Lok Sabha Question No. 1437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Involvement of People in Research
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

**LOK SABHA**

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO **. 1437**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH JULY, 2015

**Involvement of People in Research**

1437. ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the number of people involved in active research in the country is decreasing;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the rank of the country in number of researchers in every 10,000 working people;

(d) whether the country is running in excess shortage of researchers; and

(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to attract more youth into research field?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) & (b):  No, Madam.  As per the information provided by Department of Science & Technology the number of people involved in active research has increased from 1.54 lakhs in 2005 to 1.93 lakhs in 2010.

(c) to (e): As per the database of UNESCO Institute of Statistics, India has 4 researchers per 10,000 working people. The Government has taken various measures to promote scientific research in the country.  These measures include successive increase in plan allocations for Scientific Departments, setting up of new institutions for science education and research, creation of centres of excellence for research and state of the art facilities in emerging and frontline Science & Technology areas in academic and national institutes, establishment of new and attractive fellowships for both national and overseas researchers and scientists, substantial grant to potential scientists through Extramural Research Funding Scheme, start-ups grant for young scientists, attractive pay package to scientists as per 6 th Pay Commission, recent substantial revision of fellowships for research students, strengthening infrastructure for Research and Development (R&D) in universities, encouraging public-private R&D partnerships, recognition of R&D units and fiscal incentives and support measures for R&D in industries etc.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been providing financial assistance under its Special Assistance Programme (SAP) to university departments to put in place facilities to accelerate research in the country. The UGC is continually taking steps to encourage students to undertake research work. It has started the following schemes for promoting research work in universities:  Infrastructure grants to Centre of Advanced Study (CAS)/Departmental Special Assistance (DSA)/ Departmental Research Support (DRS/Non-SAP Departments), Infrastructure grants to College with Potential for Excellence/Autonomous Colleges, Minor and Major Research Projects, Infrastructure Grants to National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accredited colleges, Networking Resources Centre, Dr. D.S Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Research Fellowship in Sciences for Meritorious Students, Basic Scientific Research, emeritus fellowships, etc.

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the overall quality of existing State higher educational institutions is sought to be improved by ensuring their conformity to prescribed norms and standards and adoption of accreditation as a mandatory quality assurance framework. RUSA *inter-alia* provides funding under the component Research, Innovation and Quality improvement.

MHRD is also funding research in the Social Sciences and Humanities through its various research councils, viz., the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and the National Council of Rural Institutes (NCRI).

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