Lok Sabha Question No. 622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Infrastructure Development under Vigyan Dhara Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 622 ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER VIGYAN DHARA SCHEME

## 622.  SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS:

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

- (a) the  details  of  infrastructure  approved  and  developed  under  the  Vigyan Dhara scheme, component-wise, across different States and UTs, with specific focus on Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the  details  of  funds  allocated,  released,  and  utilized  for  infrastructure development under each component, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Year-wise;
- (c) the details of new research labs, incubation centres, technology transfer offices, and other scientific facilities established under the scheme, along with their current operational status, State-wise; and
- (d) the measures taken/being taken to ensure balanced regional distribution of scientific infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions, and the planned expansion of the scheme?

## 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):  The Department of Science and Technology implements the Vigyan Dhara Scheme as a Central Sector Scheme across the country. To strengthen scientific  infrastructure,  the  scheme  supports  various  components  on  a competitive  basis,  such  as  the  Fund  for  Improvement  of  S&T  Infrastructure (FIST), Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE), Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF), Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI), and Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence (CURIE). Through these components, numerous projects have been supported for the development of scientific infrastructure across  various  States  and  Union  Territories,  including  the  State  of  Andhra

Pradesh.

## Details  of  support  provided  for  the  development  of  scientific  infrastructure under Vigyan Dhara in various States and Union Territories:

| Component Name / Program   |   Funds Allocated (in Crores) |   Number of Supported Projects | States/ UT Covered                                                                                                                           |   Number of Departments /Institutions supported |   Number of Scientific infrastructural facilities supported |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| FIST                       |                         31.71 |                             27 | Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh,    |                                              27 |                                                          86 |
| PURSE                      |                         65.66 |                             13 | Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand. |                                              13 |                                                          81 |
| SAIF                       |                         10    |                              5 | Chandigarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.                                                                               |                                               5 |                                                           8 |
| SATHI                      |                         76.86 |                              4 | Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.                                                                                            |                                               4 |                                                          71 |
| CURIE                      |                          1    |                              3 | Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                   |                                               3 |                                                          23 |

Details of support provided for the development of scientific infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh :

| Component Name / Program   |   Funds Allocated (in Crores) |   Number of Supported Projects | Institutions name and address                                                   | Details of Scientific infrastructural facilities supported                                                                                                                                                         |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| PURSE                      |                          3.45 |                              1 | Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (Deemed to be University), Guntur ( Dt). | Atomic Force Microscope, EM Scanner and EMI/EMC Test Bench, Glove box with Spin coater, RF Sputtering, Prototype Machine, High Precision Inkjet Printer, Electromagnetic Simulation tool and Safety infrastructure |
| CURIE                      |                          0.42 |                              1 | Sri Venkateswara College of Nursing RVS Nagar, Tirupati                         | 2D Ultrasound Machine, ABG Machine, Ambu Bag Resuscitator, Cardiac Monitor, Defibrillator, USG Mammogram, Infusion Pump, Incubator Neonatal, ECG Machine, Ventilator                                               |

- (c) Under the Vigyan Dhara scheme, the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing  Innovations  -  Inclusive  Technology  Business  Incubators  (NIDHIiTBI)  program  is  actively  supporting  innovators  and  startups  by  providing essential  infrastructure,  including  prototyping  labs  and  related  facilities.  As part of this initiative, DST has established NIDHI-iTBIs at NIT Silchar in Assam and NIT Agartala in Tripura. Additionally, under the Technology, Translation and Innovation  (TTI)  Division's  program,  two  Centres  of  Excellence  focused  on Agricultural  Residue  Management  have  been  set  up  at  VNIT  Nagpur  in Maharashtra and Chitkara University in Punjab.

(d) To promote balanced regional distribution of scientific infrastructure, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) extends support to a wide range of centrally funded institutions including IITs, NITs, AIIMSs, IISERs, and IISc as well  as  State  Universities,  Postgraduate  Colleges,  and  private  academic institutions across various States and Union Territories through its infrastructure development programs. The selection process is designed to be inclusive, with a strong emphasis on ensuring regional equity. In line with this objective, DST launched a special call in 2022 under the PURSE initiative to specifically support underrepresented regions such as the Northeast, Jammu & Kashmir, and several Central and Eastern states, enabling universities in these areas to strengthen their scientific infrastructure. This dual approach targeting  underserved  regions  while  maintaining  national  competitiveness underscores DST's commitment to fostering inclusive and balanced scientific growth across the country.

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