Annual Report 2000-2001

Overview

Department of Science & Technology has been making consistent efforts to keep pace with the changing global scenario by continuously updating/ restructuring its programmes to help Indian Science & Technology Promotion & Development. In its efforts in this direction, the Science & Engineering Research Council of the Department supported research programmes in advanced areas such as Nanomaterials, X-Ray Spectroscopy on Variable Energy Cyclotron, Laser Cutting of Non-Ferrous Metals and Non-Metals etc. as well as sanctioned programmes in till recently non-traditional areas such as Investigation of Aromatic & Medicinal Plants of Kumaon Region in the Himalayas, Establishment of a Germplasm Bank of Citrus in the North-East etc.

During the year, Science & Engineering Research Council approved 289 projects at a total cost of Rs. 3919.59 lakhs. The new projects supported included among others, Structural Studies on Plant Lectins, Condensed Matter Physics, Molecular Markers, Chiral Catalysis, Novel Chiral Lewis Acids for Asymmetric Synthesis, Carbohydrate Modifications for Therapeutic applications, Development of Ultra-Thin Films for Engineering Applications in Magnetic Recording and Sensing, Studies of Optical Properties of some Laser Glasses, Electro Absorption Spectroscopic Study of Solution Cast Porphyrine and Pthalocyanine Films, Nanomaterials, Post Transcriptional Regulation of Lactose in Intestinal Lactose Malabsorption, Biochemical and Genetic Analysis of Mismatch Repair Protein during Supermatogenesis in Mammals, Cloning and Functional Analysis of Heat Shock Proteins etc.

To motivate young bright minds at secondary/ college level and to encourage them to pursue studies in science and take-up science as a career, 120 students were provided fellowships under the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana launched by the Department. Also, to ensure Indian participation in International Science Olympiad, Integrated Science Olympiad programme continued to be supported in association with Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai.

Further, to motivate the young scientists to take-up R & D as a career and help them in bringing their S&T skills to International Level, programmes such as FAST-SERC Fast Track Scheme for Young Scientists, Swarnajayanti Fellowships, BOYSCAST Fellowships, Contact Programmes and Fellowships through State S&T Councils/ Departments were supported. FAST was launched during the year to enable young scientists in pursuing innovative research ideas and thus involving them in S&T development process.

Swarnajayanti Fellowships were awarded to two Young Brilliant Scientists. 675 projects were received under FAST Scheme launched recently out of which 105 have been approved so far. 39 brilliant young scientists were selected for the award of this BOYSCAST fellowship. The discipline of Science & Technology included among others Advanced Materials (Carbon Nanotubes and Fullerenes), Smart Sensors and Materials, Modelling in Earth System Science, Modeling for New Drug Development, Transgenesis/ Reproduction Technology, Brain Mapping etc.

Under the Contact Programmes, young scientists are brought in contact with the eminent scientists and institutions where they are given training in modern technologies in various disciplines in Science & Technology. 285 persons benefited in 12 contact programmes organised during the year.

During Seventh Five Year Plan, the Department introduced a new Programme on "Utilisation of the Scientific Expertise of Retired Scientists (USERS)" which aims at utilising the expertise and potential of a large number of retired eminent scientists by providing support to them in preparation of books/ monographs/ state-of-art reports. During the year, 21 new projects were sanctioned and 7 publications were brought out as a result of projects supported under the scheme. The publications brought out during the year were in the areas such as Monograph on Bihar Hairy Caterpillar; State-of-Art Report on Production of Ornamental Plants in India; Recent Advances in Agrochemicals; Introduction to Mushroom Science; Economic Plants of North East India; and a book on Plant Animal Interaction.

DST's efforts in strengthening the infrastructural facilities and research capabilities were continued by active support to programmes such as Intensification of Research in High Priority Areas (IRHPA), Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Centres (RSICs) and Sophisticated Instrumentation Facilities (SIFs) and Fund for Improvement of S & T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST). IRHPA programme, which supports the setting-up of Research Units/ Core Groups around eminent scientists and Major National Research Facilities, sanctioned the following new programmes:

• Research Support Facility for Ferromagnetic Fluids (Bhavnagar University)
  
• Facility for Structural Biology (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore)
  
• Centre for Non-Accelerator Particle Physics (Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore)
  
• Biomedical Resonance Research Facility (SG PG Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow)
  
• NMR Facility (Madurai Kamraj University, Madurai & University of Poona, Pune)
  
• Single Crystal X-Ray Diffractometer (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore)
  
• Phytochemical Research Facility ( Kumaon University, Nainital)

In addition to providing sophisticated instrumentation facilities, RSICs/SIFs also undertook developmental work related to scientific measurements/ methods. The development work undertaken by these included Improved Pulsed Scheme for Hetero Nuclear Dipolar Coupling Measurements, New Method for Quantum Logic Gates and Quantum Algorithm, Setting the magic angle for Solid State NMR and Detection of Heavy Metal Toxicity and Trace Metal Deficiency in Wild Animals of North East.

A major initiative for rebuilding the S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions, FIST was launched during the year. Under this new programme out of the 1158 proposals received for support in two levels, the Advisory Board has recommended the support to 221 proposals (186 Level I, 35 Level II) at a total budget of Rs. 111.93 crore ( 69.14 crore Level I, 42.79 crore Level II) for five years.

588 scientists including 124 young scientists were provided Partial Financial Support for participation in conferences abroad. This helps the scientists get an exposure at international level where they can discuss their research findings for critical evaluation and review.

National Science & Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS ) continued its efforts of generating and making available information on resources both manpower as well as financial devoted to scientific and technological activities by conducting national surveys both through in-house as well as sponsored studies. The S&T Data Book 2000, brought out during the year, covers time series data in variety and form on input resources (both manpower & financial) deployed in S&T activities in the country, their international comparisons, and some related socio-economic parameters of relevance. Further, two new initiatives on "National Survey on Quantification of R&D Activities in Academic Sector" and "Large Scale Sample Survey at National Level to Quantify R&D Activities in Small Scale Industries" were also launched.

Under Technology Development Programme, new instruments/ systems viz. Smally Type Molecular Beam Apparatus, Remote Afterloading System for Treatment of Carcinoma Cervix Uteri, Deuterium Lamp, Micro Hardness Tester were developed. Also, know-how of instruments such as Remote Afterloading System in Treatment of Carcinoma Cervix Uteri, Online Energy Monitoring System, Low Cost Vibrating Sample Magnetometer were transferred to industries.

The Technology Development Board signed 10 Agreements with commercial enterprises involving a total project cost of around Rs. 118.33 crore. The Board sanctioned a loan assistance of Rs. 28.97 crore. The projects supported included Development and Manufacture of Natural Beta Carotene, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Starch Derivatives, Surface Engineering through Detonation Coating Gun, Abrasive Silica and Papain from Papaya. The Board also signed an agreement with Unit Trust of India for partnering with UTI in floating "India Technology Venture Capital Scheme".

Inter-Sectoral Science and Technology Advisory Committees (IS-STAC) in the Department continued to provide S&T inputs to Science & Technology Advisory Committees (STAC) set-up in 24 Socio-Economic Ministries in evolving and monitoring Joint Technology Programmes The major projects recommended for support included De-Ironing of Eastern Ghats Bauxite, Studies for Development of Pressure Swing Adsorption Technology for Purification of Crude Helium, Radon/Helium Monitoring in Thermal Springs.

Under the Jai Vigyan Technology mission, a project on Natural Hazards Assessment in Himalayas, activities were initiated to set-up Geophysical Research Laboratory in Allahabad.

Sugar Technology Mission continued to support the technology upgradation in sugar factories. Under this scheme, technology upgradation loans have been sanctioned for 10 factories by Sugar Development Fund and Financial Institutions. Sugar Technology Mission has taken-up assessment of 4 new technologies and systems for the purpose of evaluation of their suitability for adoption by Commercial Sugar Factories.

Under Advanced Composites Mission Programme, development of a number of products for Railways and Rehabilitation of Orthopaedically Handicapped persons were developed. These included FRP Sleepers for Railway Girded Bridges, Jute-Coir Composite Boards, Carbon Fibre Composites for Orthopaedics, Energy Efficient FRP Flow Axial Fans, FRP Pultruded Profiles. Development of some more products for applications in aeronautics and Railways and other Industries are being developed.

Fly Ash Mission since its inception, has continued to support projects for establishing the potential use of fly ash for various applications such as in Building Materials, agricultural and engineering applications. As per the latest estimates, about 13% of the fly ash generated in the country is being used for gainful applications, compared to only about 3-4% in 1993-94.

Drugs and Pharmaceuticals: The scheme was initiated in 1994-95 for promoting indigenous R&D in drugs and pharmaceuticals. During the year, 3 new projects were sanctioned at a total cost of Rs. 147/- Lakh in the areas of Design, Synthesis and Bioactivity Determination of Antagonist Analogs and Mimetics of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptides for Cancer Therapy; New Anti-Cancer Compounds - design, synthesis, screening and optimisation through QSAR; Rational Design Synthesis of New Anti microbial macrolides; and Design, Synthesis & Biological Evaluation of New Anti-Tubercular Compounds. During the year, the Project Investigators out of the various projects supported under this programme filed 4 product patents and 3 process patents in India and abroad.

Societal Progrmmes of the Department are directed towards the upliftment of weaker sections of the society through inputs of science & technology. Under this programme projects are supported to develop the skills of persons belonging to weaker sections of society so that they can derive benefits in terms of enhanced income, reduced drudgery and in general improved quality of life. In addition, Rural Technology Parks are also being set-up in North-Eastern States, as a nucleus of Science & Technology for Technology Empowerment of Poor People in terms of appropriate technology, back-up and management support/ services in various sectors like Information technology, Watershed Management, Agro Forestry Processing, Sustainable Agriculture, Horticulture and Bamboo Farming, Rural Energy & Environment.

NSTEDB through its specially designed programmes has been making concerted efforts for fostering entrepreneurship among S & T persons and also improving technical skills of people to make them employable. The new initiatives taken-up during the year included "Business Mantra" - A TV Serial on entrepreneurship and a portal for meeting the information requirements of an entrepreneur such as appropriate technology, technology services, financial information including Loans, Venture Capital, Incentives and Government Policies etc. This will greatly reduce the problems being faced by a prospective entrepreneur.

Science Popularisation programmes of the Department are focused towards taking science to the masses by utilising different techniques, media, language and style of presentation. To inculcate scientific temper among students and to encourage them to relate learning of science to the environment around and to quench their thrust for curiosity and creativity National Children Science Congress Programme was started. Selected projects at the National Children's Science Congress are presented in the School Education Session of the Indian Science Congress.

Natural Resources Data Management System Programme is a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary programme to develop methodologies and techniques for operationalising the concept of micro level planning. The programme aims at setting-up district level resource databases and demonstrating their utility in local level planning, developing Spatial Decision Support Systems, promoting R&D in spatial data technologies and training of potential end-users. During the year under report, a Planning Atlas of Kheda District of Gujarat was brought out for use by the concerned District Authorities. A multimedia GIS Tutor has been developed around GRAM++ GIS package to facilitate the training of users on the principles and applications of GIS Technology. three District GIS Centres were set-up.

The Department under its programme of providing assistance to the State S&T Councils and Departments set-up in the States and Union Territories, continued to provide guidance and support to these S&T State Councils/ Departments in drawing-up location/region specific programmes for the benefit of the people in their respective areas.

International Bilateral Cooperation in Science & Technology was strengthened and diversified by finalizing new programmes of cooperation and identifying the new and fruitful areas of cooperation. The bilateral cooperation with Russia got a boost with the inauguration of Indo-Russian Advanced Computing Research Centre in Moscow. A new chapter was added in the history of bilateral cooperation with USA by the signing of an Agreement for the establishment of Indo-US Science & Technology Forum.

The Autonomous Research Institutions under the Department of Science & Technology continued research & development work in the areas of their responsibilities. Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology launched a major programme for implementing Quality System in its Biomedical Technology Wing with the objective of getting accreditation as a test laboratory for the evaluation of biomaterials and medical devices as per ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines. NABL programme under the umbrella of the Department was evaluated by a four member team from Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) was found to be qualified for Mutual Recognition Arrangement under a Multilateral Recognition Agreement of Accreditation Bodies. TIFAC in its enedeavour launched a number of programmes as a follow up action of Vision 2020 programme in the different areas identified by it.

Scientific Services in the area of meteorology, weather forecasting, survey and planning and printing/publication of atlases/ maps were continued to be supported. IMD is implementing a major programme entitled "Andhra Pradesh Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Cyclone Recovery". Immediately after the devastating earthquake of January 26, 200, IMD set-up three temporary field observatories for recording the aftershock activity in the area. NCMRWF besides developing Weather Prediction Models and providing weather forecasts continued to provide Agrometeorological Services through its 127 AAS Units for the benefit of the farmers. Survey of India through its network of offices all over the country continued to explore and map suitably the country's domain so as to provide a vast variety of maps for expeditious development, security and prosperity of the Country. The Survey of India also continued conducting Geodetical & Geophysical and Topographical Surveys.