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

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3460
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23-12-2008
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH BOARD
3460. SHRI K.C. PALLANI SHAMY:

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

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to establish Science and Engineering Research Board in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the functions of the Board; and
(c) the time by which the said Board is likely to be established?

ANSWER

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

(a) Yes, Sir, the Government has decided to set up a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) in the country as an autonomous body through an Act of Parliament.

(b) The SERB shall be chaired by the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Science and Technology and shall have other senior government functionaries and eminent scientists from different fields of science and technology as members. The Board shall also be advised by an Oversight Committee of Experts chaired by a scientist of international repute. SERB is being set up for promoting basic research in Science and Engineering and to provide financial assistance to scientists, academic institutions, R&D laboratories, industrial concerns and other agencies for such research. The creation of SERB, apart from significantly enhancing the level of basic research funding, shall also impart the necessary autonomy, flexibility and speed in shaping the research programmes and delivery of funds to researchers. This has become necessary to be able to effectively respond to the fast-changing contours of advanced research and ever-increasing global competition.

(c) The Science and Engineering Research Board Bill, 2008 was passed by the Lok Sabha on Dec. 12, 2008 and by the Rajya Sabha on Dec. 19, 2008. The Board will be constituted after the Act comes into force.