Lok Sabha Question No. 1136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Framing Research Policy
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1136 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8/2/2017

## FRAMING RESEARCH POLICY

## 1136. SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the International opinions about India's great potential to be a scientific power and should increase its investment in basic and fundamental researches;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the areas identified for investments;
- (c) whether there is a huge scope for researchers in the field of health such as getting rid of mosquitoes to tackle  malaria,  research  for  finding  out  new  vaccines,  genetic  modification  of  food  crops  and  the  need  for strengthening education particularly science education;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government is considering to frame research policy to make India a scientific power; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)

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)

- (a) Yes Madam, the Government is aware of the International opinions about India's great potential to be a  scientific  power  and  the  Government  is  continuously  increasing  allocation  of  funds  towards  Research  & Development (R&D) resulting in more investment in basic and fundamental researches.
- (b) The plan budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Science and Technology during the last three years and proposed for FY 2017-18 is given as under: -

|                                                  | Funds Allocated (Rs. in cr)   | Funds Allocated (Rs. in cr)   | Funds Allocated (Rs. in cr)   | Funds Allocated (Rs. in cr)   |
|--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Departments                                      | Plan 2014-15                  | Plan 2015-16                  | Plan 2016-17                  | Proposed for 2017-18          |
| Department of Science and Technology             | 2500.00                       | 3401.50                       | 3981.00                       | 4837.27                       |
| Department of Biotechnology                      | 1395.00                       | 1606.80                       | 1895.20                       | 2222.11                       |
| Department of Scientific and Industrial Research | 1600.00                       | 2192.50                       | 2297.18                       | 4446.00                       |
| Total Ministry of Science and Technology         | 5495.00                       | 7199.80                       | 8173.38                       | 11505.38                      |

Accordingly, the plan budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Science and Technology have gone up from Rs. 5495.0 cr in 2014-15 to Rs. 8173.38 cr in 2016-17. The budget proposed for the year 2017-18 is Rs. 11505.38 cr.

Ministry of Science and Technology supports all areas of science, engineering, technology through its various programs/schemes.

© & (d):   Yes Madam, realizing the importance of and to alleviate all suffering from vaccine preventable disease, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has been supporting basic research in immunology and indigenous vaccine development. DBT has been encouraging preclinical and clinical development of vaccine against Rotavirus, Cholera,  Typhoid,  Rabies,  Malaria,  Dengue  and  also  supporting  research  and  development  on  genetic modification of food crops.

Recognizing the importance of R&D on the prospects and opportunities for researchers in the field of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Research, Department of Science and Technology (DST) supports collaborative R&D projects with institute and industry as partners to carry out pre-clinical and clinical trial of drugs, and vaccine for various diseases which are affecting the health of Indian population. Also, the 'Technology Vision 2035' document highlights the need for being technologically independent in manufacturing of essential lifesaving drugs, development of new vaccines for multidrug resistant and newly emerging diseases.

The Ministry of Science and Technology also offers several fellowships to strengthen science education.

(e) & (f):  The government is presently not considering to frame any research policy, however in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy-2013 ''positioning India among the top five global scientific powers by 2020'' is indicated as an aspiration.

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