Lok Sabha Question No. 618 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Attrition of Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.618 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6/2/2019

## ATTRITION OF SCIENTISTS

## 618. SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH:

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

(a) whether attrition of scientists from research institutions and laboratories is being witnessed and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is any system of holding exit interviews of scientists who indicate their willingness to quit research institutions/labs and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to encourage reverse brain drain of scientists from abroad and if so, the extent to which such measures have been successful;

(d) the details of the number of scientists who have been repatriated; and

(e) the details of the steps taken/ proposed to be taken to assist the scientific community and motivate them to continue their research in the country?

## 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) No  Madam.  There  is  no  alarming  situation  of  attrition  of  scientists  from  research  institutions  and laboratories of Ministry of Science and Technology. (b) At  present  there  is  no  exit  interview  system  in  any  research  institutions  of  Government  of  India. Institutions  have  already  taken  care  of  the  attrition  by  regularly  recruiting  new  scientists  against  open advertisements. (c) The Government has taken several steps for promotion of science and technology and encourage reverse brain drain.  The Government, through the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013 has focused to make careers  in  science,  research  and  innovation  attractive  enough  for  talent  and  bright  minds.    The  competitive extramural funding schemes of Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Young Scientist Project Award, Women Scientist Scheme, National Women Bio-scientists Awards, J. C. Bose  Fellowship,  Swarnajayanti  Fellowship  etc.  have  been  designed  to  encourage  individual  scientists  to  do quality  research  in  the  country.    Ramanujan  Fellowship,  Ramalingaswami  re-entry  Fellowship,  Innovation  in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme are some of the programs to attract Indian scientists from abroad as well as to retain them in the country. (d) Ministry does not maintain any data related to repatriation of scientists. However as on date, 336 and 351 fellows have taken up positions in various Indian Laboratories under Ramalingaswami re-entry Fellowship and Ramanujan Fellowship respectively. (e) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has taken up various steps to motivate the scientific community  to  continue  their  research  in  the  country  by  sharing  the  financial  resources  with  scientists  from sponsored projects, consultancy projects, technical service projects including  royalty received from licensing of knowledge base to the industry; allowing mobility of scientists between CSIR, academia and industry; facilitating researchers to become members on the Board of Directors of Private sector companies and also allowing scientists to have an equity stake in scientific enterprises/ spin offs while in professional employment with their research and academic organizations.

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