Lok Sabha Question No. 2231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Promotion of Research in Science and Technology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2231 ANSWERED ON 12/03/2025

## PROMOTION OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## †2231. SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a) the name of institutions working to promote science and technology research in Chhattisgarh;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  establish  a  research institute of CSICR in Chhattisgarh and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  schemes  being  formulated  to  promote  the  use  of  science  and technology in agriculture in the State; and
- (d) the efforts being made to promote start-ups and innovation in Chhattisgarh?

## 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) to (b): Several Central Government  Organisations including all the Departments  under  the  Ministry  are  working  to  promote  Science  and Technology Research in Chhattisgarh State. The Ministry does not have any state  specific  plans  for  establishment  of  research  institutions  and  various organisations promote use of Science and Technology on a Pan India basis.
- (c) Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  is  implementing CSIR Aroma Mission and CSIR Floriculture Mission in Chhattisgarh State and supporting farmers and entrepreneurs in the cultivation, processing and the marketing  of  aroma  and  floriculture  crops  for  fragrance,  flavours,  aroma molecules and value-added products. The details are given in Annexure - I.
- (d) The  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  is  making  several efforts through its various schemes and programmes to promote Startups and Innovation  in  Chhattisgarh.  The  details  are  given  in  Annexure  -  II.  The Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  is  promoting  Biotechnology  Research Innovation  and  Entrepreneurship  in  the  country,  including  Chhattisgarh, through its Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme.

## CSIR Aroma Mission

- o 15 training-cum-awareness programmes have been organized in Bastar and other regions of Chhattisgarh for tribal farmers in different villages to  promote  the  cultivation  and  processing  of  medicinal  and  aromatic plants.
- o Training was imparted in various aspects of aromatic crops cultivation, distillation  and  marketing  to  814  tribal  farmers,  including  youth  and women. In Bastar region, tribal clusters have been developed for the cultivation and processing of aromatic crops in Malgaon, Deurbhal, Niliji, Bhamni and Mayurdongar.
- o 25 Lakhs slips of high yielding variety CIM-Krishna of lemongrass were distributed to tribal farmers under CSIR Aroma mission in Kondagaon and Jagdalpur districts of Baster region. Lemongrass and other aromatic crops  are  being  cultivated  in  208  hectares  of  land  involving  tribal farmers.
- o In Chhattisgarh, more than 500 hectares area has been covered under cultivation of aromatic crops.
- o Five  improved  distillation  units  have  been  installed  on  tribal  farmer's field under CSIR Aroma Mission for on-the-farm processing/distillation of aromatic herbs to extract essential oils.

## CSIR Floriculture Mission

- o Three  tribal  clusters  have  been  developed  in  Dantewada  to  promote floriculture-based entrepreneurship.
- o Three training programs for 49 beneficiaries have been organised.
- o 50000  marigold-rooted  cuttings,  100  Bixa  saplings  and  500  Hibiscus cuttings were  distributed  in  Bairavband,  Bhogam  and  Tudhparas villages.
- o Technical support has been given to run the Biofertilizer production unit at Dantewada.

- o A  Technology  Innovation  Hub  (TIH)  has  been  established  at  Indian Institute  of  Technology  Bhilai  focusing  on  Financial  Technologies (FinTech) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The TIH aims to foster innovation and contribute to the  region's  technological  development  through  a  wide  range  of collaborative projects with various educational and research institutes like NIT Raipur, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur, Indira Gandhi Krishi  Vishwavidyalaya  Raipur,  Government  L.  C.  S.  PG  College  in Ambagarh  Chowk,  Government  Digvijay  Autonomous  PG  College  in Rajnandgaon, AIIMS Raipur etc.
- o IIT Ropar Technology & Innovation Foundation (iHub -  AWaDH) supported under NM-ICPS is offering incubation, funding, and mentorship to  Startups  tackling  agricultural  challenges,  to  enhance  productivity, sustainability, and foster agricultural innovation in Chhattisgarh through its  Strategic  Program  for  Research  Innovation  and  Next-Gen  TechCommercialisation  (SPRINT)  Scheme.  Notable  Startups  supported  by TIH in the state include Wisdomtree Edutech LLP, Skyka Technologies Private Limited and AGRI MATRIX INDIA PVT LTD.
- o Indian  Institute  of  Technology  Bhilai  is  one  of  the  member  institutes under the Thematic Hub for Quantum Communication under the National Quantum Mission (NQM). Efforts are underway to promote Startups and innovation  by  strengthening  the  quantum  technology  ecosystem  and providing support to entrepreneurs, researchers, and academic institutions in emerging quantum fields in Chhattisgarh State.
- o Under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) in 2016 for promoting S&T based Entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem, DST has established a NIDHI Technology Business Incubator (TBI)  at  National  Institute  of  Technology,  Raipur.  3  NIDHI  iTBIs  were established at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya Bilaspur, Dr. C. V. Raman University, Kota, Bilaspur and Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University, Bhilai for promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship in Chhattisgarh State.
- o To promote science and technology based research and innovation and to  provide  a  platform  to  network  researchers  with  other  Institutes, National laboratories and Industry, DST has established a Technology Enabling Centre (TEC), at Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur.

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