Lok Sabha Question No. 4707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: VAJRA Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4707

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.3.2023

## VAJRA SCHEME

## 4707. SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is implementing VAJRA scheme, if so, the details including the aims and objectives thereof;
- (b) the details of the eligibility criteria fixed along with the nature and duration of support thereunder;
- (c)  whether  the  scheme  will  help  strong  international  connection  to  the Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem of the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the challenges faced by the Government in the implementation of the VAJRA scheme  including  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  overcome  these difficulties;
- (e)  whether  there  is  any  improvement  in  the  related  indices  after  the implementation of the scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  is  undertaking  any  other  policies  for  promoting participation of NRIs and overseas scientific community in R&D in India and if so, the details thereof?

## 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) Yes Sir, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is implementing the Visiting  Advanced  Joint  Research  (VAJRA)  Faculty  Scheme  with  the  aim  to bring  a  strong  international  connection  to  the  R&D  ecosystem  of  India.  The scheme  offers  adjunct/visiting  faculty  assignments  to  overseas  scientists, faculty members and R&D professionals including Non-resident Indians (NRI) and  Overseas  Citizens  of  India  (OCI)  to  undertake  high-quality  collaborative research in academic and research Institutions of India. The objective of the scheme is engagement of VAJRA faculty in collaborative research in cuttingedge  areas  of  science  and  technology  including  interdisciplinary  areas  of priority with one or more Indian collaborator.
- (b) The eligibility criteria to apply for VAJRA Faculty Scheme is as follows:
- (i)   The overseas scientist/faculty should be an active researcher working in  an  academic / research /  industrial organization with  a proven  track record of research and development.
- (ii)    Indian  Collaborator(s)  should  be  a  regular  faculty/researcher  in academic/research institutions in the country.

## Nature and Duration of Support are given below:

- (i)   The residency period of VAJRA Faculty in India would be for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months.
- (ii)    VAJRA  Faculty  will  be  provided  US$  15000  in  the  first  month  of engagement and US$ 10000 p.m. in the subsequent two months.
- (iii)  One research visit by the Indian host to the Institute of the VAJRA Faculty for a period not less than a week and not exceeding 30 days will also  be  supported.  Board  will  provide  return  economy  airfare,  not exceeding Rs. 1.5 lakh, per-diem and accommodation allowance as per the norms of the Board.
- (iv)  Collaborative  research  visits  of  not  more  than  2  research  students after 2 years of engagement from the research group of Indian hosts to the Institute of the VAJRA Faculty for a duration of three to six months will be supported. Board will provide a return economy airfare, one-time

contingency grant of Rs. 60,000/- and fellowship equivalent to the norms of the Board.

- (v)  Rs. 5.0 lakh per year of research visit per VAJRA Faculty to the Indian host is provided to meet expenses related to the collaborative research.
- (vi) Support to VAJRA Faculty to the tune of Rs. 1.0 lakh per year to give lectures in his/her area of expertise in the host Institute will be provided.
- (c) Yes Sir, VAJRA Faculty scheme facilitates NRI'S / OCI's visits to the host Institutions in India, resulting in collaborative researches and joint publications which paves the way for future collaborations and strong international connect to the R&D ecosystem of India.
- (d) Visiting VAJRA Faculties have been allowed to undertake the visit in many stints so as to overcome the practical difficulties experienced in implementation of the scheme.
- (e) VAJRA Faculty positions has been offered to more than 80 foreign faculties including  NRI'S  /  OCI,  who  have  undertaken  multiple  visits  to  the  host Institutions in India. Faculty from 71 international institutes/universities around the globe spanning 18 countries have undertaken collaborative research in 33 host Indian institutes including universities, national labs, etc. so far under the scheme.
- (f)  Department of Biotechnology (DBT) implements Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship  and  DBT  TWAS  Fellowship  Program  which  encourage  scientists (Indian Nationals) working outside the country in Biotechnology Research.

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has also developed 'Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark' (PRABHASS), a National Digital Portal  with  support  from  different  Ministries/Departments  of  Government  of India  to  connect  several  diasporas  with  Indian  S&T  community  for  different interactions, guidance and collaborative R&D.

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