Lok Sabha Question No. 3477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: National Science Policy
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, P.R. SUNDARAM, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3477 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2/1/2019

## NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY

3477. DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

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 while formulating Science and Technology policies and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government is preparing any bvoad programme for making the national science policy all persuasive and all 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 research?

## 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) & (b):   Yes Madam, the Government has initiated 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  feature  of  the  policy  include  making carriers in science, research and innovation attractive for talented and bright mind, establishing world class R&D infrastructure, creating an environment for enhance private sector participation in R&D, creating a robust national innovation system besides others key aspirations. The Department of Science and Technology has taken several steps to implement salient features 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 a scheme called Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) to attract talent towards science education, water and clean energy initiative,  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. (c) No Madam, important area of development in universities regarding research particularly in Science and Technology has not been neglected while formulating Science and Technology policies. (d) The Government has created a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) for promoting research in basic field of science and engineering.  Besides  SERB  other  Departments  such  as,  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT),  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 Govt. of India has taken various steps to strengthen the Intellectual Property ecosystem in the country, which in turn has 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 Department of Science and Technology has established a Patent Facilitation Cell (PFC) which facilitates protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The following table gives the details of the patent applications filed and patents granted in India for scientific and technological innovations during last 5 financial years.

| Year    | Patent Applications Filed in India   | Patents Granted in India   |
|---------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| 2012-13 | 43,674                               | 4,126                      |
| 2013-14 | 42,951                               | 4,227                      |
| 2014-15 | 42763                                | 5978                       |
| 2015-16 | 46904                                | 6326                       |
| 2016-17 | 45444                                | 9847                       |

(e) The  Government  has  indented  to  invest  more  funds  in  the  field  of  research  and  gave  full  support  to  Science  and  Technology endeavors for the cause of national development. Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences cover a very large canvas of Research &  Development  in  the  country.  The  Government  has  consciously  provided  higher  allocations  for  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation promotion. Budget allocation for Department of Science and Technology during last 5 years was Rs.19764 crore, which is a whopping 90% increase over the preceding 5 years (2009-10 to 2013-14). Similarly, there was an increase of 65% for Department of Biotechnology; almost 43% increase for Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; and 26% increase for Ministry of Earth Sciences during the last 5 years. Recently, the Government has also approved the launching of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) at a total outlay of Rs. 3660 crore for a period of five years.

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