Lok Sabha Question No. 1493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Attracting Youngsters to Scientific and Technological Research
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SADHU SINGH

- (a) Yes, Madam.

(b) Government  has  launched  several  programmes  /  schemes  aimed  to  attract  and  identify  promising youngsters  with  innovative  ideas  and  provide  them  with  training  and  opportunities  towards  scientific  and technological  research.  Some  of  the  notable  programmes/  schemes  of  the  Ministry  targeted  at  youngsters include: Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY),  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  Fellowship  Schemes,  Research  Associateship, Postdoctoral  Fellowships,  Early  Career  Research  Awards  etc.  The  Children  Science  Congress  held  annually provides a unique opportunity to school children to stimulate scientific temperament and learning the scientific methodology for observation, collection of data, analysis and arriving at conclusions and presenting the findings in  various  fields  of  science  and  engineering.  The  INSPIRE  Award  MANAK  (Million  Minds  Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) Scheme has been designed to target ten lakh ideas annually from more than five lakh middle and high schools across the country. Top 60 projects are selected annually for National Awards through district level, state level and national level exhibition & project competitions.  Allocation of Rs. 586.0 crore for INSPIRE Scheme, Rs. 325 crore for National S&T Human Resource activities of CSIR and Rs. 7.76  crore  for  Young  Scientists  programmes  of  Department  of  Biotechnology  have  been  made  for  Young Scientist  Programmes  /  Schemes  in  2017-18.  In  addition,  the  Science  and  Engineering  Research  Board  has allocated  Rs.  160  crore  so  far  in  the  current  financial  year  for  its  Postdoctoral  and  Early  Career  Research Award Schemes. In  additions  to  Scientific  Departments  /  Agencies  under  Central  Government,  Central  Universities, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Laboratories, Autonomous Institutions, State Universities, Non-Governmental Organizations etc. are involved in  promotion of science and technology among the youths. These organizations actively engage in mentoring,

(c) developing and organizing several programmes targeting the youth.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1493 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/12/2017

## ATTRACTING YOUNGSTERS TO SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH

1493. PROF. SADHU SINGH:

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

(a) whether the Government has launched any programme/scheme to attract youngsters towards scientific and technological research;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the funds allocated therefor; and

(c) the details of bodies/institutions involved in promotion of science and technology among the youths? 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)