Lok Sabha Question No. 2859 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Young Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2859 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15/12/2021

## YOUNG SCIENTISTS

## 2859. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ मंğी 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 the 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; and
- (d) whether any special scheme or scholarship is being provided by the Government under the programme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ तथा पृØवी ǒव£ान मंğालय क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार)

(डॉ. ǔजतɅġ िसंह)

- (a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Sir.  Government  has  taken  several  measures  to promote young scientists to undertake research work. Some of the notable  programmes  of  the  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology targeted at young scientists include: Innovation in Science Pursuit for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE)  Fellowship  and  INSPIRE  Faculty Fellowship of Department of Science and Technology (DST), National Postdoctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) and Start-up Research Grant (SRG)
- of  Science  and  Engineering  Research  Board  (SERB),  Research

Fellowship Schemes of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Research Associateship,  R&D  project  based  Project  Associates,  Har  Gobind Khorana- Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award of DBT. Ease of funding,  speed  of  delivery,  attractive  fellowships,  access  to  best research  infrastructure  and  knowledge  resource  pool,  recognition and mentoring are some of the salient features of the young scientist research programmes. The schemes  are  designed to identify promising young researchers and providing them with training and research opportunities in frontier areas of science and technology. The schemes also provide them a platform to develop as independent researchers  for  taking  up  challenging  research  problems  for  the benefit of the country. Funds allocated exclusively for young scientist research  programmes  during  2018-19,  2019-20,  2020-21  and  the current year by the Ministry of Science and Technology are Rs. 1001.9 crore,  Rs.  1113.1  crore,  Rs.  1056.6  crore  and  Rs.  724.7  crore, respectively.

- (c)         The eligibility regarding age for getting benefits of some of the notable young scientist schemes are given below.

| Scheme / Programme (Department / Agency)   | Eligibility regarding age for the applicant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship (DST)           | Upper age limit of 32 years for General / OBC applicants and 37 years for applicants belonging to SC/ST and women candidates. For persons with benchmark disabilities (Divyangjan with not less than 40 percent of a specified disability), the upper age limit will be 42 years. |
| Young Scientists and Technologists (DST)   | Upper age limit of 35 years with relaxation of five years to SC/ST/OBC/EWS/women and differentially abled (Divyangjan) applicants.                                                                                                                                                |
| National Postdoctoral Fellowship (SERB)    | Upper age limit of 35 years with relaxation of five years to applicants                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

|                                                      | belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ Physically Challenged/Women categories.                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Start-up Research Grant (SERB)                       | Upper age limit of 42 years with relaxation of three years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ Physically Challenged/Women categories. |
| Ramanujan Fellowship (SERB)                          | Upper age limit of 40 years.                                                                                                             |
| Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (SERB) | Upper age limit of 45 years with relaxation of five years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ Physically Challenged/Women categories.  |
| Fellowship / Associateship (CSIR)                    | Age group between 28-40 years.                                                                                                           |
| Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (DBT)             | Upper age limit of 45 years.                                                                                                             |
| M.K Bhan - Young Researchers Fellowship (DBT)        | Upper age limit of 35 years.                                                                                                             |

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,  regular  placement  in  academic  /  research institutions and industry. They also received recognitions in the form of awards, membership in science and engineering academies and have continued to contribute significantly towards India science and technology.

- (d)        The  fellowships,  awards  as  mentioned  above  offer  liberal financial support in the form of fellowship ranging from Rs. 31,000/to  Rs.  1,35,000/-  per  month  to  scientists  who  are  not  in  regular service, depending upon their qualification and nature of the scheme.

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