Lok Sabha Question No. 1221 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Research Work undertaken by Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1221

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25/7/2018

## RESEARCH WORK UNDERTAKEN BY SCIENTISTS

## 1221.  SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  encourage  young  scientists  to  undertake research work, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the main features of young scientists research programme and the amount of funds allocated during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) the details of the age related eligibility to avail the benefits of this programme and the details of the achievements made under the said programme so far;
- (d) the number of young scientists who have benefitted from this programme;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  providing  any  special  scheme  or  scholarship  under  this programme;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) the other steps taken by the Government to encourage more and more young scientists to undertake research work?

## 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.  Government  has  taken  several  measures  to  encourage  young  scientists  to undertake  research  work.  The  schemes  /  programmes  are  designed  to  identify  promising  young researchers  with  innovative  ideas  and  provide  them  with  training  and  research  opportunities  in niche  areas  of  basic  science  and  engineering.  Some  of  the  notable  programmes  of  the  Ministry targeted at young  scientists include: Innovation  in Science Pursuit for  Inspired  Research (INSPIRE),  National  Postdoctoral  Fellowship  (N-PDF),  Early  Career  Research  Award  (ECRA), Research Associateship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship Schemes etc.

(b) The said schemes / research programmes provide a platform for young scientists to develop as  independent  researchers;  and  thereby  elevating  the  S&T  landscape  of  the  country.  Ease  of funding,  speed  of  delivery,  attractive  fellowships  etc.  are  some  of  the  main  features  of  young scientist  research  programmes.  The  funds  allocated  exclusively  for  young  scientist  research programmes during 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and the current year by the Ministry of Science and Technology  are  Rs.  1039.6  crore,  Rs.  1136.9  crore,  Rs.  1122.6  crore  and  Rs.  1158.8  crore respectively.

(c) The required age groups for obtaining benefit from the following popular young scientist schemes are given below:

| Scheme / Programme                                                                                                         | Age group: Upper age limit of                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme of Department of Science and Technology (DST) | 32 years with relaxation of three years to applicants belonging to SC/ST categories                                  |
| National Postdoctoral Fellowship of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)                                          | 35 years with relaxation of five years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ Physically Challenged/Women categories  |
| Early Career Research Award of SERB                                                                                        | 37 years with relaxation of three years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ Physically Challenged/Women categories |
| Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship Schemes                                                    | 35 years                                                                                                             |
| Research Associate Scheme of Department of Biotechnology (DBT)                                                             | 40 years and 45 years for women candidates                                                                           |

A number of  quality  publications  in  high  impact  journals  and  patents  have  emanated  from  the Young Scientist's projects.  The schemes have helped many young researchers in the progress of their  career  in  S&T,  got  appointment  in  academic  and  research  institutions  and  received recognitions in the form of awards, membership in science and engineering academies.

A  total  of  18,600  young  scientists  have  been  benefitted  in  the  last  three  financial  years

(d) through various young scientists programmes of SERB/DST and CSIR.

## (e) Yes, Madam.

(f) CSIR provides Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship to certain top ranking JRF- National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified candidates to nurture the budding scientific talent and to nourish the objective of pursuit of scientific research. Thematic Fellowship programmes in Solar Energy, Building  Energy  Efficiency  Higher  &  Advanced  Network,  Bioenergy  and  Water  Research  have been initiated by DST to support young faculty and research scholars for conducting research in US R&D and academic institutions.

(g) Many other steps have been taken by the Government to encourage more and more young scientists to undertake research work. The recently approved Prime Minister's Research Fellows (PMRF) scheme of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) offers attractive research fellowship  to  potential  students  from  Indian  Institute  of  Science/  IITs/  National  Institute  of Technology/ Indian Institute of Science Education and Research / Indian Institute of Information Technology to undertake doctoral research in cutting edge science and technology domains. The Flexible Complementing  Scheme  /  Merit based promotion  scheme  positioned in scientific departments  and  the  implementation  of  the  VII  Pay  Commission  pay  scale  and  introduction  of Performance  Related  Incentive  Scheme  (PRIS)  in  strategic  Departments  have  attracted  young scientists to take research as career.

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