Lok Sabha Question No. 1772 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Promotion of Young Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Tejpratap Singh,Yadav, ANJU BALA, L.R. Shivaramegowda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1772 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/2/2019

## PROMOTION OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS

1772. SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV: SHRI L.R. SHIVARAME GOWDA: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is taking adequate measures to promote young scientists to pursue research programmes and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the main objectives of the Start-Up Research Grant (Young Scientists) and the funds allocated therefor by the Government during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) the required age group to avail benefit under this programme and the achievement made thereunder so far;
- (d) whether the Government is providing any special schemes or scholarships under this programme; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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 promote young scientists to pursue research programmes. The young scientists are promoted primarily through early career grants, core research grants, doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships etc. 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. The Start-up Research Grant Schemes are  designed to identify  promising young  researchers with innovative ideas and provide them with training and research opportunities in frontier areas of science and engineering. The schemes also provide them a platform  to  develop  as  independent  researchers  for  taking  up  challenging  research  problems  for  the  benefit  of  the  country.  The funds allocated exclusively for young scientist research programmes during 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and the current year by the
- (b) Ministry of Science and Technology are Rs. 1039.6 crore, Rs. 1136.9 crore, Rs. 1122.6 crore and Rs. 1180 crore respectively.
- (c) The required age groups to avail 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.

- (d)  &  (e):    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 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.

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