Lok Sabha Question No. 1312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-07
Subject: Research Grants by UGC
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1312 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2015

## Research Grants by UGC

1312. SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  the  terms  and  reference  of  the  five-member  committee  appointed  by  the Government  to  review  the  research  grants  offered  by  the  University  Grants Commission (UGC); (b) whether the Government has reduced the funds allocated for research activities in  institutions  and  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  labs  during  the current financial year and if so, the details thereof; (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  revamp  the  functioning  of  research laboratories/institutions for their self-generation of funds and towards achieving the desired objectives in the country; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a): The Government has appointed a Committee on 28 th October, 2015, under the Chairpersonship  of Prof. Gautam  Barua,  former  Director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati to go into the issues related to the research fellowships provided by the UGC, covering both National Eligibility Test (NET) fellowships and Non-NET  fellowship.  The  terms  and  reference  of  the  five-member  committee appointed  by  the  Government  to  review  the  research  grants  offered  by  the University Grants Commission (UGC) are as follows:

- (i) Determining the feasibility of enhancing the coverage of NET fellowship, which are merit based
- (ii)  Establishing  a  transparent  system  of  transfer  of  fellowship  amounts  each month  to the Non-NET  fellows, which is presently being done  on  a reimbursement basis, and without the Direct Benefit Transfer mandated by the Government.
- (iii)  Bringing the benefits and opportunities of the Non-NET fellowship scheme to a larger number of Universities, including State Universities.
- (iv) Considering economic and other criteria for eligibility for Non-NET fellowships.
- (v)  Recommending guidelines for the selection, coverage, award, and administration of the Non-NET fellowship.

Other details of the committee are available at http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload\_fils/mhrd/files/ReviewUGCFellowships.pdf.

(b): The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has informed that it has not reduced  allocations  for  its  research  institutions  during  the  current  financial  year. However, the Council of  Scientific  &  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  had  a  cut  in  the Plan funds from Rs. 2241 crores to 2154.50 crore during the financial year 2015-16. (c) & (d): The Ministry has launched IMPacting Research Innovation and Technology  (IMPRINT)  as  a  pan-  Indian  Institute  of  Technology  (IIT)  and  Indian Institute of Science (IISc) initiative to develop a roadmap for research to solve major engineering and technology challenges in ten technology domains as engineering challenges or goalposts relevant to India. Further, the Ministry has announced an annual investment of Rs. 250 Crores through the Uchchatar Avishkar Yojana in the IITs  initially  and  later  in  all  premier  technological  institutions  funded  by  Central Government. The DST has further informed that the autonomous institutions under it are generation of funds by them is not a realistic expectation. However, they are always encouraged to generate some resources by way of consultancy etc. The CSIR has resolved,  during  the  Director's  Conference  held  at  Dehradun  in  June,  2015,  to involved  in  basic  research  activities  to  generate  scientific  knowledge  and  selfattempt for self-financing of labs.

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