Lok Sabha Question No. 960 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Science Congress
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: G. HARI, ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.960 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2/03/2016

## SCIENCE CONGRESS

960. SHRI G. HARI:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the 103rd Indian Science Congress was held at Mysore recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Prime Minister has stressed on the need for scientific audit and desired to chalk out a framework for scientific institutions;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken or being taken by the Government to promote scientific research in the country;

- (d) whether many scientists who attended the recently concluded Science Congress have said that it was a waste of money and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

(a) Yes, Madam. The 103 rd  Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) was held recently at the University of Mysore, Mysuru from 3 rd  to 7 th  of January, 2016. The Focal Theme of 103 rd Indian Science Congress was 'Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India'. It was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on 3 rd  of January, 2016. Very large number of  delegates  attended  the  Congress  including  Bharat  Ratna  Prof.  CNR  Rao,  five  Nobel Laureates and one Fields Medalist. Large number of sessions were held on wide-ranging topics from  value  of  science  for  society  and  public;  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation  Policy; Government's viewpoints on Science and Technology to nanoscience; discovery and development of novel drugs; big data  biotechnology; cancer therapeutics; medical biology and new biology. The Hon'ble Prime Minister also released the Technology Vision 2035 Document brought out by the Technology  Information,  Forecasting  and  Assessment  Council  (TIFAC),  New  Delhi,  which  is  an autonomous  body  under  the  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST).  Children  Science Congress was also organized where children exhibited their innovative science models. Women's Science Congress and Science Commuunicators' Meet were other important events that were held along with the Science Congress.

- (b) Yes, Madam.
- (c) The Government has held Conclaves of the Scientific Departments within the Ministry and evaluated  the  outcomes  and  relevance  of  their  scientific  programmes.  As  far  as  the  scientific

institutions are concerned, the Government regularly conducts stock-taking and monitoring of the work  done  by  these  research  and  development  institutions  through  their  Research  Advisory Committees  and  Governing  Bodies/Councils  and  also,  at  times,  by  especially  constituted  expert committees. These bodies consist of eminent scientists and technologists from across the country and critically evaluate the quality and volume of research and development work done by the institutions by way of research publications in international peer-reviewed journals, patents filed and obtained, technologies  developed  for  commercial  and  societal  applications  and/or  strategic  sector,  Ph.Ds produced, other research and technical  personnel  trained,  scientific  data  of  national  importance gathered,  etc.  The  conclusion  regarding  these  institutions  under  the  Ministry  of  Science  and Technology is that they are conducting basic research at internationally competitive level, some of them are developing appropriate technologies for meeting crucial national needs and all of them together  are  helping  the  Nation  in  building  and  sustaining  human  and  institutional  capacity  for scientific research.

To promote scientific research in the country, the Government of India has established a number  of  well-equipped  institutions  for  higher  education  and  research  across  the  country.    In addition, it also funds research projects submitted by scientists and institutions.  State-of-the-art research facilities have thus been established in large number of institutions.  The Government also facilitates Indian scientists to carry out research in advanced laboratories elsewhere in the world.  A number of fellowship programmes have been instituted with handsome fellowship and contingency amounts to attract bright Indian scientists from abroad as well as to retain them in the country. These include -  the  INSPIRE  Faculty  Scheme,  Ramalingaswami Fellowships,  Ramanujan Fellowships,  Women  Scientists  Awards,  Young  Scientist  Awards,  Rapid  Grant  for  Young Investigators  Scheme,  National  Bioscience  Award  for  Career  Development,  DBT  Crest  Award, National Women Bio-scientist Awards.

(d) & (e): Yes, Madam. Feeling that the scientific content of the Science Congress was not at the forefront  of  research,  some  scientists  who  attended  this  Congress,  and  some  who  had  attended Science Congresses earlier, are reported to have said that Science Congress was waste of money. They, however, have missed the fact that, over the years, Science Congress has become the single largest grassroots scientific event in the country and is attended by scientists, teachers and students from a wide variety of institutions. The level of scientific discourse, therefore, is also of varied quality, from lectures by Nobel Laureates to popular science lectures and discussions. Being a mammoth grassroots scientific event, widely different scientific ideas are expressed freely during the Congress. From  these  points  of  view,  the  Science  Congress  serves  a  unique  and  valuable  purpose.  The Government, however, has advised the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Kolkata, which is the mother body organizing the event, to think of ways to improve the scientific and organizational aspects of future Congresses in keeping with its special grassroots character.

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