Lok Sabha Question No. 3086 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Universities as Research Centres
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SANTOSH AHLAWAT, C.R. CHAUDHARY, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3086 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16/03/2016

## UNIVERSITIES AS RESEARCH CENTRES

3086. SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT: SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

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

(a) whether there is lack of research and development work in universities in the country particularly in Science and Technology and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Union Government to develop universities as research centres; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  increase  the  number  of  science  and  research institutions, update the syllabus and make them attractive so that attention of the students can be drawn to this field; and

- (e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which these institutions are likely to be set up?

## 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):  No,  Madam.  There  is  no  lack  of  research  and  development  work  in  universities  in  the  country particularly in Science and Technology. Several initiatives of the Government to rejuvenate research in the university sector in the country have yielded favourable results. The National share of university sector in scientific publications has increased from about 15% in 2003 to 31% in 2010. Significant industry and academia linkages has been reported from universities. Recent reports indicate that out of the top ten Indian  academic  institutions  which  are  reaching  out  to  corporate  collaborators  in  research,  six  are universities.  Substantial  funding  has  been  provided  to  universities  /  higher  educational  institutions  to elevate  the  research  infrastructure  through  the  Fund  for  improvement  of  S&T  infrastructures  in universities  and  higher  educational  institutions  (FIST)  and  Promotion  of  University  Research  and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) programmes of Department of Science and Technology (DST). Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched DBT-BUILDER  (DBT-Boost to University Inter-disciplinary Departments  of  Life  Sciences  for  Education  and  Research)  for  advanced  education  and  research  by

upgradation/re-engineering/remodelling/ creation of Life science departments in universities. (b)  &  (c):  The  Government  has  established  several  Centres  of  Excellence  in  specific  areas  of  national interest in various universities to carry out advanced research. (d) Ministry of Science and Technology is not contemplating to increase the number of science and research institutions in the country. Though updating the syllabus of students in academic institutions do not fall directly in the domain of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has developed Model course curricula for DBT supported PG teaching programs (M.Sc./MTech/M.VSc.).  The  last  exercise  of  revision  and  reframing  of  model  course  curriculum  was carried out by DBT during 2008-09

- (e): Does not arise.
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