Lok Sabha Question No. 6048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Scheme to Get Doctoral Candidates in Science Programme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: K. GOPAL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6048 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4/4/2018

## SCHEME TO GET DOCTORAL CANDIDATES IN SCIENCE PROGRAMME

6048. DR. K. GOPAL:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  is  working  on  a  scheme/programme  to  get  doctoral  candidates  in  science programme to publish at least one popular science article explaining their research, before they land their degree, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has earmarked Rs.90-100 crore annually over the next five years to enable at least two hours of programme every day, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has earmarked Rs.35 crore as part of a Science and Technology Radio initiative for 1,000 hours of radio programme in 19 languages through 117 stations and community radio channels; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

## ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

(a) Yes,  Madam.  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  has  launched  a  new  initiative  called Augmenting Writing Skills  in Articulating  Research (AWSAR), in January 2018 to tap the tremendous latent potential  of  young  researchers  for  promoting  science  communication.  AWSAR  envisages  encouraging  youth pursuing  research  in  Science  &  Technology  (S&T)  to  write  popular  science  articles  related  to  their  area  of research.  This unique program will not only bring information about research being carried in the lab and thus explaining their research in interesting & engaging format to the masses. AWSAR will not only thus bridge the yawning gap that presently exists between researcher and the lay public about the work of the former but also create opportunities in the area of science journalism. Research scholars pursuing PhD or Doctoral degree as well as Post Doctoral (PD) fellows in S&T streams are encouraged to write at least one popular science article about their respective subject area and to participate in a national competition. DST will award 100 best article/stories by  PhD  scholars  every  year.  The  Award  will  include  a  cash  prize  and  a  certificate  of  appreciation  besides  a chance for the winning articles to be published. Top three articles would be awarded cash prizes of Rs.1,00,000, Rs.50,000 and Rs.25,000 respectively. Further, 20 entries selected from articles submitted by PD fellows will  also be given cash prize of Rs.10,000/- each and a certificate of appreciation and one most outstanding story out of these will be given a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/-.

(b) No, Madam. DST has not earmarked Rs.90-100 crores annually for two hours of programme every day. However, collaboration of DST with Prasar Bharti/ Doordarshan is underway for a dedicated one hour slot on science and technology on DD National, to start with.

(c) & (d):  Yes, Madam. DST is producing radio programs through Vigyan Prasar, an Autonomous Institution of the  Department,  in  19  Indian  languages  for  494  hours  annually  that  are  being  broadcast  through  117  Radio Stations of All India Radio. The budget earmarked for these programs is approximately Rs3.32 crores annually. National  Council  for  Science  and  Technology  Communication  (NCSTC)  Division,  DST  is  also  supporting development and broadcast programs related to women's health & nutrition and also basic mathematics for the challenges  pertaining  to  local  people  through  Community  Radio  Stations.  Till  date,  DST  has  supported  68 Community Radio Stations to broadcast such programs of half an hour duration everyday.

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