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

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 479
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15-07-2004

FUNDING OF RESEARCH WORK

479. SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY:

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

(a) whether it is a fact that Research and delivery are most important for development of the country in view of the global research competition;

(b) whether it is a fact that most of research works in India are not funded properly by Government; and

(c) what steps Government are taking to give thrust to research and development?

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) Yes, Sir.

(b) Government is the major source of funding for research in Indian universities/laboratories/institutions.There are several S&T organizations which are funding research projects in their area of specialization e.g. Department of Biotechnology for Biotechnology; Department of Ocean Development for Ocean Sciences, Indian Council of Agricultural Research for Agricultural Sciences; Indian Council of Medical Sciences for Medical Research etc.

(c) Government organizations have identified their priority areas for supporting research and development programmes and are also organizing training courses, including schools to generate trained manpower to take up research in these areas. In addition, specialized research facilities are being set up and also fellowships are being awarded to pursue research and training in leading national and international laboratories. Government has also enhanced funding for research and development in the recent years.