Lok Sabha Question No. 2494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Scientific Temper among Children
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: K. Subbarayan

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

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2494 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.3.2023

## SCIENTIFIC TEMPER AMONG CHILDREN

## 2494.    SHRI SUBBARAYAN K.:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ

मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  encourage scientific temper among children in schools;
- (b) whether  the Government  have  specific projects to  encourage scientific research and development;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the infrastructure provided in this regard; and
- (d) whether fund has been allocated through budget and if so, the details thereof along with the details of the fund spent during the last five years?

## ANSWER

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

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ तथा पृ Øवी ͪव£ान मंğालय क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ . िजतɅġ ͧसंह)

- (a)    The Ministry of Science and Technology has the following programmes to encourage scientific temper among children:
1.     National Children's Science Congress (NCSC) is a programme meant for children of the age group of 10-17 years both from school and out of school. The programme encourages the children to learn science by doing innovative projects in the selected focal theme and sub-focal themes.  The programme is implemented at district level from where the children participate at state level. The winners of state level participate in national level.
2. Initiative in Research and Innovation (IRIS) in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a programme which motivates the  children,  in  the  age  group  of  10-17  years,  towards  STEM  education  by encouraging them to take research based projects in 21 selected areas of

STEM. The children participate in National IRIS Fair held annually and winner of the Fair form Team India participate in International Science & Engineering fair (ISEF).

3.     INSPIRE  MANAK  (Million  Minds  Augmenting  National  Aspiration  and Knowledge),  national  programme  is  being  implemented  to  attract  young students to study science and pursue research career and to promote creative thinking and foster a culture of innovation among them.

The INSPIRE MANAK Scheme intends to target young students studying in  class  VI  to  X.  Under  INSPIRE  MANAK scheme, a  million  ideas are  being targeted from more than five lakh middle and high schools across the country, out of which one lakh ideas are being shortlisted for a financial assistance of Rs. 10000 /- for preparation of project/model/showcasing of idea. After a series of  District  Level  and  State  level  exhibitions,  the  top  60  innovations  are selected  from  National  Level  Exhibition  for  whom  incubation  support  is provided.

4.     Vigyan Jyoti programme is being implemented to encourage meritorious girl  students  of  Class  9-12  to  pursue  higher  education  and  career  in  STEM (Science  Technology  Engineering  Mathematics)  particularly  in  the  areas where women are underrepresented. Since the inception, more than 30000 girls have been benefitted through various interventions under Vigyan Jyoti. The major activities  under  the  programme  include  counselling  of  studentsparents, career counselling, special lectures/classes, curriculum-based STEM sessions,  coding  sessions,  science  camps,  tinkering  activities,  visits  to Knowledge Partners (KP)/Industry/Lab, interaction with role models, etc. Some special workshops on latest technologies have also been conducted for Vigyan Jyoti Scholars.
5.     Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been engaged in connecting  school  students  with  scientists  through  its  'Jigyasa'  (studentscientist connect) program. Since 2017. The programme envisages opening up the national scientific facilities to school children, enabling CSIR scientific knowledgebase  and  facility  to  be  utilized  by  school  children  to  develop 'Scientific  Temper'  in  the  young  minds.  The  Jigyasa  program  is  being implemented through CSIR laboratories wherein more than 4,00,000 students across the country have benefitted along with 1,500 teachers, since 2017.
3. (b)     The Ministry does not have any specific projects to encourage scientific research and development.
4. (c)     No infrastructure has been created for these programmes.
5. (d)     There is no separate Budget Head allocated for these programmes.

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