Annual Report 2006-2007

Administration and Finance

Recruitment Cell

Recruitment Cell in this Department is vested with the responsibility of making recruitment to Group 'A' Scientific and Technical posts as recruitment to these posts is exempted from the purview of UPSC. The recruitment is made by the method of direct recruitment or deputation (including short-term contract) or absorption as prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for relevant posts. Recruitment Cell also handles in -situ promotions of departmental scientists under the Flexible Complementing Scheme (FCS). In-situ promotions under FCS are considered twice before 1st January and 1st July every year. Besides, Recruitment Cell also deals with the proposals regarding recognition of Institutions/ Organizations under various Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India as scientific and technical for the purpose or introduction of FCS.

DST has a total number of215 Group 'A' and Group 'B' (Gazetted) Officers. A details breakup is given below:

During the year, recruitment has been made to three posts of Scientist 'c' on direct recruitment basis and one post of Research Associate-Ion contract basis. Besides, action has been taken to make recruitment to five posts of Scientist 'c' on direct recruitment basis and four posts of Scientific Attache on deputation (including short-term contract basis).

The Assessment of eligible Departmental Scientists for in-situ promotion under FCS as on 01.07.2006 was done and assessment due as on 01.01.2007 is under process.

Training Cell

Department of Science & Technology, in consultation with DOPT, other Scientific Departments and various organizations, embarked on an ambitious project of Human Resource Development namely "National Programme for Training of Scientists and Technologists working in the Government sector" for scientific and technical personnel during the X Plan to meet the challenges of national development and international competitiveness in S&T area.

The large pool of scientific and technical manpower in Government and Government-sponsored institutions so far did not have the benefit of either comprehensive induction/foundation training or a system of regular in-service training. Such training is available to officers of the cadre-based Central and All-India Services. Though various Departments imparted some training to the scientists based on the immediate organizational goals, however, there was an emergent need for an umbrella training scheme which could empower S&T personnel in Government Sector in holistic manner.

25 Training Programmes have been successfully conducted during 2006-2007 and 540 Scientists have been trained. Of these 25 programmes; 2 were conducted by National Institute of Advance Studies (NIAS), Bangalore; 6 were conducted by Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) New Delhi; 17 were conducted by Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) Hyderabad.

Under the Foreign Training Component, 24 junior scientists were deputed for 2-week training in Taiwan & Singapore and 17 Senior Scientists were deputed for 2-week training in Kennedy School of Government, Harward University, USA during the current financial year 2006-07.

The details are as under:

The partner institutes for providing training areas are as follows:

Amount Released to ASCI, Hyderabad = Rs. 1,25,51,176/-
Amount Released to IIPA, New Delhi = Rs. 77,79,212/-
Amount Released to NIAS, Bangalore = Rs. 27,00,000/-
Total = Rs. 2,30,30,388/-

Library

The DST Library continued providing Library, Documentation and Information Services using state-ofart information technology to the Officers and Staff Members of the Department. The Library undertook following activities during the period under report:

• Collection Development

Collection of books/reports was enriched by acquiring, processing and making available to its users around 300 books/ monographs on different subjects. In addition to this, around 120 books received on Gratis were also processed and made available to the users. Bibliographic details of all the books acquired by the Library were ported on to the newly acquired Library Management System- 'LIBSYS Premia' and are accessible to the DST Officers and staff members on intranet through Web OPAC. Library continued subscribing to 118 scientific/ technical journals and processing and making these available to its users.

• Documentation/ Information Services

The day-to-day information requirements of the users were also fulfilled expeditiously and exhaustively. Current Awareness Service, Newspaper Clippings Service, Photocopying Service, and Literature Searches to meet the specific needs of the users were also provided. Internet based information service was provided by searching the appropriate information available on the Internet and making it available after proper selection and editing.

E-mail based information service was also provided to the users on topics of general interest to them. To supplement the resources of DST Library, Interlibrary Lending Service was extended to the users by borrowing books/ journals from other Libraries and in turn supplying books on Interlibrary Loan to these Libraries as per their requirements.

• Modernisation of DST Library

The catalogue of Library Books and database on Current Articles compiled on the basis of Journals acquired by DST Library was enriched by adding entries relevant to the documents procured/processed by the Library and the access to these is now available to the users of Library over Intranet using Web OPAC.

The day-to-day activities of the Library are also performed using the latest computers. Almost all the professional/Semi-Professinal staff members are working on computers both in Hindi and English Languages. All the routine Library Forms are available in machine-readable form both in Hindi and English.

Parliament Unit

The Parliament Unit is assigned with the responsibility of handling entire parliamentary work of the Department. It ensures that the parliamentary work pertaining to the Ministry of Science & Technology is accomplished as per the prescribed schedule and procedures. The Unit maintains liaison with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Secretariats of Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha, other Ministries/Departments (including Scientific Departments) with a view to fully discharge the parliamentary obligations of the Ministry of Science & Technology. The Unit also coordinates the visits of the Parliamentary Committees to various scientific institutions which are under the administrative control of this Department. The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Science & Technology & Environment & Forests recently visited the Indian Institute of Astrophysics' Office at Leh during June, 2006

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests met on 7th April, 2006 to discuss the Demands for Grants for the year 2006-07 of the Department and submitted its recommendation in its 155th report presented to the Parliament on 18th May, 2006. The Action Taken Report on the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee was also submitted to the Secretariat of the Committee as per schedule.

Department Of Science II Technology (Hindi Section)

For implementation of the Official Language Policy of the Government, there is a Hindi Section in the Department. During the period under report, concerted efforts were made for implementing the provisions of Official Language Act and rules made there under and orders/instructions issued by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time regarding progressive use of Hindi in the official work of the Government of India. During the year, following activities were carried out:

• All general orders, annual report, performance budget, cabinet notes. agreements etc. continued to be issued bilingually i.e. both in Hindi and English.
• Letters received in Hindi were invariably replied to in Hindi. An Incentive Scheme for original noting/ drafting in official work in Hindi is in vogue in this Department.
• Departmental quarterly "T arang" is being published regularly with adequate priority to scientific 6 technical articles.
• With a view to encourage original scientific writing in Hindi, the DST introduced "Dr. Meghnad Saha Award Scheme". Under the scheme. books written in the year 2003 and 2004 were invited. A total of 34 books were received under this scheme out of which 8(nine) books were selected finally for award.
• 'Hindi Week' was organized from 14th to 22nd September. 2008 in the Ministry of Science 6 Technology. During this week, 8 competitions on different subjects were organized and 80 officers/staff were given prizes.
• During the year, 2 employees were nominated for Hindi typing training.
• One Hindi workshop was organized during the year in which 20 officers/staff were trained. . The officers of Hindi Section conducted inspections of " subordinate offices regarding progressive use of Hindi.
• The 23rd and 24th meetings of Joint Hindi Advisory Committee of Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences were held on 20th may, 2008 and 18th December, 2008 respectively in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Shri Kapil Sibal. Hon'ble Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.
• During the year. the second sub committee of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language carried out official language inspection of DST and its four autonomous institutes.

Welfare Cell

The Department of Science and Technology is mainly concerned about the welfare of its employees. A Senior Officer of the rank of director has been designated as Welfare Office and a Cell is working under his supervision and guidance. A Benevolent Fund has been created with active participation and contribution of the employees of Department of Science and Technology(DST) and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). Financial Assistance is given ITom the fund to the members or their dependents to help them out in distress; A Charitable Homeopathic Dispensary, Fitness Centre with modern facilities are functioning in DST Complex, which takes care of the health and fitness of employees. Besides the above, a duly elected Sports and Recreation club is functioning in this Department and its members take part in various sports and cultural activities in the Inter-Ministerial Cricket, Volleyball & Table Tennis Tournaments/ Competitions etc. and have won several medals/prizes during the current financial year, 2006-2007. The DST Cricket team were declared joint winners with the IMD in the Annual Survey General Cricket Tournament held at Dehradun in May, 2006.

Implementation of RTI Act, 2005 in the Deptt. of Science & Technology

As per the provisions contained in the RTI Act 2005 following officers have been designated as Appellate
Authority & CPIO/nodal officers for implementation of the Act:

1. Shri Sanjiv Nair, Joint Secretary (A) Appellate Authority in DST under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005
2. Shri Rakesh Bhartiya, Deputy Secretary Central Public Information Officer & Nodal Officer for Implementation of the RTI Act 2005
3. Coordination Section, DST has been entrusted with the issues related to RTI

All the applications seeking information under RTI are received by CPIO/Coordination Section and there after the same are sent to the concerned Head of Division/Section for sending requisite information to the applicant with in the stipulated time & as per provisions of the Act. DST fulfilled such obligations with regard to 105 requests received during 2006-2007.

DST Website

www.dst.gov.in is the official website of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, if continued to provide an overview about the scientific and technology oriented programmes like- Information about the scientific services organizations, Aided Institutions, S&T Professional Bodies and Statutory Bodies under DST. The website also provides latest and updated information about current news pertaining to S&T. Information Technology Team of the Department started encouraging S&T programme divisions to have their detailed websites.

Integrated Finance Division

The Integrated Finance Division (IFD) of DST has been entrusted with the responsibility of providing advice and support on all financial matters and monitoring the progress of expenditure on various activities. The mandate of this Division is also to inter-alia scrutinize budget proposals thoroughly before sending these to the Ministry of Finance and to see that complete departmental accounts are maintained in accordance with the requirements under the General Financial Rules. The DST was allocated an amount of Rs. 1367.00 crores (Plan) and Rs. 419.26 crores (Non Plan) for the year 2006-07. The Budget for 2007-08 is Rs. 1787.30 crores (Rs. 1526.00 crores - Plan - and Rs. 261.30 crores - Non-Plan). Summary of Financial requirement is placed in the succeeding pages.