Lok Sabha Question No. 3523 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Deterioration in Science and Research
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3523 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7/12/2016

## DETERIORATION IN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

## 3523. SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

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

- (a) whether overall deterioration in science, education and research has been noted which is a matter of great concern;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Union Government is allotting less than one per cent of GDP to science;
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken to provide more funds for this purpose?

## 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.
- (b) The  Government  is  making  conscious  effort  to  increase  the  access  as  well  improve  the  quality  in science, education and research. The Gross Enrolment Ratio in the country, in higher education is constantly increasing and the number of students who are opting for science is also increasing. India's performance in scientific research is  promising and impressive in recent years which is evident from the fact that India's position globally in scientific publications, as per Scopus database, has improved from 12 th position in 2005 to 6 th  position in 2013 with a growth rate of 13.9% as against the world average of 4.1% during 2009-2013. In the field of nanoscience and technology, India was at 3 rd  position in 2013. In 2006, India's output of papers in Chemistry was fourth and by 2013 it was third behind United States of America and China. A report of Springer Nature has indicated that India is ascending towards world-class science and our country is at 13 th position globally on an index of world-class scientific journals.
- (c) & (d):  India invests 0.88% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) towards Research and Development (R & D). However, the Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) in the country has been consistently increasing over the years. The GERD is estimated to be Rs. 62,053.47 crores in 2010-11 and Rs. 72,620.44 crores in 2011-12. The allocation for Ministry of Science and Technology has increased from Rs. 5145 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 8100 crore in 2016-17. Unlike in the best performing countries, the R&D investment by private sector is low (close to one-third of the GERD) in our country which also contribute to low % of GERD.
- (e) Government has taken several steps to attract investment for improving the status of science, education and research in the country. This includes launching of new programmes / schemes and interfacing with other Ministries / Departments and Industries to leverage their resources and expertise in undertaking research of national  relevance  and  thereby enhancing the  share  of  scientific research  in  GDP.  The  initiatives  such  as IMPRINT (IMPacting Research INnovation and Technology), Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY), Industry Relevant R&D are directed towards attracting more funds in research and development in partnership with national institutions and private industries.

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