Lok Sabha Question No. 3083 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-06
Subject: Scientific Awareness Programme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rodmal Nagar, Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3083 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2019

## SCIENTIFIC AWARENESS PROGRAMME

## †3083. SHRI RODMAL NAGAR: SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

(a) whether any steps are being taken to boost the scientific awareness of school students in the country and counsel them on a career path in the field; (b) if so, the details thereof in terms of the number of students reached, the number of States/UTs in the country where this programme is being implemented and the funds allocated and utilized for the same; (c) whether  the  Government  has  also  worked  out  any  plan  to  distribute  science  and  technology  kit  to  promote research and experiment at school level;

- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND (DR HARSH VARDHAN) वाय और परवार कयाण मंी ; वान और ौयोगक मंी ; और पृ वी वान मंी

## डॉ. हष वधन

- (a) Yes Sir. The government has taken a number of steps to boost the scientific awareness of school students in the country and counsel them on a career path in the field. A number of programmes have been launched by the Department of  Science  &  Technology.  These  include:  Children's  Science  Congress  organised  across  the  country,  outreach  and demonstration  programmes  under  Science,  Technology,  Engineering,  Mathematics  and  Medicine  (STEMM);  scientific awareness through one hour programme on DD Science Channel and a 24X7 Internet-based science Over-The-Top (OTT) Channel. To promote research and  foster a culture of innovation among school children in the age group of 10 to 15 years and  studying  in  Classes  6  to  10,  a  programme  called  INSPIRE  Award-MANAK  (Million  Minds  Augmenting  National Aspiration and Knowledge) has been launched. The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) in partnership with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has launched a programme 'Jigyasa' to develop 'Scientific Temper' in the young minds.  The  National  Council  of  Science  Museums  (NCSM),  under  the  Ministry  of  Culture,  is  engaged  in  popularizing
- Science and Technology through a network of Science Centres and Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) units. (b) Children's Science  Congress  reaches  out  to  about 2.50  lakh  school  students  across  the  country  covering  all  the States and Union Territories utilizing Rs 8.79 crore during 2019-20. Outreach and  STEMM demonstration programme reach out to more than 1.00 lakh students each year, covering all the States and Union Territories of the country. INSPIRE Award-MANAK scheme targets ten lakh ideas from more than five lakh middle and high schools across the country. Out of all these, one lakh ideas are shortlisted for award of Rs. 10,000/- each, who then participate in District, State and National Level Exhibitions with 10% of the  ideas / participants selected at each level.  The scheme is being implemented in all the States/UTs of  the  country. During  2019-20,  a  total  of  approximately  3.92  lakh  nominations  were  received,  out  of  which 42,143 ideas have been shortlisted for INSPIRE Award-MANAK. Rs. 68.0 crore have been allocated for this scheme during 2019-20. The Jigyasa program is operated at CSIR laboratories located in 19 States and Union Territories. About 73,100 school students and 6,000 teachers have been exposed to CSIR laboratories under Jigyasa program. Rs. 125.00 lakh were allocated to operate the Jigyasa Program in the year 2018-19. (c)  &  (d):  Yes,  Sir.  Science  kits  are  distributed  to  under-privileged  children who  visit  the  science  centres  of  NCSM, for doing experiments at home, under 'Museum for Masses' program of Ministry of Culture. Vigyan Prasar, an Autonomous Organization of Department of Science & Technology, has developed a number of popular science kits for school students that enhance the curiosity amongst them.

(e) Does not arise.

- **********