Lok Sabha Question No. 3190 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Implementation of JRP Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., SUDHEER GUPTA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, S. RAJENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3190 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.12.2018

## Implementation of JRP Scheme

3190. SHRI T.RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  implemented  a  Joint Research Programme (JRP) between higher education institutions in India and foreign education institutions;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  foreign  institutions  involved  in research and academic collaboration;
- (c) the manner in which Indian students have benefited through said JRP;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  steps  to  increase  the  representation  of female students in JRP;
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  funds  allocated  by  the  Government  during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- (f)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  affordable  and  quality education  to  the  eligible  population  in  the  country  in  Government  and  private  sector institutions?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)  to  (c):  As  informed  by  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC),  a  number  of  Joint Research  Programmes  (JRP)  have  been  implemented  through    Memoranda  of Understanding (MoUs)/Agreements between the Government of India and the Government  of  other  countries  like  USA,  UK,  Israel,  Norway,  New  Zealand  and Germany.

The  Programmes  are  being  implemented  to  provide  opportunity  to  young  Indian researchers and teachers of all disciplines to have international collaborative research training in advance techniques and technologies in emerging fields. Research scholars are also associated with the projects and participating in the exchange visits.

(d) to (f): The extant National Policy on Education (NPE) provides for a National System of  Education  wherein,  up  to  a  given  level,  all  students,  irrespective  of  caste,  creed, location or sex, have access to education.

As informed by UGC, the funds allocated for various joint research programmes in the last 3 years are as follows:

| Programme                                  |   Allocation of Funds (in cr.) |
|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Indo- US 21st Century Knowledge Initiative |                           4.5  |
| Indo- Israel                               |                          30    |
| UGC- UKIERI                                |                           4    |
| Indo- Norway                               |                           6.6  |
| Indo- German Partnership                   |                           2.04 |

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  has  introduced  the Scheme  for  Promotion  of  Academic  and  Research  Collaboration  (SPARC),  which facilitates  academic  and  research  collaborations  between  Indian  Institutions  and  top leading  Universities  of  the  world.  With  an  allocation  of  Rs.418  Crores,  spread  over  a period  of  two  years  (2018-19  and  2019-20),  the  scheme  aims  to  support  around  600 joint research proposals and will have a major impact in providing the best international expertise to address major national problems, expose Indian academicians to the best collaborators abroad, provide Indian students an opportunity to work in the world class laboratories, develop  strong bilateral relationships in research, and  improve  the international ranking of Indian Institutions.

Moreover, in exercise of the powers conferred by the provisions of the Institute of Technology Act, 1961, each IIT enters into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with educational  institutions  across  the  world  for  academic  and  research  collaboration, including student and faculty exchange programmes, joint research projects, joint Ph.D. programmes and twinning arrangements. The Indian Institutes of Management can also enter into collaboration with educational or management institutions in other countries, to extend  the  interests  of  management  education  and  research,  under  the  provisions  of The Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017.

The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research have also entered into MoUs  with  foreign  institutions  for  collaborative  research,  and  faculty  and  student exchange programmes.

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