nations and it stands among the 10 top leading countries in the world.
- (b) & (c): Yes, Madam. The number of Scientists per million is far below other Asian countries. However, in absolute terms, India has 1,92,819 full time researchers and stands among the top 10 leading countries in the world.

The  Government  has  taken  various  measures  to  encourage  scientific  research  activities  in  the country. These measures include successive increase in plan allocations for Scientific Departments, setting up of new institutions for science education and research, creation of centres of excellence for research and state  of  the  art  facilities  in  emerging  and  frontline  S&T  areas  in  academic  and  national  institutes, establishment of new and attractive fellowships for both national and overseas researchers and scientists, substantial grant to potential scientist through Extramural Research Funding Scheme, start-ups grant for young scientists and attractive pay package to scientists in addition to substantial revision of fellowships for research students, strengthening infrastructure for Research and Development (R&D) in universities, encouraging public-private R&D partnerships, recognition of R&D units and fiscal incentives and support measures for R&D in industries etc .

- (d) The number of patents for new innovations granted to Indian Scientists during each of the last three years and the current year at Indian Patent Office are as under:

## PATENTS GRANTED TO INDIAN SCIENTISTS

| Year                    |   Individual Innovator |   Legal Entities other than Individual Innovator |   Total |
|-------------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------|
| 2013-14                 |                     68 |                                              567 |     635 |
| 2014-15                 |                    103 |                                              581 |     684 |
| 2015-16                 |                    137 |                                              758 |     895 |
| 2016-17 (till Oct 2016) |                     90 |                                              464 |     554 |

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(In Number)