Lok Sabha Question No. 1602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Promotion of Research in Science and Technology at World Level
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1602 ANSWERED ON 04/12/2024

## PROMOTION OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT WORLD LEVEL

## 1602. SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY विज्ञान  और  प्रौद्योगिकी  मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the  amount  spent  by  the  Government  on  Science  and  Technology  related research during the last decade along with its rank in the world level;
- (b) the  measures  the  Government  has  implemented  to  support  researchers  by creating international opportunities and also ensuring job security within the country, with a view to preventing brain drain;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  Science  and  Technology  to  promote career  opportunities  for  women  scientists  and  to  encourage  young  students especially girls to pursue science stream; and
- (e) the total amount of funds disbursed as scholarships by the Government to the women students and scholars during the last decade, year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) (डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह)

- (a) As per latest R&D Statistics, 2022-23 brought out by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India is placed at 7 th  position in terms R&D Expenditure (billion Current PPP$) in the world. The amount spent by the Government on Science and Technology related research during the last decade is as under:
- (b) to (c): Several  measures  have  been  taken  up  to  support  researchers  by creating International opportunities such as for exchange of information, generation of new knowledge, sharing of expertise, cost and optimal utilization of resources, and for providing access to advanced facilities and sophisticated instruments which are

| Year                                        |   2011-12 |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |
|---------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Investment in R&D by Government (Rs. Crore) |   38903.1 |   40568.1 |   44419.3 |   50285.4 |   54976.4 |   59268.3 |   66715.9 |   76656.4 |   82623.3 |   75397.3 |

Source: Data collected and compiled by NSTMIS, DST, GoI.

Note: Government Investment in R&D = Central Government Ministries/Department+ State Government + Higher Education

not available in the country. This in turn enhance the quality and output of scientific research and also enhance skills for potential job opportunities. Ministry of Science and Technology is actively cooperating with more than 40 countries across the globe along  with  regional  and  multilateral  entities,  UN  and  other  International  S&T Organizations. The main aim of these collaborations is to connect Indian research with global efforts particularly in the frontier areas of S&T and in areas addressing global challenges. These  programmes  include  joint R&D  projects, seminars, fellowships, training programmes, advanced schools, exchange and exposure visits, access  to  advanced  facilities  etc.  All  these  programmes  have  been  designed  to encourage scientists to do quality research in the country and thereby preventing brain drain.

In addition, INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, J. C. Bose Fellowship, Swarnajayanti  Fellowship,  SERB-Ramanujan  Fellowship,  SERB-Visiting  Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) scheme, VAIBHAV fellowship, CSIR-Senior Research Associateship,  DBT-Ramalingaswami  re-entry  Fellowship  etc.  are  some  of  the programmes  which  provide  temporary  placement  to  highly  qualified  scientists  to retain them in the country and also attract Indian scientists from abroad as well.

(d) The Ministry of Science and Technology is promoting career opportunities for women scientists  including young students through various programmes such as: WISE  Fellowship  for  Ph.D.  (WISE-PhD)  to  pursue  doctoral  research  in  basic  and applied  sciences;  WISE-Post  Doctoral  Fellowship  (WISE-PDF)  for  post-doctoral research in basic and applied sciences; WISE-SCOPE to address societal challenges through S&T interventions and WISE Internship in IPR (WISE-IPR) to provide training in the field of Intellectual Property Rights; 'Vigyan Jyoti' programme to encourage meritorious  girls  to  pursue  careers  in  STEM  (Science,  Technology,  Engineering, Mathematics); Women International Grant Support (WINGS) programme to provide opportunities to Indian Women scientists to undertake research in the International research labs and academic institutions; etc. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), a statutory body under DST has also been implementing  some women specific programme viz. 'SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)' to mitigate the gender disparity in science and engineering research  funding  in  various  S&T  programs  in  Indian  academic  institutions  and research  and  development  (R&D)  laboratories;  'SERB-POWER  Mobility  Grant'  for capacity  building,  knowledge,  and  skill  enhancement  of  women  scientists  and technologists;  "SERB  Women  Excellence  Research  Grant",  Biotechnology  Career Advancement  and  Re-orientation  (BioCARe)  Programme   etc.  to  promote  career opportunities for women scientists.

## (e) The total amount of funds disbursed as scholarship by the ministry to women students and scholars during last decade, year-wise is as under:

| Financial Year       |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |
|----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Amount (Rs. in lakh) |   16621.5 |     14613 |   15964.9 |   23966.5 |   19155.1 |   27147.3 |   27388.3 |   30976.1 |   35782.1 |   31867.4 |

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