Lok Sabha Question No. 2049 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Brain Drain
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Riti Pathak

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2049

ANSWERED ON 30/07/2021

## BRAIN DRAIN

†2049.  SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY िव²ान और ÿौīोिगकì मंýी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken cognizance of the problem of brain drain affecting the development of science and technology sector in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  check/reduce brain drain of the scientists community from the country?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ तथा पृØवी ǒव£ान क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ . ǔजतɅġ िसंह)

- (a)  &  (b):  No  significant  brain  drain  to  an  extent  of  affecting  the developments  in  Science  and  Technology  (S&T)  sector  has  been observed by the Union Government. A three-pronged strategy has been adopted to retain the best human resource in the country. First strategy has been the creation of substantial sophisticated research infrastructure, environment  for  scientific pursuit  and  academic  / research  institutions.  Secondly,  opportunities  have  been  created  for overseas scientists of Indian origin to contribute to our country. Thirdly,

new opportunities have been created for postdoctoral research in the country.

(c):       Several measures have been taken to reduce brain drain from the scientific community. The extramural funding schemes of Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  and  Department  of Biotechnology (DBT) and Fellowship schemes of DST, DBT and Council of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  have  been  designed  to encourage  scientists  to  do  quality  research  in  the  country.  Several schemes/programmes for building research infrastructure for enhancing research capabilities such as Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructures in universities and higher educational institutions (FIST) have  been  instituted.  Other  schemes  like  Core  Research  Grant, Research fellowships such as JC Bose and Swarnajayanti are targeted at  scientific  community  to  empower  them  to  pursue  world-class research  in  cutting  edge  areas  of  science  and  technology.  Special attention has been  given to young  scientists for  making  them independent  and  to  motivate  them  to  continue  their  research  in  the country.  A  large  number  of  young  scientists  have  been  supported through schemes like Start-up Research Grant, National Postdoctoral Fellowship of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). MK Bhan-Young  Researcher  Fellowship  Programme  of  DBT  is  a  new Fellowship scheme to encourage young bright researchers to continue their  research  in  the  country  after  PhD.  Visiting  Advanced  Joint Research  (VAJRA)  Faculty  Scheme  of  SERB  provides  a  platform  for overseas scientists including Non-Resident Indians to undertake collaborative research in Indian Institutions and Universities for a finite period  of  time.  The  Flexible  Complementing  Scheme/Merit  based promotion scheme positioned in scientific departments and introduction  of  Performance  Related  Incentive  Scheme  (PRIS)  in strategic  Departments  have  also  been  instrumental  in  recruiting  and retaining scientists. All these measures have been aimed at retaining our scientific workforce in the country and thereby reduce brain drain.

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