Lok Sabha Question No. 383 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-30
Subject: Scientific Achievements
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

STARRED QUESTION NO. *383

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30/03/2022

## SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

- *383.  SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether  the  Government  has  organised  a  Science  Week, 'Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate' on light scattering and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)        whether  the  programme  has  been  designed  to  make  youth feel proud about India's scientific achievements and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)        the  steps  being  taken  on  the  occasion  of  National  Science Day to offer forums where freewheeling discussion of such themes are  organized  epitomising  the  true  spirit  of  Science  in  the  States including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; and
- (d)        the details of the present status and response received in this regard along with the funds sanctioned and spent thereon till now, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

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

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT AS REFERERED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 383 FOR 30/03/2022 REGARDING SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

(a) & (b) Yes Sir. The  National Science Week with  the theme 'Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate', was organized during 22 nd  - 28 th  February 2022 as part of the  'Amrit Mahotsav Science Showcase: Roadmap to 2047', by various scientific Ministries/Departments like  the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Revolution (CSIR), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Defense Research and Development Organisation  (DRDO),  Department  of  Space  (DOS),  Department  of Health Research (DHR) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and coordinated by  Vigyan  Prasar  under  the  aegis  of  the  office  of  the Principal Scientific Advisor, along with the Ministry of Culture. The Week culminated on 28 th  February 2022,  the National Science Day, which  is  celebrated  nationally  to  mark  the  Nobel  Prize  winning discovery  of  'Raman  Effect'  of      light  scattering,      of  great  Indian Scientist Sir CV Raman. Science exhibitions with models, book fairs, lectures, competitions, science literature festivals, etc. were organised at 75 locations across the country in collaboration with local  academic partners.  A  mega exposition  was arranged in New Delhi,  along  with  a  national  science  book  fair  associated  with  the National Book Trust and Federation of Indian Publishers.   A grand inaugural function and finale  were organised at Vigyan Bhavan on February 22 and 28, 2022, respectively. It is estimated that about 2 million people directly visited and took part in the events across the country with many more participating through hybrid mode.

The programmes were designed theme-wise. Thrust was placed on the following four themes aimed at making the youth of India feel proud about India's scientific achievements -

- (i)  The  'Annals  of  Science'  highlighting  the  contributions  made by  founders of   modern science in India
- (ii)  'The  Milestones  of  Modern  S&T'  highlighted  and  showcased the  achievements in S&T and R&D made globally.
- (iii) 'Swadeshi Paramparik Inventions & Innovations' showcased the inventions and innovations addressing India specific issues.
- (iv) 'Transforming India' demonstrated how the government is making strides in frontier S&T areas.

(c)  &  (d)  National  Science  Day  (NSD)  is  celebrated  annually  on  a chosen  theme  for  the  purpose  of  raising  public  appreciation  and awareness of  various scientific issues. National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) of DST is the nodal agency to support, catalyze and coordinate celebration of the NSD throughout the country, particularly in scientific institutions & research laboratories and offers a variety of fora where discussions of such themes are  organized  in  the  States  including  Andhra  Pradesh  and Telangana.  The government also provides grants-in aid to State S&T Councils  and  Departments  for  various  countrywide  programmes including  lectures,  quizzes,  open  houses,  in  hybrid  mode,  etc. towards commemoration of NSD. 18 States/UTs actively participated in the events towards commemoration of NSD 2022 and a total of Rs. 1,58,63,000/- were sanctioned while Rs. 1,26,90,400/- released as per following details-

| State/UT                                                                                                                   | Sanctioned Cost per State (in Rupees)   | Release of Funds per State (in Rupees)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh                                                           | Rs.12,50,000/-                          | 10,00,000/-                              |
| Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Telangana, Haryana, Tripura | Rs.7,50,000/-                           | 6,00,000/-                               |
| Goa                                                                                                                        | Rs. 5,00,000/-                          | 4,00,000/-                               |
| Gujarat                                                                                                                    | Rs. 3,63,000/-                          | 2,90,400/-                               |

*****