Lok Sabha Question No. 2744 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Research in Science and Technology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2744 ANSWERED ON 07/08/2024

## RESEARCH IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## 2744. SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)    the  amount spent by the Government on Science and Technology related research during the last decade along with its rank in the world level;
- (b)     the measures the Government has implemented to support researchers by creating  international  opportunities  and  also  ensuring  job  security  within  the country with the aim of preventing brain drain;
- (c)       the  steps  taken by the Department of Science & Technology to promote career  opportunities  for  women  scientists  and  to  encourage  young  students especially girls to pursue science stream; and
- (d)     the total amount of funds disbursed as scholarships by the Department to the women students and scholars during the last decade, year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) (डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह)

- (a) As  per  latest  R&D  Statistics,  2022-23  brought  out  by  the  Department  of Science and Technology (DST), India is placed at 6 th  position in terms of R&D Expenditure  (billion  Current  PPP$)  in  the  world.  The  amount  spent  by  the Government on Science and Technology related research during the last decade is as under:

| Year                                        |   2011-12 |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |
|---------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Investment in R&D by Government (Rs. Crore) |   38903.1 |   40568.1 |   44419.3 |   50285.4 |   54976.4 |   59268.3 |   66715.9 |   76656.4 |   82623.3 |   75397.3 |

Source: Data collected and compiled by NSTMIS, DST, GoI. Note: Government Investment in R&D = Central Government Ministries/Department + State Government + Higher Education

- (b)    Several measures have been taken up to support researchers by creating international opportunities such as for exchange of information, generation of new knowledge,  sharing  of  expertise,  seminars,  fellowships,  training  programmes, exchange and exposure visits, optimal utilization of resources, and for providing access  to  advanced  facilities  and  sophisticated  instruments  which  are  not available domestically. This in turn enhance the quality and output of scientific research and also enhance skills. Ministry of Science and Technology is actively cooperating  with  40  countries  across  the  globe  along  with regional  and multilateral entities, UN and other International S&T Organizations. Every year the Department of Science and Technology launches about 15-18 joint call for proposals to enhance international bilateral collaboration as well as multilateral collaboration through call for proposals under European Union and BRICS. These calls  provide  scope  of  support  for  joint  R&D  projects,  project-based  mobility exchanges,  training  and  advanced  workshops  in  different  thematic  areas  of mutual  interest.  In  addition,  DST  also  supports  three  bi-national  S&T  Centres which are independent entities established under inter-governmental arrangements with France, USA and Germany and they are engaged in promoting Joint  R&D  Clusters,  Virtual  R&D  Networked  Centers,  Multi-institutional  R&D projects,  Joint  Workshops/  Seminars/  Frontiers  Symposia/  Exhibitions  etc.  The main aim of these collaborations is to connect Indian research with global efforts particularly in the frontier areas of S&T and in areas addressing global challenges. All these programmes have been designed to encourage scientists to do quality research in the country and thereby preventing brain drain. In addition, INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) scheme, VAIBHAV fellowship, CSIR-Senior Research Associateship, DBT-Ramalingaswami re-entry Fellowship etc. are some of the initiatives that provide opportunities to highly qualified Scientists to retain them in the country and also attract Indian scientists from abroad.
- (c) The Department of Science and Technology is promoting career opportunities  for  women  scientists   including  young  students  through  various programmes such as: WISE Fellowship for Ph.D. (WISE-PhD) to pursue doctoral research in  basic  and  applied  sciences;  WISE-Post  Doctoral  Fellowship  (WISEPDF) for post-doctoral research in basic and applied sciences; WISE-SCOPE to address societal challenges through S&T interventions and WISE Internship in IPR (WISE-IPR) to provide training in the field of Intellectual Property Rights; 'Vigyan Jyoti'  programme  to  encourage  meritorious  girls  to  pursue  careers  in  STEM (Science,  Technology,  Engineering,  Mathematics);  Women  International  Grant Support (WINGS) programme to provide opportunities to Indian Women scientists to undertake research in the International research labs and  academic institutions;  etc.  The  Anusandhan  National  Research  Foundation  (ANRF),  a statutory  body  under  DST  has  also  been  implementing  the  women  specific programme  viz.  'POWER  (Promoting  Opportunities  for  Women  in  Exploratory Research)'; 'POWER Mobility Grant' for capacity building, knowledge, and skill enhancement  of  women  scientists  and  technologists;  "Women  Excellence Research Grant", etc. to promote career opportunities for women scientists.

- (d) The total amount of funds disbursed as scholarship by the department to women students and scholars during last decade, year-wise is as under:

| Financial Year       | 2014-15 2015-16   | 2016-17          | 2017-18   |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |
|----------------------|-------------------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Amount (Rs. in lakh) | 9382.49 5382.00   | 8620.90 13496.50 |           |   10930.1 |   11130.3 |   11042.3 |   10932.1 |   14246.8 |   13362.5 |

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