Lok Sabha Question No. 2377 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Dismal State of Scientific Research
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD

(a) No, Madam.

(b) Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  stimulate  purposeful  scientific  research  in  the  country including increasing budgetary allocations of Departments in the Ministry. The directions of research have been re-oriented to enhance the quality and quantity of impactful basic research to translation research to technology development, to technology transfer, to innovation and startups to enabling commercialization of indigenous  technology.  India  is  getting  future-ready  in  launching  ambitious  missions  in  Cyber  Physical Systems, Artificial Intelligence,  Super Computing, Deep Ocean, Biopharmaceuticals, etc. which will make our research globally competitive and meaningful. During the last four years (2014-18), the Departments in the Ministry had been allocated Rs. 38,482.14 crore, a budgetary hike of 41.65% compared to the allocation in the 2010-14 period.

(c) & (d):  Government has not directed the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other organization involved in scientific research  in the Ministry to generate  their  own funds  and to start  selffinancing  projects.  However,  during  the  'Chintan  Shivir'  held  on  June  12-13,  2015  in  Dehradun  with Directors  of  all  CSIR  laboratories  a  'DEHRADUN  DECLARATION' had been adopted which primarily directs the CSIR to develop industry driven technologies, including game changing technologies. The R&D organizations  under  the  Ministry  have  responded  positively.  CSIR  is  endeavoring  to  generate  external revenue to the extent of 30% of its total budget through technology transfer, licensing, royalty, premia etc. It is also supplementing its financial resources through internal receipts. India Meteorological Department and National  Institute  of  Ocean  Technology  under  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  earn  revenue  by  providing Meteorological  support/  information  /  ocean  technological  services  and  consultancy  to  various  agencies/ individuals. Scientific laboratories have increasingly become problem-resolution hubs for many government agencies  like  Railways,  Heavy  Industry,  Urban  Development,  Defence,  Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation, Power,  Coal  and  New  and  Renewable  Energy  etc.  Theme  oriented  research  which  focused  on  national missions received higher level of funding and priority.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2377 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1/8/2018

## DISMAL STATE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

## 2377. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

(a) whether  various  academicians/  organisations  have  expressed  their  concern  about  dismal  state  of scientific research in the country and inadequate funds allocation therefor;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation and increase the budgetary allocations for purposeful scientific research;

(c) whether the Government has directed the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other  organisation  involved  in  scientific  research  to  generate  their  own  funds  and  to  start  self-financing projects and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the  response  of  these  organisations  thereto  along  with  its  likely  impact  on  various  Government research schemes and programmes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

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