Lok Sabha Question No. 1496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Popularizing of Scientific Inventions
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## (a) Yes, Madam.

- (b) Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has several  mechanisms  to  popularize science  and  technology  inventions  by  our  scientists  in  the  country.  National  Innovation  Foundation  (NIF),  an Autonomous organization of DST, organizes the Festival of Innovation (FOIN) every year, in collaboration with the President's Secretariat. It is a unique initiative to recognise, respect and reward innovations and foster a supportive ecosystem. Hosted in the month of March in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, FOIN has become a national celebration of creativity and innovation which specially facilitates the access of common people and visitors to Mughal Garden to the exhibition of creative and affordable solutions addressing hitherto unmet or inadequately met social needs. Apart from innovation  exhibition,  the  key  activities  of  FOIN  are interaction  of  innovation  scholars  in-residence  with  the Hon'ble  President, global  roundtable  on  inclusive  innovations  (GRII), roundtable  on  innovations  in  public  service delivery, workshop of innovative and creative children for addressing unmet social needs, exhibition and roundtable on innovations in medical science and biotechnology, roundtable on sustainable inputs and standards  for agriculture and  organic  farming,  roundtable  stratups  and  innovations  in  finance  and  banking  sector  and  so  on.  To  boost innovative innovation spirit of school students, NIF also organizes National Annual Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition for school students in which, in addition to awards, technological, patent and incubation support is also extended to selected students.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research under Department of Scientific and Industrial has the Popular Science Division of CSIR-NISCAIR (National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources) which brings out three popular science magazines- Science Reporter  (English monthly), Vigyan Pragati (Hindi monthly) and Science-ki-Duniya (Urdu quarterly). These three magazines give coverage to inventions by Indian scientists. It also brings out two Newsletter- CSIR News (English) and CSIR Samachar (Hindi). The newsletters publish on a regular basis  news  and  information  pertaining  to  inventions  and  research  accomplishments  of  CSIR  scientists.  A weekly programme 'Eureka' on the contribution of Indian Scientists is produced by CSIR-NISCAIR in collaboration with Rajya Sabha TV and Vigyan Prasar, an Autonomous Organization of DST, wherein interviews of eminent scientists and  researchers  are  conducted  to  discuss  their  S&T  inventions  and  accomplishments.  A  publication  based  on  the contribution of eminent scientist titled 'Moments of Eureka: Life and work of selected Indian Scientists' was brought out by CSIR-NISCAIR in collaboration with Rajya Sabha TV and Vigyan Prasar in 2016. Constituent laboratories of CSIR also organize interactions of Lab scientists with general public including school students on occasions such as CSIR Foundation Day, Technology Day, Lab Foundation Day, wherein information on S&T inventions by the Lab scientists is disseminated.

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/12/2017

## POPULARIZING OF SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS

## 1496. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  mechanism  to  popularize  science  and  technology  inventions  by  our scientists in the country; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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)