Lok Sabha Question No. 3969 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: DNA samples
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Arvind Dharmapuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3969 ANSWERED ON 19/03/2021

## PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS IN S&T

## 3969.  SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:

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

be

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  pro-active  steps  to  increase  the participation of students in science and technology;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  government  organises  any  competitions  related  to  science  and technology at national level to increase the engagement of students in this field; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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 पृवी वान मंी .

डॉ हष वधन

- (a)   &  (b)     Yes,  the  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  (DST)  is  implementing  a national program named INSPIRE Awards MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration  and  Knowledge),  previously  known  as  INSPIRE  Award  Scheme,  with  the objective to attract young students to study science, pursue research career, promote creative thinking and foster a culture of innovation among them. The Department of Science  and  Technology  (DST)  has  started  a  new  scheme  'Vigyan  Jyoti'  for  girl students of Class 9-12 to encourage them to pursue education and career in science and  technology  particularly  in  the  areas  where  women  are  under  represented.  The Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  has  also  been  engaged  in connecting  school  students  with  scientists  through  its  'Jigyasa'  (student-scientist connect)  program.  Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  also  organizes  Regional  Science Congress  every  year.  The  Kishore  Vaigyanik  Protsahan  Yojana  (KVPY)  of  the Department  of  Science  and  Technology  aims  to  identify  students  with  talent  and aptitude for research; help them to realize their academic potential; encourage them to take up research careers in Science, and ensure growth of best scientific minds for research and development in the country. The Department of Biotechnology implements Star College Scheme which aims to improve critical thinking and 'handson' experimental work at undergraduate (College) level in sciences. It is expected to encourage  more  students  to  take  up  higher  education  in  science.  Through  this scheme, the department identifies colleges with potential for excellence and provides academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching and unique exposure  of  students  to  experimental  science.  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial Research (CSIR) has been providing doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships to young budding students through its various fellowship programmes such as Junior Research Fellowship-National  Eligibility  Test,  Shyama  Prasad  Mukherjee  Fellowship,  Senior Research Fellowship-Direct, Research Associateships and CSIR-National Post

Doctoral  Fellowship.  The  University  Grants  Commission  is  implementing  various scholarship/  fellowship  schemes  such  as  Dr.  D.S.  Kothari  Post  Doctoral  Fellowship (DSKPDF),  Post-Doctoral  Fellowship  for  SC/ST  Candidates,  Post  Doctoral  Fellowship for Women, BSR Fellowship for Research (Ph. D), P.G. Scholarship for University Rank Holders, P.G. Scholarship for GATE/GPAT qualified students for pursuing M.Tech/ M.E./ M.Pharm, P.G. Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST candidates, P.G. Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child, 'Ishan Uday' Special Scholarship Scheme for North  Eastern  Region,  Maulana  Azad  National  Fellowship  for  Minority  Students, National  Fellowship  for  Students  of  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBC)  and  National Fellowship for SC candidates, by providing financial assistance to students/scholars for  pursuing  higher  education.  The  'Innovation  in  Science  Pursuit  for  Inspired Research  (INSPIRE)'  aims  to  attract,  motivate,  nurture  and  train  talented  and meritorious students to study science subjects and opt for careers in Research and Development (R&D) to build a pipeline of quality human resource, thereby widening the  R&D  human  resource  base  of  the  country.  The  Scheme  includes  INSPIRE Internship Science Camps, Scholarships for Higher Education (SHE), INSPIRE Fellowship  and  INSPIRE  Faculty  Fellowships.  The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  provides  fellowships  such  as  Netaji  Subhas-ICAR  International Fellowships  to  support  students  to  pursue  doctoral  degree  in  agriculture  and  allied sciences.

(c)  &  (d)      Yes,  the  INSPIRE  Awards  MANAK  Scheme  of  Department  of  Science  & Technology  intends  to  target  young  students  in  the  age  group  of  10-15  years  and studying in class VI to X. Under INSPIRE Award MANAK scheme, in a financial year, ten (10.0) lakh ideas are targeted out of which, one (1.0) lakh ideas are shortlisted for an  initial  award  of  Rs.  10,000/-  each.  After  a  three  tier  competition,  the  top  60 innovations  are  selected  from  the  National  Level  Exhibition  for  whom  incubation support  is  provided.  The  Government  of  India,  through  the  Department  of  Atomic Energy,  Department  of  Science  &  Technology,  Department  of   Space,  Ministry  of Education  and  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences,  provides  organisational  and  financial support  to  the  National  Olympiad  programmes  in  Mathematics,  Physics,  Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Earth Sciences, and Junior Science. The programme comprises of multi-level competitions for secondary and higher secondary level students, culminating  in  the  participation  of  Indian  teams  in  International  Olympiads.  The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) under the DST also  has  two  programmes  to  encourage  participation  of  students  in  science  & technology  and  competitions  at  national  level  to  engage  them.  National  Children's Science Congress (NCSC) aims to initiate  the process of  learning  science  by  doing innovative  projects  among  students.  The  Initiative  in  Research  and  Innovation  in STEM (IRIS), is another programme which scouts for students to do research based projects  in  the  field  of  Science,  Technology,  Engineering  and  Mathematics  (STEM) education.  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  organizes  CSIR  Innovation Award  for  School  Children  in  order  to  enhance  creativity  amongst  school  children. Similarly, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) also organizes National Level Ag-Tech  Hackathon  to  promote  innovation  in  Farm  Mechanisation.  Furthermore, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) organizes competitions at national level related  to  science  and  technology  viz.,  National  Science  Seminar,  National  Science Drama, Science Fair etc. through its chain of 25 science museums/centres.

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