Lok Sabha Question No. 3836 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Nano Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: FEROZE VARUN GANDHI

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b) The Govt. of India launched Nano Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI) in October 2001 to promote Research & Development (R&D) in Nano Science and Technology (NS&T). NSTI was a modest programme. On 3 rd May 2007, the Government of India launched the Nano Mission, as a major "umbrella capacity-building programme", anchored in DST. Its objectives can be broadly classified as follows:
-  Basic Research Promotion.
-  Infrastructure Development for Nano Science & Technology Research.
-  Nano Applications & Technology Development Programmes.
-  Human Resource Development.
-  International Collaborations.

Nano Mission has completed its Phase-I & II and in the current 14 th Financial Cycle extended till 2020.

Details of funds allocated and utilized by Nano Mission during the last three years and the current year is given Table No. 1. The number of R&D projects funded during the said period is given in Table No 2.

Table No. 1 Funds allocated and utilized during last three years

| Sr. no   | Financial Year   | Funds Allocated (Rs. in crore)   | Funds Utilized (Rs. in crore)   |
|----------|------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| (1)      | (2)              | (3)                              | (4)                             |
| 1.       | 2014-15          | 65.00                            | 64.75                           |
| 2.       | 2015-16          | 85.00                            | 83.60                           |

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3836 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9/08/2017

## NANO MISSION

## 3836. SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has launched Nano Mission to promote Research and Development in Nano Science and Technology;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  funds  allocated,  funds  utilized,  R&D  projects  undertaken  and  their  output during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to formulate national level regulatory framework for  Nano-technology; and
- (d) if so, the steps being taken by the Government for the development of Nanotechnology and physical and human infrastructure in this sector?

## 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)

| (1)   | (2)     |   (3) |    (4) |
|-------|---------|-------|--------|
| 3.    | 2016-17 |   125 | 123.66 |
| 4.    | 2017-18 |   136 |  75.6  |
| Total | Total   |   411 | 347.61 |

Table No. 2 Number of R&D projects funded

| Sr. no   | Financial Year            | Number of projects   |     |
|----------|---------------------------|----------------------|-----|
| 1.       | 2014-15                   |                      |  38 |
| 2.       | 2015-16                   |                      |  56 |
| 3.       | 2016-17                   |                      |  67 |
| 4.       | 2017-18 (as on 02.08.2017 |                      |  20 |
| Total    | Total                     |                      | 181 |

The duration of most of the projects is 3-years, and for a few major projects, it is 5-years. The projects start giving outputs from the 2 nd year  onwards  after  the  R&D work  advances  to some  extent. Output  from projects funded during 2014-17 will, therefore, start showing growth from 2017-18 onwards. However, the output from these projects recorded so far is as follows- 8 PhDs produced/ ongoing; 138 technical personnel trained; 550 research papers published and 17 patent filed.

Some of the important research results from these projects are given below:

-  Continuous microreactor based platform for the synthesis of  polymeric nanoparticles based on the  principle of nano precipitation and solvent emulsification has been developed. A library of polymeric nanoparticle using Poly lactic-co-glycolic  acid  (PLGA)  and  Poly  methyl  methacrylated  (PMMA)  of  different  sizes  having  uniform dispersity have been synthesized.
-  MoO3 prepared via sonochemical method shows very good lithium ion battery performances. Copper doped TiO2 nanomaterials  prepared  via  sonochemical  method  showed  good  hydgrogen  generation  via  photocatalytic  water splitting reaction using solar light as a source.
-  In a study progress has been made towards physical understanding of charge transfer.  Advances made towards understanding  charge  transfer on  the  nanoscale.  Silver  nano  rods  have  been  synthesised    using  a  soft  template based structure copying method.
-  Sunscreen  with  high  sun  protection  factor  (SPF)  and  less  chemical  sunscreen  ingredient  concentration  with bioactive-dendrimer complex has been developed and is ready for preclinical evaluations of dendrimeric sunscreen screams.
-  In a study for development of titania aerogel photo anode for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) application, Titania aerogel based DSSC achieved efficiency of 4-4.5% which is better compared to standard powder.
-  New borohydride synthesis technique have been developed which has the inherent advantage for forming porous zirconia nanopowders and the porous nature which are stable up to 800 o C.
- (c) The process of laying down a Roadmap for Regulatory Framework for Nanotechnology in India has already been initiated  in  consultation  with  concerned  Ministries.  A  set  of  safety  guidelines  for  workers  in  laboratories  has  been developed and posted on the Nano Mission website www.nanomission.gov.in for public use.
- (d) For the development of physical and human infrastructure in Nano Technology, the Nano Mission has supported a variety of programmes such as individual scientist centric projects, Units on Nano Science, Centres of Nano Technology, Thematic Units of Excellence, Centre for Computational Materials Science, Thematic Projects in Frontiers of Nano Science & Technology,  Joint -Institute-Industry linked projects, Proof-of-Concept projects, Post Graduate programmes and Post Doctoral  Fellowship  in  Nano  Science  and  Technology,  Visiting  Associateships  and  Overseas  Visiting  Fellowships, international collaborations, etc to promote novel research and innovation in nano science and technology.

As a result of the lead taken by the Nano Mission, India has very good research facilities for pursuing research in nano science and technology and India today is placed 3 rd in the world in terms of scientific publications.

********