Lok Sabha Question No. 2089 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Robust Ecosystem for Scientific Inquiry and Technological Advancement
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2089

## ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## Robust Ecosystem for Scientific Inquiry and Technological Advancement

## 2089 SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  committed  to  nurturing  a  robust  ecosystem  for  scientific inquiry and technological advancement in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (c): Science, technology and integrated research form the core of a quality education ecosystem that produces globally competent and locally relevant graduates. NEP 2020 envisions a  discovery-based  style  of  learning  with  focus  on  research  and  innovation  by  setting  up incubation centres; technology development centres; centres in frontier areas of research; greater industry-academic  linkages;  and  interdisciplinary  research  including  humanities  and  social sciences research.

Establishment of IITs, IISERs, IIITs, IIMs, Centres of Excellence and Research Parks in focus areas is greatly helping  to foster scientific  and technological  advancement in the country with emphasis to promote innovation, research and development. Ministry of Education has launched schemes to promote research and development in the HEIs of the country which includes Prime Minister's Research Fellowship Scheme (PMRFs), Uchhatar Avishkar Yojna (UAY), Impacting Research  Innovation  and  Technology  (IMPRINT),  Scheme  for  promotion  of  Research  and Academic  Collaboration  (SPARC),  Scheme  for  Transformational  and  Advanced  Research  in Sciences (STARS), etc.

Further,  'Anusandhan  National  Research  Foundation  Act,  2023'  was  notified  to  establish  the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. Anusandhan National Research Foundation, an apex body has been envisaged to provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and  technology,  environmental  and  earth  sciences,  health  and  agriculture.  It  also  seeks  to promote  scientific and  technological interfaces of humanities  and  social sciences. Total estimated cost of Anusandhan National Research Foundation for five years is Rs. 50,000 crores.

India's  technological  advancement  has  received  recognition  at  world  level,  during  the  past decade  which  is  visible  through  its  global  position  in  various  scientific  parameters.  India  has witnessed  a  massive  jump  in  its  Global  Innovation  Index  (GII)  ranking  from  66 th position  in 2013 to 40 th in  2023  among  132  economies of the world.  India is  at  6 th position  (in  2022)  in number of patent applications, as per WIPO's World Intellectual Property Indicators. India also occupies 3rd rank in terms of number of Ph.Ds awarded in Science and Engineering (S&E) as per  'Research  and  Development  statistics  at  a  glance  2022-23'  published  by  Department  of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology. India ranked 3rd in 2022, in terms of total  number  of  Science  and  Engineering  publications  as  per  the  National  Science  Foundation (NSF) database of the United States.

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