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

LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION No.36
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16-11-2007

ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS/STUDENTS

36. SHRI P. C. THOMAS:

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

(a) whether Government has any proposal to encourage/promote young scientists including students who discover and continue research with their new technologies;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government organised competitions to trace out such talent; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?

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 THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.36 FOR ANSWER ON 16-11-2007 REGARDING ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS/STUDENTS

(a) to (d): Developing and nurturing of human resource in Science & Technology has always been on top of the Government's agenda. A number of schemes have been instituted by the Government for encouraging Young Scientists, and also for talented students in the form of SERC Programme for Young Scientists and Fellowships like Swarnajayanthi Fellowships, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Fellowships, KS Krishnan Fellowships, Ramanna Fellowships and J.C. Bose & Ramanujam Fellowships for practicing young scientists & technologists, and CSIR programme on Youth for leadership in Science (CPYLS), Diamond Jubilee Research Interns Award Scheme, Junior/Senior Research Fellowships (JRF/SRF), Biotechnology Post Doctoral Research Associateship & Overseas Fellowships , Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY), National Science Olympiad Programme etc. for attracting and retaining young talented students in R&D. In addition, the young scientists including students have been exposed to new technologies through schools, workshops etc. to encourage them to discover and/or experiment on new technologies including the emerging fields like nanoscience & nanotechnology, biotechnology etc.

The Government, in the XI Plan is launching 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 icons (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 (SHE) 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. These initiatives are aimed at generating interest in youth to conduct more and more research and produce valuable results.

The identification and selection of talent in these fellowships/ schemes is through a rigorous competitive process including peer review.