Lok Sabha Question No. 2112 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Scientific Publications
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2112 ANSWERED ON 12/03/2025

## SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

## 2112. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any data on the number of scientific publications in the country during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  encourage  scientific publications in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  initiatives  are  also  being  taken  to  increase  awareness  in  the scientific community with regards to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the fact that most patents are published by non-residents and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken to address the issue?

## 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) As  per  the  latest  Science  &  Engineering  Indicators  report  of  the  National Science  Foundation,  USA,  the  number  of  scientific  publications  in  India  is continuously increasing. The details are as under:
- (b) The  government  has  taken  several steps to strengthen the research ecosystem in the country and encourage researchers for scientific publications. This  includes  successive  increase  in  budget  allocations  for  scientific  research, establishment  of  Anusandhan  National  Research  Foundation  (ANRF)  through  the

| Year                   | 2018    | 2019    | 2020    | 2021    | 2022    |
|------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| Number of Publications | 130,235 | 132,820 | 148,410 | 179,806 | 207,390 |

ANRF Act 2023, creation of centres of excellence, instituting research fellowships, research  programmes,  encouraging  participation  of  industry  in  R&D,  etc.  The extramural project funding and fellowship schemes of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Council of Scientific and Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  have  been  designed  to  encourage  researchers  to  do quality research. These include research and development funding in the area of clean  energy,  water,  nano  and  advanced  materials,  cyber-physical,  quantum science,  geospatial,  biotechnology,  industrial  technologies,  etc.  The  outcome  of these research initiatives includes research publications and creation of intellectual property,  primarily  in  the  form  of  patents,  technology  transfers  and  in  some instances as industrial designs. Simultaneously, the researchers in the country are also encouraged to conduct research publications and create intellectual properties as  they  are  considered  to  be  one  of  the  performance  indicators  for  career progression.

- (c) The  government  has  taken  several  steps  to  create  awareness  about Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and patent filling through various schemes/programmes  such  as:  Patent  Facilitating  Centre  supported  by  DST  is helping  scientists  in  filing  and  prosecution  of  patents  and  other  IPRs  for  the inventions emanating from universities and other academic institutes, conducting IPR  Awareness  Workshops  and  Training  Programmes  for  the  scientists  and technologists;  DST-WISE  Internship  in  IPR,  provides  one  year  training  to  women scientists in IPR and related areas; DST - State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP), extends support to the Patent Information Centres (PICs) established in the State  Science  &  Technology  Councils  which  facilitate  the  Intellectual  Property Rights (IPR) related activities including awareness in their respective States; DSTTechnology Development Programme (TDP) encourage Investigators / Innovators to file the provisional IPR as soon as the idea is generated and the complete filing is initiated  when  the  prototypes  are  developed  successfully;  the  DST  supported Technology Enabling Centres (TEC) provide an Ecosystem for Technology Development  in  the  Universities  and  engage  professionals  for  IP  management, encourage  and  facilitate  the  researchers  to  file  patents;  and  DST  supported Technology Business Incubators also encourage and provide assistance to their incubatees  in  filing  Intellectual  Property  (IP).  DBT  has  issued  'DBT  Intellectual Property  Guidelines  2023'  to  facilitate  seamless  transfer  of  IP  at  academic institutes  towards  commercialization  of  technologies/products  for  larger  social impact; and DBT - Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), offers a wide range of IP & Technology Management services to Start-ups, SMEs, and Academic Institutions.
- (d) As per the latest Annual Report, 2022-23 of the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, the number of patent applications filed by Indian residents (43,301) exceeds that of non-residents (39,510).

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