Lok Sabha Question No. 2457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Research undertaken by Young Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: HARI MANJHI

## †2457. SHRI HARI MANJHI:

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

## (a) whether the Government is taking adequate measures to promote young scientists to undertake research work; (b) if  so,  the  salient  features  of  the  Young  Scientist  Research  Programme  and  the details  of  amount  allocated  during each of the last three years and the current year; (c) the  eligibility  regarding  age  for  getting  benefits  under  the  programme  along  with  the  details  of  the  achievements made under the programme so far; (d) whether any special scheme or scholarship is being provided by the Government under the programme; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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)

Yes, Madam.

(b) Government has  taken several  measures  to  promote  young  scientists  to  undertake  research  work.  The  schemes  / programmes are designed to identify promising young researchers with innovative ideas and provide them with training and research  opportunities  in  niche  areas  of  basic  science  and  engineering.  Some  of  the  notable  programmes  of  the  Ministry targeted at young scientists include: Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), National Postdoctoral Fellowship  (N-PDF),  Early  Career  Research  Award  (ECRA),  Research  Associateship,  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship Schemes etc. Ease of funding, speed of delivery, attractive fellowships etc. are some of the main features of young scientist research programmes. The funds allocated exclusively for young scientist research programmes during 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and the current year by the Ministry of Science and Technology are Rs. 1039.6 crore, Rs. 1136.9 crore, Rs. 1122.6 crore and Rs. 1176.1 crore respectively.

(c)

The required age groups for obtaining benefit from the following popular young scientist schemes are given below:

| Scheme / Programme                                                                                                         | Age group: Upper age limit of                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme of Department of Science and Technology (DST) | 32 years with relaxation of three years to applicants belonging to SC/ST categories                                  |
| National Postdoctoral Fellowship of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)                                          | 35 years with relaxation of five years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged/ Women categories  |
| Early Career Research Award of SERB                                                                                        | 37 years with relaxation of three years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged/ Women categories |
| Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship Schemes                                                    | 35 years                                                                                                             |
| Research Associate Scheme of Department of Biotechnology (DBT)                                                             | 40 years and 45 years for women candidates                                                                           |

A number of quality publications in high impact journals and patents have emanated from the Young Scientist's projects.    The  schemes  have  helped  many  young  researchers  in  the  progress  of  their  career  in  S&T,  got  appointment  in academic and research institutions and received recognitions in the form of awards, membership in science and engineering academies. (d) & (e):  CSIR provides Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship to certain top ranking JRF- National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified  candidates  to  nurture  the  budding  scientific  talent  and  to  nourish  the  objective  of  pursuit  of  scientific  research. Thematic  Fellowship  programmes  in  Solar  Energy,  Building  Energy  Efficiency  Higher  &  Advanced  Network  and  Water Research have been initiated by DST to support young faculty and research scholars for conducting research in US R&D and academic institutions.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2457 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26/12/2018

## RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN BY YOUNG SCIENTISTS