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

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No.234
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24-11-2005

QUALITY OF RESEARCH

234. SHRI DATTA MEGHE:

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

(a) whether the quality and quantity of science students and research at the university level has been declining;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government have proposals to set up new institutions devoted to science education and research;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether these institutions are proposed to be located and the time by which these institutions are likely to start functioning?

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)

(a) & (b): Despite the growth of number of universities in India during the past fifty years, there has been a decline in the quality of science education and research. Some of the reasons for this decline are:-

- Poor Infrastructure
- Lack of Opportunities
- Limited funds
- Absence of a appropriate research environment

(c) to (e): The Government has approved setting up of two new institutions devoted to Science Education and Research to be named "Indian Institute of Science for Education & Research (IISER)" to be located at Pune and Kolkata. It is proposed to start the course from the academic session 2006.