Lok Sabha Question No. 105 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Research Work
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Research Work

## †*105. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to inspire and attract the professors and staff for research work in various Central Universities;

(b)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  standard  of  research  in  line  with  the Universities of USA, Japan, UK and other developed countries;

(c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  sign  any  agreement  with  foreign  institutions  to  bring qualitative improvement in the standard of research; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 FOR 24.07.2017 ASKED BY DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK REGARDING RESEARCH WORK

(a) In  order  to  encourage  research  and  development  in  the  country,  University  Grants Commission  (UGC)  has  laid  out  a  number  of  schemes,  awards,  fellowships,  chairs  and programmes under which financial assistance is provided to institutions of higher education as well as faculty members working therein to undertake quality research in almost all areas of knowledge across disciplines. These schemes include:

- (i) Universities with Potential for Excellence (UPE),
- (ii) Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Area: (CPEPA),
- (iii) Special Assistance Programme (SAP),
- (iv) Research Projects to Teachers,
- (v)  Basic Science Research
- (vi) Setting up of Inter-University Centers

From the year 2014, the President of India as the Visitor of Central Universities has instituted the awards namely (i) Visitor's Award for Best Research and (ii) Visitor's Award for Best Innovation which  has  resulted  in  healthy  competition  amongst  the  Central  Universities  for  research  and innovation.

(b) The  UGC,  on  behalf  of  the  Government  of  India,  has  been  implementing  various collaborative academic programmes between India and foreign countries. UGC has been running Joint Research Programmes with countries like USA, UK, Israel, Norway and New Zealand. UGC has  also  facilitated  mobility  of  students,  research  scholars  and  faculty  through  programmes  like Raman Fellowships for Post-doctoral Research in USA, scholarship programme called Stipendium Hungaricum with Hungary, Project-based Personnel Exchange Programme, Exchange of Scientists Programme and Indo-German Partnerships in Higher Education.

Under  the  Joint  Research  Programmes  and  other  collaborative  programmes,  Higher  Education Institutions  in  India  have  been  able  to  engage  with  many  foreign  Universities  of  repute  for research.

(c)&(d): University Grants Commission (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration  between  Indian  and  Foreign  Educational  Institutions)  regulations,  2016  were notified on 11 th July, 2016. The Regulations apply to all foreign educational institutions operating in India through collaboration with Indian educational institutions other than technical institutions, and all Indian educational institutions other than technical institutions. These Regulations facilitate the Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to enter into academic collaboration with foreign education institutions of repute.

The following are the number of projects awarded to higher education institutions including CUs under the key collaborative programmes:

1. Indo-US: 40 joint research projects (20 India-led and 20 US led)
2. UGC-UKIERI: 86 joint research projects
3. Indo-Norway: 13 joint research projects
4. Indo-German: 7 institutional partnerships
5. Indo-New Zealand: 7 joint research projects
6. Indo-Israel: 40 joint research projects
7. Raman Fellowships: 453 fellowships

They are reviewed regularly by UGC for their performance.

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