Lok Sabha Question No. 170 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Science Festivals
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR S.R., NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *170 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/03/2018

## SCIENCE FESTIVALS

## *170 SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR

## SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether his Ministry has organized Science Festivals in the country;
- (b) if so, the details including the aims and objectives thereof;
- (c) the number of festivals organized so far along with the achievements thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to hold 4 th India International Science Festival (IISF) in Lucknow in future and if so, the details including the aims and objectives thereof along with the expected number of delegates likely to participate in the event; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to promote science and technology in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a), (b), (c), (d) & (e):   Yes Madam. A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION * 170 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/03/2018 REGARDING 'SCIENCE FESTIVALS'.

(a) Yes  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  organizes  India  International  Science Festival every year in collaboration with Ministry of Earth Sciences. All the Departments under Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences participate in the event. Various other Ministries and Departments of Central and State Government also participate in the event.

(b) The  prime  objective  of  the  festival  is  to  instill  scientific  temper  among  the  masses  and showcasing India's contribution in all the fields of S&T from ancient to the modern period. It also aims to build a strategy for the development of rural India through the advancement of Science and Technology. Further, the science festival also intends to showcase innovative affordable technologies for the benefit of masses.  To showcase and highlight the flagship programmes of Government of India like Swacch Bharat, Swastha Bharat, Make in India, Digital India, Smart Villages etc is also a major aim. IISF tries to bring world class scientists and technocrats to visit the festival and give exposure to Indian youth and students.

(c) Three IISF have been held so far, since the year 2015. Ist IISF at IIT Delhi, New Delhi; 2 nd IISF at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi and 3 rd IISF at Anna University, Chennai.

## Achievements

-  The festivals focused on the major scientific achievements by youth and future prospects in the scientific  arena  through  Young  Scientists'  Meet  (YSM),  Mega  Science,  Technology  and Industrial Expo, International Science Film Festival, Innovation Models  and  'INSPIRE' presentations,  IRIS  (Initiative  for  Research  and  Innovation  in  Science)  National  Science  Fair, Scientist-Students  Interaction,  workshops  and  interactive  sessions,  and  the  largest  collective science practical session 'Catalysis'.
-  IISF had been the first science festival organized in our country to promote the 'potential benefits of science to the society', and simultaneously inculcating and nurturing the scientific caliber.
-  School  students  from  adopted  villages  by  Hon'ble  MPs  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Sansad Aadarsh  Gram  Yojna  have  been  invited  in  the  IISF  which  inspired  them  and  got  exposure  to interact with eminent scientists from BARC, DRDO,IISc,TFRI etc.
-  25 State councils on Science & Technology took part in the last expo at IISF 2017.
-  300 Labs & Institutions  across the country have participated and displayed their  achievements and contributions in the field of Science & Technology.
-  25 Central Ministries were present in the Expo.
-  Science  Models,  Science  Parks,  Biotechnology  Programme  of  India,  Space  Satellite  Models, Defence Missiles and Warfare Tanks, Hands on Projects, etc. were few of the attractions of the Expo.
-  Achieved 'Guinness Book World Record' for successful  conduct of Largest  Practical  Science Lesson by 2000 school students during IISF-2015.
-  One thousand and forty nine (1049) students of 9 and 10 standards from twenty one (21) different schools  in  Tamilnadu  gathered  at  the  venue  of  IISF-2017  in  Anna  University  to  achieve  a 'Guinness Book World Record'.

(d) Yes Madam, Government proposes to hold the 4 th IISF during 5 th October - 8 th October, 2018 at Lucknow, UP and a total number of 12,500 delegates are expected for the event comprising of students, young  scientists,  women  scientists,  farmers,  innovators,  global  scientists  and  technocrats  with  Indian origin,  successful startups and  grassroots  innovators etc.  Objective  of  the festival is  to  instill  scientific temper among the masses and showcasing India's contribution in the field of S&T over the years. It aims to  build  a  strategy  for  rural  India  through  the  advancement  of  Science  and  Technology.  Further,  the science festival also intends to make innovation beneficial for the people and develop technology that is affordable to the masses.

Selected students from North East region would be special invitees for IISF 2018 where they can interact with eminent scientists of our country.

As a part  of  mutual  students  exchange  programme  we  are  inviting  200  selected  students  from SAARC countries to the festival.

(e) Various  schemes/awards  etc.  have  been  launched  by  Ministry  of  Science  &  Technology  to promote the science & technology in the country. Some of the schemes/awards  are National Women Bioscientist  Awards , National  Bioscience  Awards  for  Career  Development , The  Innovative  Young  Bio technologist Award (IYBA) , DBT-CTEP Programme, Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship , Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme, etc.

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