Lok Sabha Question No. 2792 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Participation of  Reserved Categories in Scientific Research
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Dharmendra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2792

## ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025

## PARTICIPATION OF RESERVED CATEGORIES IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

## † 2792.  SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

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

- (a) the specific policies formulated and implemented by the Government  to  ensure  equal  participation  of  OBCs,  SCs  and  STs  in scientific research, technology development and innovation ecosystem;
- (b) the  total  allocation  and  expenditure  earmarked  for  OBC,  SC,  ST beneficiaries under various schemes of the Government during the last three years, year-wise;
- (c) the  mechanism  in  place  to  monitor  effective  implementation  of reservation policies for OBC, SC, ST categories for admission to science and technology institutions and recruitment to scientific and technical posts under the Ministry of Science and Technology; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  alleged shortcomings  and  challenges  faced  by  eligible  OBC,  SC  and  ST beneficiaries in adopting their science and technology schemes?

## 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) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under Ministry of Science  and  Technology  is  implementing  Scheduled  Caste  Sub  Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) to ensure equal participation of OBCs, SCs  and  STs  in  scientific  research,  technology  development  and innovation ecosystem.

The Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division of DST is implementing several schemes and programs towards socioeconomic development of disadvantaged sections of the society through appropriate interventions of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), leading to improved quality of life and enhanced livelihood opportunities. Following  programs  of  SEED  Division  are  aimed  to  ensure  direct  or indirect participation of SC, ST, OBCs.

- i. Strengthening, Upscaling & Nurturing Local Innovations for Livelihood  (SUNIL)  programme  aims  to  strengthen  the  livelihood efficiency  of  Economically  Weaker  Section  (EWS)  of  society through technology delivery & social enterprise creation. Focus of the programme is not only limited to the deployment of field-tested models  and  location-specific  technologies  to  meet  the  needs  of local people, it also encourages improving their S&T knowledge, skill enhancement, capacity building and socio-economic conditions.
- ii. Science  Technology  and  Innovation  (STI)  Hubs  aims  towards holistic development of SC and ST communities across the country through  systemic  interventions.   These  Hubs  are  established  in collaborative, networked and partnership framework to resolve the last mile challenges in introduction, delivery, management, use and extension  of  technology  applications  for  development  of  target SC/ST  population.  The  Hubs  also  harness  and  leverage  frontier technologies  available  with  other  knowledge  organizations  for deployment.  So  far,  53  STI  Hubs  have  been  established  in States/UTs of Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Puducherry,  Punjab,  Rajasthan,  Sikkim,  Tamil  Nadu,  Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

In addition to programs of SEED Division, INSPIRE-MANAK programme of DST  is  promoting  culture  of  innovation  and  creative  thinking  among students studying in class 6 to 10 through their ideas to address societal challenge using S&T. During last three years, 36,388 students belonging to SC/ST, studying in class 6 to 10 were supported with an award of Rs.

10,000/- each.

Project based research funding support is being provided by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to researchers belonging to the SC/ST communities to undertake R&D in frontier areas of science and engineering  to  further  their  capacity  and  advance  in  mainstream research programs. During last three years, more than 503 researchers belonging to SC/ST community have been supported.

Apart from implementing specific schemes and programmes for SC, ST communities, DST had also issued Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) Guidelines in May 2022, to facilitate integration of science and society and build synergy among diversified stakeholders thus ensuring transfer of scientific knowledge for the benefit of different sections of society including  OBCs,  SCs  and  STs.   It  further  aims  to  create  an  effective ecosystem for optimum use of existing assets to empower less endowed, marginalized  and  exploited  sections  of  society  by  enhancing  their capability, capacity and latent potential.

- (b) The  total  allocation  and  expenditure  earmarked  for  SC,  ST beneficiaries under various schemes of the DST during the last three years, Year-wise is as follows:

| Tribal Sub- Plan Scheme/ Programme (TSP)                 | Tribal Sub- Plan Scheme/ Programme (TSP)                 | Tribal Sub- Plan Scheme/ Programme (TSP)                 | In Cr.                                                   |
|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                          | FY 2022-23                                               | FY 2023-24                                               | FY 2024-25                                               |
| Funds allocated                                          | 82.80                                                    | 57.62                                                    | 98.70                                                    |
| Expenditure                                              | 71.18                                                    | 38.50                                                    | 69.72                                                    |
| Scheduled caste Sub- Plan Scheme/ Programme (SCSP) In Cr | Scheduled caste Sub- Plan Scheme/ Programme (SCSP) In Cr | Scheduled caste Sub- Plan Scheme/ Programme (SCSP) In Cr | Scheduled caste Sub- Plan Scheme/ Programme (SCSP) In Cr |
| Funds allocated                                          | 159.75                                                   | 111.22                                                   | 198.45                                                   |
| Expenditure                                              | 133.32                                                   | 69.18                                                    | 154.79                                                   |

In addition, and beyond this an estimated expenditure of Rs.653.051 Cr has been made on payment of fellowship to research fellows belonging to OBCs (NCL), SCs and STs under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research  (CSIR's)  scheme  'Capacity  Building  and  Human  Resource Development: Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship'.

- (c) The  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology,  follows  the  guidelines issued  by  Department  of  Personnel  and  Training  (DoPT)  for  effective implementation of reservation policies for recruitment of OBCs, SCs and STs.
- (d) The  Union  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  facilitate adoption of science and technology schemes by eligible OBC, SC and ST beneficiaries. Some of the highlights are:
- i. The Department has established SC/ST Cells within State Science and  Technology  Councils  to  achieve  development  for  SC/ST communities  through  collaborative  efforts  involving  government, industry, academia, and society. These cells are adopting a bottom up approach to collect information on livelihood systems, encompassing  human,  natural,  social, physical and  financial capitals,  as  well  as  local  and  indigenous  knowledge  to  aid  in formulation  of  specific  strategies,  plans,  and  programs  for  the development of SC/ST beneficiaries. So far, 11 SC-ST Cells have been established in States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Mizoram, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
- ii. More  than  70,000  candidates  belonging  to  SC/ST  category  were given trainings on advanced technologies under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM- ICPS) during last three years.
- iii. A special Call has been given under Scheme for Young Scientists and Technologists (SYST) in 2025 for Unemployed Young Scientists (from  SC/  ST  category)  to  provide  them  the  opportunities  to undertake application oriented socially relevant research projects.

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