Lok Sabha Question No. 1100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Adequate Funds to SSTCs
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1100 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2020

## ADEQUATE FUNDS TO SSTCs

## 1100.   SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce a framework wherein adequate funds are provided to State Science and Technology Councils (SSTCs), if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is considering to increase the number of professionals and students inducted into Science and Technology research by providing them access to research labs and better salaries/incentives; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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) Yes  Sir.  Government  of  India  through  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  has already developed a framework for providing adequate funds to State S&T Councils (SSTCs) in  the  country.  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  has  been  implementing  State  S&T Programme in all States/UTs  through SSTCs established for the purpose of developing S&T ecosystem in  the  country.  The  main  aim  of  the  programme  is  to  facilitate  SSTCs  to  play a catalytic  role  of  linking  Centre  and  State  for  developing  and  implementing  State  specific Science & Technology intervention, technology development and demonstration programmes/projects.  The  details  of  funds  provided  to  State  S&T  Councils  under  the programme during last three years are given in the table below:

Rs. In Lakhs

| Financial Year     |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20* |   Total |
|--------------------|-----------|-----------|------------|---------|
| State S&T Councils |   2303.58 |   2215.65 |    3510.37 |  8029.6 |

*2019-20 grant in aid has been increased to Rs.3510.37 lakh, which  include Rs. 2582.73 lakh for Core S&T Human Resources, Rs.47.64 lakh for minor office equipments, Rs. 280.0 lakh for Mapping of S&T needs of the States/UTs to all SSTCs and Rs. 600 lakh towards Project Related    Grant  to  some  of  the  well  performing  SSTCs  in  the  States  of  Assam,    Gujarat, Punjab,  Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Telangana.

(b) & (c):  Ministry of Science & Technology through Department of Science &Technology in the Union Government is implementing 'Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)  Scheme'  since  2008  to  increase  the  number  of  professionals  and  students inducted in to Science and Technology research by providing them access to research labs and better scholarships/fellowships and research grants. It provides scholarships/fellowships and

research grants to talented and meritorious students to pursue a career in S&T Research and Development.  This scheme is having the three components as per details given below:

The Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) component of INSPIRE aims to enhance rates  of  attachment  of  talented  youth  to  undertake  higher  education  in  science-intensive programmes  by  providing  scholarships  and  mentoring  through  summer  attachment  with performing researchers. The scheme offers 12,000 scholarships every year @ Rs 0.80 lakh per year for undertaking Bachelor's and Master's level education in natural and basic sciences to meritorious  students  in  the  age  group  of  17-22  years.  The  main  feature  of  the  scheme  is mentorship  support  provided  to  every  scholar.  So  far,  about  90,000  students  have  availed SHE Scholarships for pursuing Bachelor's and Master's level education in natural and basic sciences.

The  INSPIRE  Fellowship  component  of  INSPIRE  offers  1000  INSPIRE  Fellowships every year to students in the age group of 22-27 years, for pursuing doctoral degree in both basic  and  applied  sciences  including  engineering,  agriculture,  veterinary  and  medicine.  For the  first  two  years      INSPIRE  fellows  are  paid  fellowship  amount  equivalent  to  Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) i.e., Rs.31,000/pm + HRA + Contingency grant of Rs.20,000/year. After  evaluation  of  two  years'  research  work,  an  INSPIRE  Fellow  can  be  promoted  as  a Senior  Research  Fellow.  The  promoted  INSPIRE  Fellow  is  then  paid  fellowship  amount equivalent  to  Senior  Research  Fellowship  (SRF)  i.e.,  Rs.35000/pm  +  HRA  +  Contingency grant of Rs.20,000/year. So far, about 8500 INSPIRE Fellows have been awarded INSPIRE fellowships to pursue Ph.D. programs in S & T.

The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship component provides an opportunity every year to 100  post-  doctoral  scientists  in  the  age  group  of  27-32  years  for  carrying  out  5  years  of independent research at any recognized university/ academic institutions/ laboratory in  the country in both basic and applied sciences. It grants an attractive fellowship for a duration of 5 years with a consolidated emolument of Rs.1,25,000/- p.m. and a research grant up to Rs.7 lakhs  per  annum.  So  far,  1265  INSPIRE  Faculty  Fellows  have  availed  these  fellowships  to pursue a career in Research and Development.

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