Lok Sabha Question No. 4453 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Research and Development
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4453 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/03/2020

## RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

## 4453. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India's spending on Research and Development (R&D) is less as compared to other developing countries and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether Government has increased the funds for investment in R&D in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the comparative figures during the last three years;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the number of scientists per million people in India is lower as compared to other Asian countries;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with steps being taken to encourage scientific research activities in the country; and
- (e) the number of patent for new innovations granted to Indian scientists during each of the last three years

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी ; वान और ौयोगक मंी ; और पृ वी वान मंी

(डॉ. हष वधन)

- (a) As per the latest available statistics, India's spending on Research and Development (R&D) is consistently increasing and has nearly tripled from Rs. 39,437.77 crore in 2007-08 to Rs. 1,13,825.03 crore in 2017-18. India is ranked among the top 10 countries of the world in R&D investment in terms of US$ Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
- (b) Yes, Sir. The Government has consistently increased the allocation of funds for investment in R&D in the country. The progressive expenditure for six Major Scientific Agencies for the last three years is as under:

( in Rs. Crore)

| Agencies                                                                                  |   2017-18 |   2018-19# |   2019-20* |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|------------|------------|
| Department of Science &Technology (DST)                                                   |   4595.73 |    4912.54 |    5480.93 |
| Department of Scientific &Industrial Research/ Council of Scientific Research (DSIR/CSIR) |   4618.83 |    4548.78 |    4883.24 |
| Department of Bio-Technology (DBT)                                                        |   2331.42 |    2379.1  |    2381.1  |
| Department of Space (DOS)                                                                 |   9127.16 |   11188.4  |   13139.3  |
| Department of Atomic Energy (R&D Sector)                                                  |   5786.35 |    5715.54 |    6502.8  |
| Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)                                                         |   1541.47 |    1726.1  |    1809.7  |
| Total                                                                                     |  28001    |   30470.4  |   34197    |

Source:  Demands for Grants of Central Government, Expenditure Budget, GoI (various years)

Note:  # - Budget Estimate ; *- Estimated

(c) & (d):  As per the latest available UNESCO S&T Statistics, the number of research scientists per million people in India is lower than countries such as Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China but higher than Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka etc. in Asia. Details of Asian countries in terms of number of research scientists per million people is Annexed.

The  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  encourage  scientific  research  activities  in  the  country  such  as  successive increase in plan allocations for scientific departments, setting up of new institutions for science, education and research, creation of Centres  of  Excellence  and  facilities  in  emerging  and  frontline  areas  of  S&T  in  academic  and  national  institutions,  operation  of schemes  such  as  Fund  for  Improvement  of  Science  and  Technology  Infrastructure  (FIST);  Sophisticated  Analytical  Instrument Facilities (SAIF), Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme for distinguished overseas scientists and academicians including  Non-Resident  Indians  (NRIs)  and  Overseas  Citizens  of  India  (OCIs),  Overseas  Visiting  Doctoral  Fellowship  (OVDF), Prime  Minister's  research  fellowships,  Teacher  Associate-ship  for  Research  Excellence  (TARE)  and  Distinguished  Investigator Award  (DIA),  Department  of  Bio-Technology-The  World  Academy  of  Sciences    (DBT-TWAS)  International  fellowships  and providing substantial grant to potential scientists through extramural research funding etc.

- (e) The number of patent for new innovations granted) to Indian scientists at Indian Patent Office (IPO) during each of the last three years is as under:

| Patent granted   |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |
|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Patent granted   |      5408 |      8532 |      1937 |

Source: Annual Report(s) of the Controller General of Patents, Design and Trade Marks

## Scientists/Researchers per Million People in Asian countries

| Country              |   Researchers Population | Per   | Million   |   Reference Year |
|----------------------|--------------------------|-------|-----------|------------------|
| Republic of Korea    |                     7498 |       |           |             2017 |
| Japan                |                     5304 |       |           |             2017 |
| Singapore            |                     2795 |       |           |             2017 |
| Malaysia             |                     2396 |       |           |             2016 |
| United Arab Emirates |                     2379 |       |           |             2016 |
| Iran                 |                     1475 |       |           |             2017 |
| Thailand             |                     1379 |       |           |             2017 |
| China                |                     1225 |       |           |             2017 |
| Vietnam              |                      708 |       |           |             2017 |
| Kazakhstan           |                      667 |       |           |             2018 |
| Jordan               |                      596 |       |           |             2017 |
| Qatar                |                      584 |       |           |             2015 |
| Kuwait               |                      514 |       |           |             2018 |
| Uzbekistan           |                      476 |       |           |             2018 |
| Bahrain              |                      369 |       |           |             2014 |
| Pakistan             |                      336 |       |           |             2017 |
| India                |                      255 |       |           |             2017 |
| Oman                 |                      236 |       |           |             2018 |
| Indonesia            |                      216 |       |           |             2018 |
| Iraq                 |                      106 |       |           |             2017 |
| Philippines          |                      106 |       |           |             2015 |
| Sri Lanka            |                      106 |       |           |             2015 |
| Cambodia             |                       30 |       |           |             2015 |

Source: 1. Data extracted on March 17, 2020 from UIS Statistics 2. Research & Development Statistics 201920, DST, GoI.

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## ANNEXURE