Lok Sabha Question No. 4513 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: National Science Policy
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Khagen Murmu, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4513 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/7/2019

## NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY

4513.  DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  an  all  inclusive  national  science  policy  for promoting scientific research;
- (b) if  so,  the  salient  features  of  the  said  policy  and  the  present  status  thereof  along  with  the achievement made since its inception;
- (c) whether an important area of development in universities regarding research particularly in Science and Technology has been left neglected wh ile fo rmu lati n g S cien c e an d Technology policies and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  preparing  any  programme  for  making  the  national  science policy more inclusive in view of lack of research in basic field of science and importance of patents in this field through modification and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  investing  more  funds  in  the  field  of  scientific research?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी ;

वान और ौयोगक मंी ; और पृ वी वान मंी

डॉ. हष वधन

- (a) & (b): Yes Sir, the Government has formulated an all inclusive National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013 (STIP-2013) with a view to promote scientific research through various programmes  and  activities.  The  salient  features  of  the  policy  include  making  career  in  science, research and innovation attractive for talented and bright minds; establishing world class Research &  Development  (R&D)  infrastructure;  creating  an  environment  for  enhanced  private  sector participation  in  R&D;  and  creating  a  robust  national  innovation  system  besides  other  key aspirations.  The  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  implement  various  components  of  the policy such as creation of a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) with an objective to promote basic research in science and engineering; implementation of a scheme called Innovation in  Science  Pursuit  for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE)  to  attract  talent  towards  science  education; water and clean energy initiatives; Nano Science and Technology; development of infrastructure in university sector for scientific research; launching of Mission Innovation etc. The Department of Science and Technology has recently launched a new programme 'Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems  (ICPS)'  to  foster  and  promote  R&D  in  the  emerging  field  of  research.  The  Council  of Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  has  also  launched  various  Mission  Mode  Projects  in

order to put concerted and  sustained efforts in identified areas by synergizing the best competencies available in various CSIR labs and outside institutions. No  Sir,  important  area  of  development  in  universities  regarding  research  particularly  in

(c) Science and Technology has not been neglected while formulating Science and Technology policies.

(d) The Government has already created a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) for promoting research in basic field of science and engineering. Besides SERB, other Departments such  as,  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT),  the  Department  of  Scientific  and  Industrial Research  (DSIR),  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  etc.  are  also  promoting research and development in their respective domains. The government has taken various steps to strengthen  the  Intellectual  Property  ecosystem  in  the  country,  which  in  turn  has  had  a  positive impact  on  new  inventions  and  technology  in  Science  and  Technology  sector.  A  comprehensive National  Intellectual  Property  Right  (IPR)  policy  has  been  approved  in  2016  to  stimulate innovation  and  creativity  across  sectors.  In  order  to  protect,  Intellectual  property  of  scientific community  of  the  country  the  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  has  established  a  Patent Facilitation Cell (PFC) to facilitate protection of Intellectual Property Rights.

(e) The Government has been consistently investing more funds in the field of S&T research during last 5 years. The budget allocation for the Department of Science and Technology during last 5 years was Rs.19764 crore, a 90% increase over the preceding 5 years (2009-10 to 2013-14). Similarly,  there  was  an  increase  of  65%  for  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  and  almost  43% increase  for  the  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  during  the  last  5  years.  For  the current financial year, the Government has allocated Rs. 13076.34 crore for the Ministry of Science and Technology.

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