Lok Sabha Question No. 6115 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Initiatives for SCs in Science, Technology and Innovation
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri G M Harish Balayogi

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6115 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026

## INITIATIVES FOR SCS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

## 6115.  SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI:

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

- (a) the details of schemes, fellowships, capacity-building programmes and other initiatives implemented to promote participation of Scheduled Castes in science, technology, research and innovation and status of their implementation, State/UT-wise especially in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the details of funds allocated and utilised under each initiative during the last  three  years,  year,  initiative,  State/UT-wise  and  district-wise  in  Andhra Pradesh especially in Konaseema district;
- (c) the details of number of SC beneficiaries under each initiative during the said period, year, State/UT- wise and district-wise in Andhra Pradesh especially in Konaseema district;
- (d) the  details  of  the  representation  of  SC  students,  researchers  and entrepreneurs in higher scientific research, innovation  ecosystems  and technology-based startups in Andhra Pradesh;
- (e) the details of sanctioned strength, filled posts and vacancies of faculty positions reserved for SCs in INIs and HEIs, institution-wise especially in Andhra Pradesh and steps taken/being taken by the Government to fill such vacancies;
- and
- (f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to increase representation,  including  measures  for  targeted  outreach,  mentorship  and institutional support, especially in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The details of schemes, fellowships, capacity-building programmes and other initiatives implemented to promote science,

technology, research and innovation by Ministry of Science and Technology under its various Departments including the participation of Scheduled Castes are given below. These initiatives are being implemented on PAN India basis in  competitive  mode  and  the  financial  support  is  provided  on  merit  basis including the state of Andhra Pradesh.

- I. Department of Science and Technology
1. Vigyan Dhara: The  Vigyan  Dhara  scheme  came  into  force  with effect from 16.01.2025. It merges three key umbrella schemes of DST into one, focusing on:

Science and Technology Institutional and Human Capacity Building: This component focuses on strengthening India's scientific infrastructure and human resource pool. It aims to build and enhance research and development (R&D) labs across academic institutions, creating  a  robust  environment  for  scientific  research.  Special initiatives are also incorporated to ensure inclusive participation and capacity-building for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

Research and Development (R&D): Vigyan Dhara emphasises research in various critical areas, including basic research, translational research in sustainable energy and water, and access to international mega  facilities. This component  also fosters collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation with focus on SC population.

Innovation, Technology Development, and Deployment: This segment of the scheme aims to drive innovation at all levels, from schools to higher education and the industry. It seeks to promote technology development and deployment, with increasing collaboration between academia, government, and industry, as well as supporting startups. inclusive

Special initiatives are also incorporated to ensure participation of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

2. National  Mission  on  Interdisciplinary  Cyber  Physical  Systems  (NMICPS): The Mission promotes inclusive growth by empowering Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in deep-tech sectors. It emphasizes education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship through fellowships, skill development, and startup incubation. SC students and researchers at UG, PG, and PhD levels benefit from targeted programs,

while  rural  and  underserved  regions  gain  industry-relevant  training. Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) across leading institutions ensure equitable access nationwide. By promoting AI, ML, Robotics, IoT, Cyber Security, and Drone Technologies, NMICPS builds indigenous capabilities, strengthens job readiness, and creates sustainable pathways for SC participation in India's digital and innovation economy.

3. Anusandhan National Research Foundation(ANRF) (erstwhile Science and  Engineering  Research  Board  (SERB)):  ANRF  in  its  endeavour  to facilitate equal participation of researchers from all sectors of society, has initiated the scheme Inclusivity Research Grant (IRG). IRG scheme provides funding support to researchers belonging to the Scheduled Caste  /Scheduled  Tribe  to  undertake  research  in  frontier  areas  of science and engineering. IRG subsumes the Empowerment and Equity Opportunities for Excellence in Science (EMEQ) scheme of erstwhile SERB.

## II. Department of Bio-Technology

The  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  is   implementing  the  Biotechof Scheduled Castes (SCs) in science, technology, research, innovation. These  initiatives provide training, and

KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) scheme and the Biotech-based Societal Development Programme to promote participation and capacity-building programmes to farmers, youth, and women from SC communities, enabling them to adopt biotechnology solutions in agriculture and allied sectors. Department  also  implements  two  Student  fellowship  programs  where reservation norms of Govt. of India are applied to promote participation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in higher education and research. 1) DBT Junior Research  Fellowship  program  and  2)  DBT  PG  Teaching  program  where reservation  policy  of  Govt.  of  India  applies.  These  programs  are  being implemented across the country and UT including state of Andhra Pradesh.

- III. Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (under  Department  of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR))

The  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  undertakes  a range  of  initiatives  under  its  Capacity  Building  and  Human  Resource Development (CBHRD) scheme to promote research in science, technology, and innovation education. These initiatives integrate

fellowships, research support, outreach programmes, training activities, and public science engagement to foster scientific temper and innovation, thereby  retaining  and  attracting  scientific  talent  in  critical  technology areas.  The  CSIR  operates  the  CBHRD scheme, which benefits students across India, irrespective of region, caste, or gender. This also includes the state of Andhra Pradesh. Further, CSIR operates Jigyasa Programme which  is  a  Student-Scientist  Connect  Programme  that  promotes  STEM education  by  organising  outreach  programmes,  training  initiatives,  and public science engagement activities. The programme fosters scientific temper,  curiosity,  and  early  interest  in  STEM  careers  among  school students. The key features of the program are Laboratory visits, hands-on experiments, and demonstrations; Interaction with scientists and exposure  to  research  infrastructure;  and  Innovation  challenges  under Jigyasa EPIC Hackathon, and science workshops. Jigyasa Programme is open pan-India including students from Andhra Pradesh.

The  details  of  funds  allocated  and  utilized  for  SC  beneficiaries  under various   initiatives  of  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  during  last  three years, for the state of Andhra Pradesh are as follows:

| 2022-23              | 2022-23                       | 2023-24              | 2023-24                       | 2024-25              | 2024-25                       | 2025-26              | 2025-26                       |
|----------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------|
| No. of Beneficiaries | Funds Allocated/ Utilized (₹) | No. of Beneficiaries | Funds Allocated/ Utilized (₹) | No. of Beneficiaries | Funds Allocated/ Utilized (₹) | No. of Beneficiaries | Funds Allocated/ Utilized (₹) |
| 849                  | 3,91,66,800                   | 4828                 | 6,92,55,000                   | 4000                 | 3,03,43,800                   | 3415                 | 7,83,18,498                   |

(d) to (e): The  Central  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (CHEIs)  under Ministry of Education (MoE), including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and Central Universities (CUs), are statutory autonomous organisations established  under  respective  Central  Acts  of  Parliament  and  governed  by provisions of the Acts/Statutes/Ordinances/Regulations made thereunder. As autonomous  institutions,  faculty  recruitment  is  done  within  the  institution itself, in accordance with their Acts and Regulations.

The  admissions  to  CHEIs  are  through  a  centralized  counseling  process  to ensure fairness and transparency. Further, technical institutions such as, IITs, IIITs,  IISERs  and  NITs,  provide  complete  tuition  fee  waiver  to  the  students belonging  to  the  Scheduled  Castes  (SCs)  and  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs).  The

institutions have also appointed Liaisoning Officers for ensuring the protection of rights of the students belonging to the SC and ST categories. Occurring of vacancies  and  filling  them  up  with  suitable,  qualified  candidate(s)  is  a continuous  process.  The  vacancies  arise  due  to  promotion,  retirement, resignation,  death,  opening  of  new  institutions,  schemes  or  projects,  and additional  requirement  on  account  of  enhanced  students  strength  and expansion of capacity in existing institutions.

In August 2021, all CHEIs under MoE had been requested to undertake special drive to fill backlog vacancies in their institutions in Mission Mode. The CHEIs undertook  special  drives  to  fill  backlog  vacancies  in  their  institutions  in Mission Mode. In September 2022, MoE had also exhorted all the CHEIs to fill up the vacancies in Mission Mode. From September 2022, all CHEIs, including IITs, IIITs, IISERs, NITs and CUs, have undertaken Mission Mode Recruitment drives to fill the vacancies. Till 24.01.2026 (i.e. the date of last Rozgar Mela), a total number of 3692 posts in the SC category have been filled up by all CHEIs, including 2216 faculty posts in the SC category, in Mission Mode.

A total of 336 posts (51 SC posts) have been filled up by institutions in Andhra Pradesh, viz., IIT Tirupati, IIITDM Kurnool, IIIT Sri City (Chittoor), IISER Tirupati, Central  University  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Central  Tribal  University  of  Andhra Pradesh and NIT Andhra Pradesh including 191 faculty positions (32 SC posts), in Mission Mode.

(f) To enhance Scheduled Castes representation, the Government employs constitutional reservations in legislatures, public employment and educational institutions, backed by targeted financial and institutional support. Educational measures include pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships for SC students, plus empanelled free coaching, fellowships and mentorship  for  competitive  exams.  Details  mentioned  in  part  (a)  also. Economic empowerment is promoted through Scheduled Castes Development Corporations and National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Council (NSFDC) schemes offer credit, skill training and enterprise grants. State and central outreach programmes identify eligible candidates via welfare offices and  schools  to  provide  residential  coaching  and  mentorship  and  monitor outcomes  through  welfare  departments  to  improve  access,  retention  and placement of SC beneficiaries across the country.

Especially the Social Welfare Department in Andhra Pradesh's has launched Dr B.R.  Ambedkar  Study  Circles  for  SC  candidates,  offering  free  residential

coaching for UPSC, bank, SSC and RRB exams in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and  Tirupati,  each  with  100  seats  and  33%  female  reservation;  orders  and applications were issued in 2025. The department also administers targeted scholarships,  hostel  support  and  placement  linkages  for  Scheduled  Caste students through welfare bureaus and empanelled institutions to boost access and employment opportunities.

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