Lok Sabha Question No. 2906 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Nano Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SANJAY(KAKA) RAMCHANDRA PATIL, KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

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

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2906

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/08/2016

## NANO MISSION

## †2906. SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL: SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

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

- (a) the steps being taken by the Government to encourage Nano Science and Technology under the Nano Mission;
- (b) the details of the schemes being prepared by the Government to encourage the use of Nano Mission in various sectors and to develop agriculture and industrial sector;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to invest a large amount as part of the Nano Mission programme of the science and technology department; and
- (d) if  so,  the  benefits likely to accrue therefrom to the country as a whole and scientists in particular?

## 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) Madam, realizing that Nano Science is a knowledge-intensive  area of research and that nano  technology  as  an  'enabling  technology'  which  influence  wide  range  of  products  and processes with far reaching implications for national economy and  national development, the Government of India launched Nano Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI) in October 2001 to promote Research & Development (R&D) in Nano Science and Technology, almost at the same time as some of the developed nations of the world. On 3 rd  May 2007, the Government of India launched the Nano Mission as an 'umbrella capacity-building programme' for 5 years (Phase-I). Based  on  the  achievements  of  the  Nano  Mission,  the  Government  has  also  approved  its continuation in the 12 th  Plan Period (Phase-II).

(b) The Nano Mission has supported a variety of programmes such as Individual ScientistCentric  Projects,  Units  on  Nano  Science,  Centres  of  Nano  Technology,  Thematic  Units  of Excellence,  Joint  Institute-Industry  linked  Projects,  Post-Graduate  Programmes  and  PostDoctoral-Fellowships, International Collaborations, etc. A whole range of sophisticated characterization facilities have been established. Nano Mission has also enabled assured access of Indian scientists to frontline synchrotron radiation facilities in the world. The Government has also set up an Institute of Nano Science and Technology at Mohali, Punjab.

To further give impetus to scientific research in internationally important, relevant and frontier areas such as Energy (artificial Photo synthesis, hydrogen storage, 2-D Materials, Li-ion

batteries,  supercapacitors,  etc),  Health,  Agricultural  Sensors,  Nano  Mission  has  recently recommended funding of 6 Thematic projects. Also, for development of human resource and technology-related programmes in future, the Nano Mission plans to support the following new activities:

-  Nano Science  and  Technology  Associateships  and  Overseas  Visiting  Fellowships  under Human Resource Development programme.
-  Applied technology development  projects targeting different stages of technology development under Nano Applications & Technology Development Programme (NATDP).

(c) Yes, Madam. The Government has accorded high priority to Nano Mission activities as described in Part (a) & (b) above and has allocated a sum of Rs. 400 crores for the 12 th  Plan period (2012-17) including 95 crores  for the financial year 2016-17.

(d) It is widely acknowledged today that Nano Mission gave a fillip to R&D activities in this emerging area in the country as a whole. As a result of focused promotional efforts made by the Government through Nano Mission, and the Nano Science and Technology Initiative earlier, some of the benefits that have accrued to the country are as follows:

-  India today is placed 3 rd  in the world in terms of scientific publications. It was placed 6 th  in 2011 and 4 th  in 2012 and it acquired 3 rd  position in 2013.
-  A community of over 2000 researchers in the field of Nano Science & Technology has been built.
-  The projects/programmes funded by the Nano Mission alone  have so far resulted in 5000 research papers in refereed journals, 186 Patents, 600 PhDs and 22 Post-Doctoral Fellows, 900 M.Tech./M.Sc.  Students and training of 3500 other technical manpower.
-  Technologies developed under the Nano Mission funded projects are: water purification systems for removal of Arsenic, Iron, pesticides and other contaminants using nanotechnology developed at IIT-Madras. Technology for Fluoride removal is also being developed;  antimicrobial  nanofinish  based  on  nanosilver  for  textiles  developed  by  IITDelhi; Nano TiO2 based self-cleaning nanofinish for textiles developed at IIT-Delhi; and electrospun nanofibre web based automotive filter developed at IIT-Delhi.
-  As a result of the initiatives taken by the Nano Mission, a decent eco-system for competitive R&D  has  been  built  in  the  country.  Indian  scientists  have  now  access  to  advanced characterization and instrumentation facilities including top-of-the-line ultra high resolution  aberration  corrected  transmission  electron  microscope  in  the  country  and synchrotron radiation and neutron sources abroad.

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