Lok Sabha Question No. 448 (STARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: FIST Programme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.448 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5/4/2017

## FIST PROGRAMME

- *448. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD: SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

- (a) the  salient  features  of  the  ''Fund  for  Improvement  of  S&T  Infrastructure  in  Universities  and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST)" programme;
- (b) whether his Ministry has provided funds for this programme and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the infrastructure support provided to educational institutions in the country;
- (d) the universities, departments and institutions identified for implementation of FIST programme and the expenditure likely to be incurred for this purpose; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for promoting Research and Development activities  in  new  and  emerging  areas  and  attracting  fresh  talent  in  universities  and  other  educational institutions in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a) to (e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.448 FOR 05/04/2017 REGARDING FIST PROGRAMME

(a) Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) Programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) enables Universities and Academic Institutions for pursuing competitive research and development (R&D) in new and emerging areas and attracts fresh talent towards R&D in the country. The salient features of the Programme are: Support for basic  equipment,  optimal  infrastructure  facilities,  ready  access  to  information  system,  maintenance  of equipment, networking, databases & scientific journals and also computational facilities; Covers all sectors of Science & Technology Departments including Agriculture, Veterinary, Pharmacy and Medical having Post-graduate teaching & research program of 3 years in existence and Provides three levels of support to Universities, Post-Graduate Colleges and Institutions identified through Subject Expert Committees and FIST Advisory Board (FISTAB) which is comprised of eminent scientists and technologists.

- (b) Yes, Madam. The funds provided by the Ministry in the last three years for FIST Programme are Rs. 227.74 crore, Rs. 221.97 crore and Rs. 232.72 crore in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively.
- (c) The infrastructure support provided to educational institutions in the country includes-  Support for basic and state-of-the-art equipment, infrastructure support like renovation of labs [e-classroom for PG  Colleges]  and  books,  networking/  Computational  support  and  Maintenance  of  Equipment  & Networking items. Some of equipment supported through the Programme include Ion Chromatograph, DNA Sequencers, Scanning Probe Microscope, Oligonucleotide Synthesizer, Molecular Imaging System, High  Resolution  Powder  /  Single  crystal  X-ray  Diffractometer,  NMR,  Mass  Spectrometer,  Plasma Deposition Etching System, Universal Testing Machines (UTMs), Electron Microprobe Analyzer, High Resolution  Microscopes,  Confocal  Microscope,  Field  Emission  Scanning  Electron  Microscope,  High Resolution  Transmission  Electron  Microscope,  Scanning  Tunneling  Microscope,  Vacuum  Melting Furnace, High Resolution Mass Spectrometer etc.
- (d) Since inception, 2545 Departments including 346 PG Colleges have received FIST support at a total budget of about Rs 2320 crore. The institutions which received FIST support include Central Universities, State  and  Private  Universities,  Deemed  Universities,  Post  graduate  Colleges,  Indian  Institutes  of Technology  (IITs),  Indian  Institutes  of  Science  Education  and  Research  (IISERs),  Indian  Institute  of Science, National Institutes of Technology (NITs) etc. The expenditure in the current year is likely to be Rs 233.0 crore.
- (e) Government has taken several steps for promoting R&D activities in new and emerging areas in universities and other educational institutions in the country. This includes successive increase in plan allocations for Scientific Departments, setting up of Science and Engineering Research Board for basic research, offering attractive research fellowships, instituting women scientist schemes including support to women universities,  special  window  support for  R&D  in  thematic  areas  through  Nano  Mission,  Solar Energy Research Initiative, Water Technology Initiative, Clean Energy Initiative, National Supercomputing Mission etc. New and emerging areas like Big Data, Cyber Physical Systems, Advanced Manufacturing, Waste Processing have been identified as futuristic platforms and special thrust has been given for initiation  of  R&D.  Special measures  have  been taken  to  attract and  nurture fresh  talent for undertaking  R&D  in  the  country.  Some  of  the  targeted  Programmes  include  Young  Scientist  Project Award  Schemes,  Early  Career  Research  Award  (ECRA),  National  Postdoctoral  Fellowship  (N-PDF), Innovation  in  Science  Pursuit  for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE)  Faculty  &  Fellowship  Schemes,  PM Doctoral  Fellowships,  CSIR-Nehru  Postdoctoral  Fellowships  etc.  Extramural  Funding  Schemes  of  the Ministry enhance the research capability of the Universities and Institutions and provide a platform for training  of  young  research  personnel  like  Project  Associates,  Research  Associates,  Project  Assistants. Awards like Innovative Biotechnologist Award, National Bioscience Awards for Career Development are given to Young scientists to attract innovative thinkers in sectoral areas. Researchers, especially young scientists have been supported to engage in international collaborations with prominent countries thereby ensuring that the research undertaken in universities and other educational institutions in the country is relevant and advanced.

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