India's Ranking in terms of quality of Scientific Research Institutions

RAJYA SABHA

The Government has taken various steps to rejuvenate and promote scientific research in the country. Some of these measures include:

• Induction of new and attractive fellowships for young and performing scientists;
  
• Creation of new Scientific Departments/Organisations;
  
• Setting up of centres of excellence/advanced studies/incubation centres in the universities, academic institutions and laboratories;
  
• Creation of core groups of professionals with necessary modern facilities required for pursuing research in new and frontier areas of science;
  
• Increase in the outlay for science and technology sector in successive Five Year Plans;
  
• Provision of sharing the external earnings with the scientists or innovator and its periodic revision in terms of IPR, Contract Research & Consultancy;
  
• S&T based training for entrepreneurial development;
  
• Contact programmes to attract and motivate brilliant young scientists to take up R&D as a career;
  
• Early Faculty Induction Programme, which aims at attracting bright and young under-graduate students in Engineering and Technology/Pharmacy/ Architecture, etc. to take up research as their career;
  
• Fast Track Scheme for young scientists;
  
• Financial assistance given to scientists/young researchers to participate in international conferences and training programmes abroad;
  
• Fellowships providing better opportunities for young scientists to visit international laboratories and S&T institutions
• Invitation to distinguished men and women of Indian origin settled abroad for short term technical assignments to assist in frontier and emerging areas of S&T.
  
  

According to the “Global Competitiveness Report” brought out by the World Economic Forum, India’s rank varied from 14th to 22nd during the last 5 years in terms of quality of scientific research institutions. The recent report of 2007-08 ranked India at 22nd position. The ranking of quality of scientific research institutions is based on the cross-country annual surveys conducted by the World Economic Forum.

This information was given by Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal, in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source: Press Information Bureau
Date Date: February 27, 2008