Lok Sabha Question No. 236 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Programme to Encourage Young Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF SCIENCE  & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMNNi  OT SCIENCE  & TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  No' 236

TO BE ANSWERED  ON A610312020

## PROGRAMME  TO ENCOURAGE  YOUNG SCIENTISTS

## *236.  SHRI SRIDHAR  KOTAGIRI: SHRI TUACINTA  SREENIVASULU  REDDY:

WilltheMinisterofSCIENCE&TECHNOLOGYfii{r4ak@fuftd* be pleased to state:

- (a) engage whether the Government  is conducting  any programme to encourage  young scientists  to themselves  io r"i""tin"  activities/underiake  research work;
- (b) details if so, the main characteristics  of  young  scientists  Research  programme  along with the of funds allocated  for the purpose d";i;;.;"h  of the last three  years and the current  year;
- (c) the age rimit for avairing  of the benefits  and the deta,s of achievements  made so far under this  programmel  and
- (d) whether  the Government  is offering  any special.plan  or scholarship  under this programme, if so, the details  thereof  and if not' the reasons  therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTEROFHEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE;MINISTEROFSCIENCEAND TECHNOLOGY;  aXO vilNISTER  OF EARTH  SCIENCES (un. n,tnsH  vARDHAN)

ErFq 3ik  qntEr TFEIror ffi,frarfr  silT dffifufr  dfi silr  T?'d framd* d. E+  E?fn

- (a) to (d) A statement  is taid on the Table of the House'

STATEMENT  AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS  (a') to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTTON  NO.  *236  rOn oi.ot.zoz0  REGARDTNc'.irnoculrME  To ENCOURAGE YOUNG SCIENTISTS"

- (a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Government  has instituted  several schemes/programmes  aimed  at encouraging young scientists  to engage ,i"*."rr".  *lfit scienti{ic  activities  / undertake  research work. Some of thenotableprogrammesoftheMinistryofScienceandTechnologytargetedatyoungscientists include:InnovationinsciencePursuitforlnspiredResearch(INSPIRE)ofDepartmentofScience and Technolory @ST),  Nationai  pottOo"tot''l Fellowship  (N-PDD and Start-up Research Grant (sRG) of science  and Ed;;;;;;"ii;'"! Pl:{. (snns)' Research Fellowship Schemes of Council of scienrific ".a r.I"riii"'r  Research  (GSIR) and Department-  of liotechnology  (DBT)' Research Associateship, nco p.ri""rrased  project  Associates,  Innovative  Young  Biotechnologist Award of DBT etc.

respectivelY. In addition  to above  dedicated schemes,  participation of young scientists.  in main stream research  support  schemes "fitRB is as high ". rzx io case of scientists  below the age of 40 and 65yo for scientists  betow  age or l-  y"u.r,  w-hich  demonstrates  their vibrancy,  competitiveness  and contribution  to Indian s"i"rr"". rar"  of iunding,  speed of delivery,  attractive  fellowships'  access  to best research infrastructure  and knowledge  resource pool' recognition and mentoring in some schemes are some or tn" "rrorucl"ri.ti", or ;L" young scientist  research  programmes'  The schemes are designed  to identiff p;;;iJg  yo'og t"'"utthers  and providing them with training and research opportunities  in u."ur-oi *il"rce, ingineering  and mathematics.  The schemes  also provide them a platform to deneto'f, ", }a"n"1oi1  re.seJrchers  for taking up challenging  research problems for the benefit  of ihe country. Funds allocated exclusively for young scientist research programmes during 2016-ri,-ioii-ia,"zora-p^:ry the current year by the Ministry  of science and Technology  ure Rs. ffiA: "'ott, R'' 1200'6 crore' Rs' 1293'5 crore and Rs' 1205 crore'

- (c)Theagecriteriaforavailingtlenefitsofvariousyoungscientistschemesaregivenbelowl

| Scheme / Programme (Department / Agencv)    | Scheme / Programme (Department / Agencv)    | Scheme / Programme (Department / Agencv)   | Upper age limit                                                                                                           |
|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| INSPIRE FacultY Fellow (DST)                | INSPIRE FacultY Fellow (DST)                | INSPIRE FacultY Fellow (DST)               | 32 years with relaxation of three years to apPlicants belonging to SC/SI' categories                                      |
| Swarnajayanti Fellowship (DST / SERB)       | Swarnajayanti Fellowship (DST / SERB)       | Swarnajayanti Fellowship (DST / SERB)      | 40 years                                                                                                                  |
| National Postdoctoral Fellowship (SERB)     | National Postdoctoral Fellowship (SERB)     | National Postdoctoral Fellowship (SERB)    | 35 years with relaxation of five vears to applicants belonging to lsclsrloecl PhYsicallY ChaltengedA omencategories       |
| Start-up Research Grant (SERB)              | Start-up Research Grant (SERB)              | Start-up Research Grant (SERB)             | 42 years with relaxation of five years to aPPlicants belonging to hclsrloscl PhYsicallY ChallengedAVomen categories years |
| Ramanujan FellowshiP (SERB)                 | Ramanujan FellowshiP (SERB)                 | Ramanujan FellowshiP (SERB)                | 40                                                                                                                        |
| Teacher AssociateshiP for Excellence (SERB) | Teacher AssociateshiP for Excellence (SERB) | Research                                   | 45 years with relaxation of five vears to aPPlicants belonging to "SClSflOeCl PhYsicallY ChallengedA omen categories      |
| Fellowship / Associateship (CSIR)           | Fellowship / Associateship (CSIR)           | Fellowship / Associateship (CSIR)          | 28-40 years                                                                                                               |
| Ramalingaswami                              | Re-entry                                    | FellowshiP                                 | 45 years                                                                                                                  |

(DBr) Innovative  Young (DBT) Biotechnologist  Award

35 vears  of age with relaxation  of 5 ,.r., to aPPlicants  belonging  to lctsrlorcl PhYsicallY Challenged/Women  categories 45 years

National Women Bioscientist  Award  (DBT)

Anumberofqualitypublicationsinhighimpactjournalsandpatentshar.e^emanatedfrom the Young Scientist's pt'j""I""i;;'t"th";;;;;;" helped manl'young  researchers  in the progress of rheir  career in S&T, ,"gJ.;;;;;ni ir, """4".i. / ."."a..h  institutions  and industry'  They also received recognitions ii'fi'"-fot,, of awards'  -membership in science and engineering academies  and have "ortiru# tr'"o*.6u,"  significantly  towards lndia science  and technology'

(d)Thefellowships,awardsasmentionedaboveo{ferliberalfinancialsupportintheformof iellowship  ranging  f."t R"':i;d;l-';; R'' l'35'000/- Der month  to scientists  who are not in regular  service,  aepenAi"g -upon their  quatification -and 'nut"" of the scheme' The fellowship  of research  personnel rJ'nioJI"s'"ni;; il;;;il Fello'n' R"sea'ch  Associate)  engaged  in R&D ProgrammesoftheCentralGo'*"*"ntDepartments/Agencieshasbeenenhanced24-35'hwith effect from  l"rJanuarY  2019'