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

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3225
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23-4-2008

SHORTAGE OF EMINENT SCIENTISTS IN R&D IN SCIENCE RELATED BODIES

3225. Dr. V. MAITREYAN:

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

(a) whether it is a fact that there is huge shortage of qualified and eminent personnel in the field of Research and Development (R&D) in various sections of science related bodies;
(b) if so, the reasons for this pathetic situation;
(c) what steps are being taken to identify more qualified personnel for recruitment in R&D work;
(d) whether Government is planning to give attractive package to the R&D personnel in order to attract them to these activities; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The Department of Space, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and other scientific organisations have been experiencing a gap in supply and demand of qualified R&D personnel for the various programmes. This situation has emerged mainly because of better career prospects and remunerative packages being offered by the other sectors of the economy.

(c) to (e): To remedy this situation, the Department of Space (DOS) has set up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), the Department of Atomic Energy has set up a National Institute of Science, Education & Research (NISER) apart from setting up of five Indian Institutes of Science, Education & Research (IISERs) by the Government at Pune, Mohali, Kolkata, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram to ensure steady flow of young talent for carrying out R&D.

The Government is cognisant of this situation and has also taken various other measures to attract the R&D personnel. These measures include:

• Induction of new and attractive fellowships
• Setting up of centres of excellence/advanced studies in the universities, academic institutions and laboratories;Invitation to distinguished men and women of Indian origin settled abroad for short term technical assignments to assist in frontier and emerging areas of S&T;
  
• Fast Track Scheme for Young Scientists;
  
• Better Opportunities for Young Scientists in Chosen Areas of Science and Technology;
  
• Contact programmes to attract and motivate brilliant young scientists to take up R&D as a career;
  
• Scientists are given financial assistance to participate in international conferences and training programmes abroad;
  
• Attractive incentives to the scientists including higher salaries with two addition increments and professional update allowance in the Fifth Pay Commission