Lok Sabha Question No. 2746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Membership of CERN
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2746**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015

**MEMBERSHIP OF CERN**

2746. 	SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

1. whether India has initiated the process of acquiring the associate membership of the Centre for European Nuclear Research (CERN), the largest particle physics laboratory;

1. if so, the details thereof;

1. whether the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has given its nod to acquire the membership;

1. if so, the details thereof along with the present status of the membership; and

1. the annual contribution of India to CERN and the advantages/benefits obtained in this regard?

**ANSWER**

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

1. Yes, Sir.

(b)to(d) A proposal for India becoming Associate Member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) has been approved  by the Cabinet Committee on Security on 25.03.2015.  Upon approval of the Government, the CERN, Geneva has been intimated that India has completed its internal processes regarding its application for Associate Membership of CERN so as to facilitate completion of further procedural aspects.

(e)	The annual contribution of India as Associate Member of CERN is estimated at  Rs.50 crore. The advantages/benefits of Associate Membership of CERN are given in Annexure .

********

Annexure to Lok Sabha USQ2746   for 05.08.2015

**Advantages/Benefits of becoming Associate Member of CERN**

1. India will be able to attend the CERN Council open and restricted meetings.  India’s status as an Associate Member brings with it advantages like representation in Regular Council Sessions, except closed sessions and ask for the floor and make statements without having to be formally invited to do so. As an ‘Observer’, India could only attend open sessions and had no voting rights.

1. Indian scientists can become members of CERN’s advisory committees and thus help to shape research programmes at CERN.

1. India could also look forward to consultations from experts in CERN in hi-tech areas such as cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum systems, complex and efficient computing solutions for domestic projects as well as for international projects where India is a party.

1. India would be able to participate in LHC consolidation and high-luminosity upgrade, including continued collaboration on the LINAC4 project including design aspects which is not possible as an ‘Observer’.

1. India would be able to collaborate on R&D for future accelerators, such as superconducting technologies, high-power linear proton accelerators (SPL), or Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) which is not possible as an ‘Observer’.

1. India would be able to participate in other non-LHC research programs, such as Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) experiments, or the Antiproton Decelerator (AD) facility which is not possible as an ‘Observer’.

1. Medical applications of accelerators and detectors (for diagnosis and therapy) which was not possible as an ‘Observer’.

1. Indian staff will be eligible for scientific, technical and administrative positions in CERN which will be useful for our future accelerator and related science and technology programmes. This is not possible when India is an ‘Observer’.

-2-

1. Indian industry would be able to participate directly in all CERN related activities. This will lead to enhancement of high technology development expertise in the country, which will in turn be beneficial to DAE and other scientific departments in the country for their future programmes in the related areas. As ‘Observer’, Indian industry could only participate through contracts by DAE institutions who were participating in LHC activities.

1. A number of doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows could be trained in CERN in advanced technologies of relevance to DAE.

1. In addition, the following possibilities are envisaged  in future:-

1. Student support for CERN Summer Student Associate-ship
2. Participation in CERN mediated schools in Asia and elsewhere
3. Participation in CERN Physics Teacher Training Programs
4. CERN Fellowships for young researchers and engineers
5. CERN staff employment for experienced researchers, engineers

and administrators.

Thus the knowledge acquired by this set of people will be crucial for future accelerators based projects of our country.

*****