GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2214
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.3.2007

PACE OF RESEARCH WORK IN BASIC SCIENCES
2214. SHRI RAM JETHMALANI:
SHRI RAJ MOHINDER SINGH MAJITHA:

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

(a) whether it is a fact that the pace of research and exploration work in the field of basic science has become slow in the country in the last few years;
(b) if not, the facts in this regard;
(c) whether it is a fact that University Grants Commission has given certain suggestions to bring improvement in this field;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) what steps have been taken by Government to implement the said suggestions?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) & (b): No, Sir. Participation in basic science research at global level is usually measured by number of research papers published in cited international journals. The number of research papers published by Indian scientists has increased from 15699 in 2003 to 16001 in 2004 and, further, to 19448 in 2005.

(c) & (d): However, to further boost basic science research, especially in the universities, the Government of India constituted a high-level Task Force. The Task Force has made several suggestions like filling up of vacant sanctioned faculty positions in universities, creation of large number of Research Scientist positions, linkage between universities and national laboratories, organization of summer and winter schools, providing enhanced funding for research etc. The University Grants Commission is implementing the recommendations of the Task Force.

(e) A number of steps have already been taken by the Government of India to rejuvenate and promote basic science research in universities and other scientific institutions. The Research Infrastructure programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Special Assistance Programme of the University Grants Commission (UGC) are targeted programmes to upgrade the laboratory infrastructure in universities and other higher educational institutions. Several centres of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas have also been established. Various agencies of Government of India have now attractive scholarship, fellowship and research support schemes for scientific manpower of all ages starting right from the school level.

More recently, the Government has set up three new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) at Kolkata, Pune and Mohali. A National Institute of Science Education and Research is also being set up at Bhubaneswar. These institutes, apart from carrying out frontline and internationally competitive research, would offer integrated M.Sc. programmes in a multi-disciplinary and academically flexible and research-oriented environment.

The Government, in the XI Plan, is also proposing to launch a new scheme called INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research). The main features of the proposed scheme will be: (1) innovation funding in schools (one million young innovators); (2) summer camp with science ions (for high performers); (3) assured opportunity schemes for proven talent force; and, (4) retention of talent in public funded research through public-private partnerships. In addition, another new scheme on Scholarships for Science in Higher Education will be initiated in the XI Plan. The scheme targets institution of 10,000 fellowships of Rs. 1,00,000/- per year for bright students in science streams during their B.Sc/M.Sc courses.