Lok Sabha Question No. 1724 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-27
Subject: Problem of Brain Drain
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1724 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2022

## PROBLEM OF BRAIN DRAIN

## 1724.  SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has paid attention to the problem of brain drain which is affecting development in the field of Science and Technology;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to check brain drain of the scientific community?

## ANSWER

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

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

- (a) & (b) No significant brain drain to such an extent of affecting the development in the field  of  Science  and  Technology  (S&T)  has  been  observed  by  the  Union  Government. Multifaceted approaches have been adopted in terms of creating adequate opportunities in the country to retain highly skilled talent pool and also encourage return of the bestin-class  scientists,  from  abroad,  to  India,  for  enhancing  the  nation's  capabilities  in various areas of scientific research, development and deployment.
- (c)        Several  steps  have been  taken by the Government to check brain drain of 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 motivates 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) and MK Bhan-Young Researcher Fellowship Programme of DBT. 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 the scientists. All these measures taken by the Government are aimed at retaining our scientific workforce in the country and thereby reduce brain drain.

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