Lok Sabha Question No. 3436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Nano Science and Technology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Bhola Singh, Sukanta Majumdar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3436 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/03/2020

## NANO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

3436. SHRI BHOLA SINGH: DR SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: DR: JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY fva 3k be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Nano technology has varied applications and far reaching impact and implications in prominent sectors and if SO, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has implemented  Nano Mission to promote Research and Development in Nano Science and Technology;
- (c) if $0, the details thereof including funds allocated, ReD projects undertaken and their output during the last three and the current year; years
- (d) whether there is urgent need to formulate national level regulatory framework for Nano-technology; and
- (e) if s0, the steps taken by the Government for the development of Nano-technology and physical and human infrastructure in this sector? being

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

(DR HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) Yes Sir. Novel materials developed the Nano. S&T has profound impact O various areas that include the following: using

Forensic Applications Explosives detection using Nano Sensors in per billion (ppb) scales for domestic/ strategic use. parts

Smart Agriculture to know the health of Soil for its content related to Nitrogen (N) Phosphorous (P and Potassium (K)for inputs related to fertilizer and nano herbicides The moisture sensor assists in optimal utilisation of Water used in Irrigation:

Health Care - by using Nano based carriers for targeted drug delivery for diseases common to India:

Nang for Energy and Environment Solar Photovoltaics; Next generation Energy Conversion and Storage Devices Quantum Materials with Novelproperties & applications Photonic Devices, Nano Engineered Quantum Devices; Low dimensional Quantum matter.

for Automobile Sector, Defence Sector (in Navy and Air Force), Aerospace sector; Nang Coatings for industrial use (pharma and manufacturing industry)

- (b) Yes Sir: Government approved Nano Mission that was implemented by DST during 2007 to 2012 as Phase-I followed by Phase-II (2012-2017) with its extension   till 31.03.2020. During this period, 2 Autonomous Institutions focusing On Nano S&T have been initiated in the form of Institute for Nano Science and Technology (INST) at Mohali and Centre for Matter   Science  (CeNS) at Bengaluru: Apart from these two dedicated anstitutions; DST had funded Technical Research Centre (TRCs) in 5 of its Autonomous Institutions for Technology Development and Transfer since last 5 years: These TRCs are at JN Center for Advanced   Scientific   Research (JNCASR)-Bengaluru, Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (LACS) Kolkata, SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) Kolkata, Advanced International Research Centre o Powder Metallurgy and Materials Science (ARCI) Hyderabad and Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for  Medical Science & Technology (SCTIMST) Thiruvananthapuram  These Centres had transferred few technologies based on Nano Science to start-upS and MNCs;

Start-ups at CeNS, Bengaluru: Last year (2019-20), DST in  collaboration   with Mlo Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) along with the 5 premier host Institute (4 HTs and IISc) had started a collaborative project titled "Nanoelectronics Network for Research and Applications (NNetRA)", with I:l:l funding worth of Rs 299 crores

In addition to the above; Ministry of Electronics and Information   Technology (MeitY) has   started Nanotechnology Initiatives with focusing on Nanoelectronics in the year 2004. State-of-the-art Centres of Excellence in Nanoelectronics (CENs) have been established at IISc, Bangalore; IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi; IIT Kharagpur and IIT Madras for carrying out R&D for development of Nanoelectronics/ Nanotechnology in the country Further; to make available the R&D facilities established at IISc and IIT Bombay to the researchers across the country and develop a of Nanoelectronics researchers in the country, an Indian Nanoelectronics Users Program (INUP) was initiated at IISc and IIT Bombay: The CENs at IISc and MT Bombay has resulted in   technology development and incubations/startups  INUP has resulted in substantial increase in number of researchers, patents and publications in Nanoelectronics/Nanotechnology across the country: pool

Also; Centre of Excellence in Theranostic Devices is established at IIT Guwahati to cater to the needs of the North East Region. As on date; six technologies based on nanotechnology have been developed for healthcare that have been transferred to companies for commercialization: being

A Centre Nano-metrology has been setup at National Physical Laboratory (NPL) New Delhi for ElectroMechanical parameters such as Nano Volt, Nano Ampere, Nano Resistance, height, Line Spacing and texture for Step

- Funds allocated and utilised by DST in last three years and the current year are as follows:

| Allocation 2016-17 (Rsin Cr)   | Utilised Amount (Rsin Cr)      | % Utilisation   |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------|
| BE 9Scr RE125 cr               | 123.64 cr                      | 98.91           |
|                                | Utilised Amount (Rsin Cr)      | % Utilisation   |
| Allocation 2047-18 (Rs_in Cr)  |                                |                 |
|                                |                                | 85.75           |
| Allocation 2018-19 (Rs_in Cr)  | Utilised Amount (Rs_in Cr)     | % Utilisation   |
| BE 150 crore RE 74.90          | 74.31crore Capital             | 99.21           |
| Allocation 2019-20 (Rs in Cr)  | Utilised Amount (Rsin Cr)      | % Utilisation   |
| BE 65 crore RE 64 crore        | 60.18 crore (as on 28.02.2020) | 94.03           |

On an average 50 projects in  various areas and Institutions are  sanctioned per year: We have recommended 5 Quantum Materials for which sanctions would be issued in next Financial Year; Apart from the above major projects; small and medium projects have also been taken up for the development of Nanoelectronics/ Nanotechnology in the country with funding from MeitY.

The Department of Biotechnology is also funding major programme on NanoBiotechnology focussing On nanomedicine; imaging, diagnostics, tissue engineering and other biomedical applications and nanoagriculture  The total amount of investment over the three years in this area was Rs64.62 \_Crores: Further, 92 projects were supported during this past period:

- (d) Yes, Sir. There is a need for formulation of National level Regulatory framework for Nano-technology: DST Nano\_pharmaceuticals\_in\_India jointly with ICMR and DCGI, CDSCO in October 2019 in which  DST's inputs were also taken and  incorporated. DBT   will evaluation of Nanobased Agri and Food Products in India" soon:
- (e) In the recent third party evaluation of programmes of DST, the Committee had recommended to make Nano Mission as a programme of DST, which will provide the required continuity to the programme and thercby continuing  support for   quality manpower   generation in Nano Science and   Technology for The NanoElectronics\_Programme\_ are regular programme with regular etc

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