Lok Sabha Question No. 1621 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1621 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26/07/2017

## VISITING ADVANCED JOINT RESEARCH FACULTY

## †1621.  SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a) the salient features of the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme (VAJRA) along with its present status;
- (b) the details of the funds earmarked, sanctioned and allocated under this scheme, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the details of the target set and achievements made under this scheme so far;
- (d) the number of countries involved under this scheme so far along with its response; and
- (e) whether the Government is planning to include some more countries under this scheme and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the time by which it is likely to be included?

## 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) The  Science  and  Engineering  Research  Board  (SERB),  a  Statutory  body  of  the  Department  of Science and Technology (DST) has recently launched a 'Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme' to connect the Indian academic and research and development (R&D) systems to the best of global science  and  scientists  for  a  sustained  international  collaborative  research.  The  scheme  offers  adjunct  / visiting  faculty assignments to overseas scientists, faculty members and R&D professionals including Nonresident Indians (NRI) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to undertake high quality collaborative research in cutting edge areas of science and technology including interdisciplinary areas of priority such as energy, water, health, security, nutrition, materials and manufacturing, etc. with one or more Indian collaborators of public  funded  academic  and  research  institutions  of  India.  The  VAJRA  Faculty  should  be  an  active researcher  working  in  an  overseas  leading  academic  /  research  /  industrial  organization  with  significant accomplishments  in R&D. The  initial Faculty  assignment  is  given  for  a  period  of  one  year  extendable  to subsequent years based on the collaborative outcome and interest. The residency period of VAJRA Faculty in the host institution would be for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months every year. VAJRA Faculty is provided US Dollars 15000 in the first month of residence and US Dollars 10000 in each of the subsequent month. Presently, call for applications is made open for prospective researchers.
- (b) Sufficient fund is earmarked for the VAJRA Scheme from the overall budgetary allocation of SERB, which stands at Rs. 800 crore in BE 2017-18. This is not a centrally sponsored scheme but a Central Plan Scheme and hence no State/UT-wise allocation is made.
- (c) The scheme is launched recently on pilot basis for initial 3-4 years with a target of enrolling 50-75 VAJRA  Faculty  per  year.  A  dedicated  website  www.vajra-india.in  has  been  made  available  for  wider dissemination of the scheme and a portal www.serbonline.in has been put in place for online submission of VAJRA applications.
- (d) Scientists from countries like USA, Russia, UK, France, Italy have expressed interest to undertake VAJRA Faculty assignments in India. The Scheme is open to active and accomplished scientist / faculty from all countries.
- (e) Does not arise in view of (d) above.

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