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

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 405
TO BE ANSWERED ON 3rd MARCH 2005

Plan allocation for Scientific Department

405. Shri T.T.V. DHINAKARAN:

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

whether it is a fact that plan allocation for Scientific Departments have doubled during the tenth plan;

if so, the details thereof;

whether new schemes have been introduced in areas of Research and Development during the tenth plan; and

if so, details thereof?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT

(SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)

Yes Sir.

The Government has placed an outlay of Rs.25,243.00 crores in the Tenth Five Year Plan for the Central Scientific Departments namely Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Ocean Development, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research and Department of Space, as against an outlay of Rs.12,022.17 crores during the Ninth Five Year Plan. The allocation for the Tenth Five Year Plan is more than double the allocation made during the Ninth Five Year Plan, which indicates Government’s commitment of development of science and technology.

( c) & (d) Some of the important schemes being taken up during the tenth plan for research and development by the scientific departments are as following :-

Department of Science and Technology - Seismology, technology for bamboo applications, synergy projects, nano science & technology, etc.

Department of Biotechnology – Stem cell research, human genetics, food and nutritional biotechnology, development of improved crop varieties, etc..

Department of Scientific & Industrial Research – Technology promotion, development and utilization programme, upgradation and upscaling of solar photovoltaic operations, fifty five new projects in networked mode.

Department of Ocean Development - Comprehensive swath bathymetric survey of Indian exclusive economic zone, gas-hydrate exploration & technology development for exploitation, acquisition of new research vessel, geophysical study of Laxmi basin.

Department of Atomic Energy – Advanced reactors design and development, research and development in radiation technology for food preservation, health care, water desalination and farm products, etc. CIRUS reactor utilization programme, micro/nano technology, laser technology for industrial applications, low temperature physics and superconductivity, etc.

Department of Space – Chandrayaan (India’s first scientific mission to moon), ASTROSAT (Multi-wavelength Indian X-ray astronomy satellite), Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), Advanced Meteorological Satellite, GSLV Mk III and an integrated programme on reusable launch vehicles.