Lok Sabha Question No. 2194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: VAJRA Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2194 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02/08/2023

## VAJRA SCHEME

## 2194.  SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is implementing VAJRA scheme and if so, the details and the aims and objective thereof;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  eligibility  criteria  fixed  and  the  nature  and duration of support under the scheme;
- (c) whether the scheme will help build strong international connect to the R&D ecosystem of India, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the challenges faced by the Government in the implementation of the VAJRA scheme;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to overcome the difficulties in the implementation of the scheme;
- (f) whether there is any improvement in the related indices after the implementation of the scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g)  whether  the  Government  is  undertaking  any  other  policies  for promoting participation of NRIs and overseas scientific community in research and development in India and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ राÏयमंğी (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 cutting-edge 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,  resultingin  collaborative  researches and joint publications which paves the way for future collaborations and strong international connect to the R&D ecosystem of India.
- (d) and (e) 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.
- (f) 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.
- (g) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) for promoting participation of NRI's and overseas scientific community in R&D in India has implemented the VAIshwik BHArtiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship Program. The VAIBHAV Fellowships envisages a collaboration  between  scientists  of  Indian  Diaspora  with  Indian Higher  Educational  Institutions  (HEIs),  Universities  and/  or  public funded Scientific Institutions. The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to maximum two months in a year for 3 years.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT) implements DBT-TWAS Fellowship Program jointly with The World Academy of Sciences, Italy and  also  Ramalingaswami  Re-entry  Fellowship  which  encourage scientists (Indian Nationals) working outside the country in Biotechnology Research.

Council  of  Scientific  &  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  has  developed PRABHASS, 'Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark', a National Digital Portal with support from different Ministries/Departments  of  GOI  (DST,  DBT,  CSIR,  ICMR,  ICAR,  DAE, DOS,  MoES  and  MEA)  to  engage  Global  Indian  S&T  community through  a  virtual  platform  for  addressing  Indian  research/societal challenges/problems,  PRABHASS  has  connected  several  diaspora with Indian S&T community for different interactions, guidance and collaborative R&D. CSIR also encourages the participation of NRI and the Overseas scientific community for the position of 'Distinguished Scientists' in order to engage them in its effort focussed on shaping a new S&T landscape to address global scientific challenges.

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