Lok Sabha Question No. 4374 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Promotion of Scientific Knowledge
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: B. Y. Raghavendra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4374 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/7/2019

## PROMOTION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

## 4374. SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

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

- (a) the  details  of  schemes  introduced  by  the  Science  and  Technology  department  during  the  last  three years;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  sanctioned  any  scheme  for  Karnataka  in  order  to  promote  scientific knowledge among young children in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, scheme and year-wise; and
- (d) the total funds sanctioned and released under the said schemes in the State of Karnataka during the said period?

## 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) Following are the details of the schemes introduced by Department of Science & Technology during the last three years:
- i.     DST is implementing INSPIRE Awards MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge)  programme  since  year  2016  for  school  children  in  the  age  group  of  10-15  years  and studying in  Class 6 th -10 th to  promote  research  and innovation  among  them. The programme targets about ten (10.0) lakh ideas from more than five (05) lakh middle and high schools across the country in a Financial Year and out of which one (1.0) lakh ideas are to be shortlisted for an initial award of Rs. 10000/- for  preparation of  project/  model/  showcasing  of  idea  and  participation  in  the  District  Level Exhibition & Project Competition (DLEPC). From DLEPC's, best ten thousand projects (10000) are to be selected for participation in the State Level Exhibitions & Project Competitions (SLEPC) and among SLEPC participants top one thousand (1000) projects are to be selected for National Level Exhibition & Project Competition (NLEPC).
- ii.     In 2016-17, a new programme namely 'Mobility' has been launched under knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) to address relocation issues of Women Scientists working in regular position in Government Organizations. The Mobility Scheme is aimed to provide an opportunity  to  women  scientists  who  are  facing  difficulties  in  their  present  job  due  to  relocation (marriage, transfer of husband to any other location within the country, attending ailing parents, and accompanying children studying in different city) and intends to act as a filler while searching other career options at a new place. The initiative intends to provide a harmonious environment during early phases of women scientists where they would like to stay active in research in addition to attending and fulfilling other responsibilities in the domestic front. It offers a contractual research award to women scientists and enables them for independent research.
- iii.  National  Initiative  for  Developing  and  Harnessing  Innovations  (NIDHI)  is  an  umbrella  programme conceived and developed by Department of Science & Technology in the year 2016 with an objective to nurture  ideas  and  innovations  (knowledge-based  and  technology-driven)  into  successful  startups, resulting in socio economic development through wealth and job creation. NIDHI aims to nurture start-

- ups through scouting, supporting and scaling of innovations. It offers funding support to convert an idea into  a  prototype  through  PRAYAS  programme,  fellowships  for  potential  entrepreneurs  through Entrepreneur in Residence program, an institutional program to incubate startups through Technology Business  Incubators  hosted  at  various  academic  institutes,  seed  funding  and  acceleration  support  to startups and creating Centre of excellences for innovation and incubation.
- iv.  During 2017, Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) programme was launched with the aim to promote  the  scientific  research and  intervention  to  preserve,  restore  and  development  of  new material/methods/tools  to  strengthen  Heritage  Science  in  sectors  such  as  textiles,  metal  works,  crafts, ceramics etc. and diffuse this to artisan clusters.
- v. In  2017-18,  DST  launched  'Indo-US  Fellowship  for  Women  in  STEMM'  (Science,  Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) to provide opportunities to Indian Women Scientists, Engineers & Technologists  to  undertake  International  collaborative  research  in  premier  institutions  in  USA  for duration  of  3-6  months,  to  enhance  their  research  capacities  and  capabilities.  The  Indian  Women Scientists within the age bracket of 21 to 50 years are eligible for this fellowship.
- vi.  AWSAR (Augmented Writing Skills for Articulating Research) was launched during FY 2018-19 in order to  create and strengthen the ecosystem of science communication. The programme aims to reduce the gap that exists in the area of communicating R&D  activities being pursued by Academic Institutions/Universities  to  lay-man.  Young  researchers  pursuing  Ph.D  and  Postdoctoral  activities  are encouraged to write about their research work in the form of a story. The best stories received are to be showcased in the form of an edited e-book/compendium.
- vii.  A  Science  Channel  (DD  Science)  was  launched  during  2018-19  with  the  aim  of  easy  access  to  science media programmes for masses. It is Implemented through Vigyan Prasar (VP) and Doordarshan, Prasar Bharati, through DTH & Internet TV. DD Science is being telecast for one hour (5 to 6 PM) six days a week (Monday to Saturday) on the national channel both in Hindi & English. Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) related dissemination, scientific awareness and demystification especially with Indian perspectives, ethos and cultural  milieu, and Doordarshan's highest penetration in smaller towns/rural area  and  additional  footprint  on  DTH  would  leverage  the  outreach  to  more  than  150  million  people. India Science (www.indiascience.in) Channel both in Hindi and English, is a 24X7 TV Channel-available through internet. An India Science Mobile App, downloaded from Google Play Store or Apple Store has also been developed.
- viii.  During  the  year  2018-19,  DST  has  initiated  a  National  Mission  on  Interdisciplinary  Cyber  Physical Systems  (NM-ICPS)  with  the  aim  of  technology  development  in  the  areas  like  Artificial  Intelligence, Robotics,  Sensors,  Big  Data  Analytics,  geographical  information  systems,  advanced  materials,  etc.  in complete convergence with all stakeholders by establishing strong linkages between academia, industry, Government and International Organizations.

(b) & (c):  No Sir. Department of Science and Technology has not sanctioned any scheme to promote scientific knowledge  among  young  children  specifically  for  Karnataka.  However,  following  programmes  are  being implemented by the department for promotion of scientific knowledge among young children in the country including Karnataka:

- i.  INSPIRE Internship programme launched during 2008 is being implemented for promotion of scientific knowledge. The programme arranges Science Camps for about 50000 children of class XI and XII each year who are within top 1% of Class 10 th board examinations, to enable them to interact with leading researchers  and  scientists  including  Nobel  Laureates  for  experiencing  the  joys  of  innovation.  So  far, more  than  1911  INSPIRE  Internship  Camps  have  been  organized  across  the  Nation,  including  in Karnataka, and about 3.85 lakh students in the age group of 16-17 years have availed this opportunity.
- ii.  To  build  awareness  about  Interdisciplinary  Cyber  Physical  System  (ICPS),  at  School  level,  100 Government Schools were identified in the two Aspirational Districts (namely Yadgir and Raichur) in Karnataka State. This includes Training of 2 teachers from respective school (One Science teacher & HM from Middle School or One HM from Primary School in same campus).
- iii.  The  Children's  Science  Congress  is  a  programme  for  children  of  the  age  group  of  10-17  years  to encourage them to learn science by doing projects.
4. iv.Under INSPIRE MANAK awards, total 10,742 awards have been sanctioned to selected students in state of Karnataka during last three years
5. (d) A  total  of  Rs.10.902  Cr  has  been  sanctioned  during  last  three  years  for  promotion  of  scientific knowledge in the State of Karnataka.

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