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

LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 175
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11-03-2008

SCIENCE MUSEUMS
175. SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government provides any financial assistance to the State Governments for      setting up Science Museums in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State-wise;
(c) whether the Union Government proposes to set up Science Museums in the country,      particularly in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 175 FOR 11.03.2008 REGARDING "SCIENCE MUSEUMS"

(a) Yes Sir, the Government of India provides 50% of the capital cost for setting up science centres/ museums in different states of the country. The balance 50% of capital cost is provided by the state government along with the required plot of land free of cost. For states in the North-East and for island territories, the contribution of the Govt. of India is 90% of the capital cost.

(b) The details are as follows :

(c) The Union Government, through Ministry of Culture, sets up science centres/ museums in various parts of the country wherever the need arises and state government undertakes to support its part. There is already a chain of 27 science centres working under the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an organization under the Ministry of Culture. There is no proposal for setting up of science museum in Aurangabad.

(d) The state-wise details of the science centres are as follows:-