Lok Sabha Question No. 1966 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Performance of CSIR
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Mimi Chakraborty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1966 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2021)

## PERFORMANCE OF CSIR

## 1966. MS. MIMI CHAKRABORTY:

Will the  Minister of  SCIENCE AND  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

विज्ञान एिं प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्री

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  performance  of  Council  for  Scientific  and Industrial Research  (CSIR) is on the decline day by day and its laboratories are suffering from shortage of Scientists and funds and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government has planned to bring substantial changes in the functioning of CSIR; and
- (c) if so, the reaction  of  NITI  Ayog  in  this  regard  and  proposal  and suggestions received from CSIR thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) No,  Sir.  The  scientists  of  the  constituent  laboratories  of  Council  of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) have been pursuing cutting edge research  innovations  in  advanced  knowledge  frontiers  of  science  and thus has been delivering as per national priorities.  CSIR has published around  5370  papers  in  SCI  Journals  during  2020  with  average  impact factor of 3.780.  Pioneer of India's intellectual property movement, CSIR today is strengthening its patent portfolio to carve out global niches for the country in select technology domains.  During the period 2018-19 to 2020-21,  CSIR  has  filed  522  patents  in  India  and  533  abroad  and  was granted  592  and  733  patents  in  India  and  abroad  respectively.    This reflects the motivation of CSIR scientists to aim for excellence in their field of expertise in various research domains.  The Scientists  position during the last three years at CSIR is as under:

| Scientists in position (in number) as on   | Scientists in position (in number) as on   | Scientists in position (in number) as on   |
|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 01.04.2018                                 | 01.04.2019                                 | 01.04.2020                                 |
| 3558                                       | 3460                                       | 3482                                       |

The total fund allocated and spent by CSIR to promote and pursue R&D in the field  of  science  and  technology during the last three years and the current year are as follows:

| Financial Year              | Fund Allocated / Spent (Rs. in Crore)       |
|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| 2017-18                     | 4582.12                                     |
| 2018-19                     | 4521.28                                     |
| 2019-20                     | 4831.58                                     |
| 2020-21 (Revised Estimates) | 4208.40 3914.06 (spent up to January, 2021) |

- (b) and  (c)  CSIR  has  been  receiving  strong  support  from  Government  and industries  since  its  inception.    Over  the  years,  CSIR  is  continuously reinventing itself to remain  competitive. In the process, several committees  were  constituted  and  CSIR  strived  to  change  itself  as suggested  by  these  committees.    With  the  socio-economic  scenario  in the Country changing with the much desired and enabling interventions of  the  Government  of  India,  CSIR  can  play  even  a  bigger  role  in development  of socially and industrially relevant technologies and innovations  for  masses  in  the  country.    With  this  view,  the  competent authority had constituted a very high level committee for re-orientation of CSIR for extending technological support to Indian Industry. To implement the recommendations of this high level committee, CSIR has initiated  appropriate  action  and  constituted  an  Overarching  Committee and  eight  area-wise  sub-committees,  and  action  to  provide  CSIR  the pathway  for  complete  repositioning  and  making  it  21 st   century  ready organization.

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