YEAR END REVIEW - 2009

Department of Science & Technology established in 1971 has been playing a pivotal role in the promotion of science & technology in the country. It is the main Extra Mural Research Funding agency of India. In the changing context, the department is currently embracing a proactive and participative role in revitalizing the science and technology base of the Nation. Focus of various programmes of the department during 2009 includes attraction of young talent in science, improvement of Science & Technology infrastructure in Universities including women only universities, mounting the national mission on Nano Science & Technology, working towards a draft national innovation act, solar energy research initiative, technology mission on water, two National Missions on Climate change and data sharing policy. A brief description of the above Flagship Programmes of the department is given below:

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)

The Department of Science & Technology has mounted a special scholarship scheme titled “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research” (INSPIRE) to attract talented youth to study and careers with science. The main features of the INSPIRE are: a) Scheme for Early Attraction of Talents for Science (SEATS) providing Science innovation scholarship of Rs 5000 for a total of one million young learners of the age group 10-15 years once in their school career during the next five years for experiencing the joy of innovations. About 1000 young people in each category would be considered under this program. All the above components have been set in motion with full momentum. A total of 2200 Inspire scholars have already been selected.

Fund for Improvement of S&T infrastructure in universities and higher educational institutions (FIST)

In order to meet diverse challenges in S&T, the Department recognized the need of strengthening the existing S&T infrastructure support system in the universities and other related institutions. This led to the inception of a major initiative titled “Fund for Improvement of S&T infrastructure in universities and higher educational institutions (FIST)” to rebuild the Science & Technology infrastructure.

Since inception of the FIST scheme, during last 9 years more than 1264 Departments spread over to 329 academic institutions have been identified at a total support of about Rs 880 crores. In a proactive measure, the Department has announced a special package for North East Region for strengthening Science and Technology education and research at a total budgetary provision of Rs. 70 crore for 5 years. Special focus is also being planned for J & K State. The Program scope would also be extended for supporting departments in the Colleges at the Under-graduate level.

The program has a two-tier evaluation and monitoring mechanism i.e. Subject Expert Committees & FIST Advisory Board (FISTAB). FISTAB is the apex body consisting of eminent scientists and technologists drawn from various institutions in the country.

Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE)

The Department, under infrastructure strengthening programmes, has mounted an initiative to provide incentive grant system for universities based on the evidence of scientific publications during the period 1996-2006. The programme provides research incentive grant at levels of Rs.10 crores, Rs. 5 crores, Rs.3 crores and Rs.2 crores per year to 14 universities based on objective criteria namely, H indices based on research publications in the last ten years. The programme bears an outlay of Rs.200 crores for the next three years. The first year release of Rs. 69 crore has already been made to 14 universities.

Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence (CURIE)

In 2009, the Department of Science and Technology launched a special initiative, namely, Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence (CURIE) to improve the R & D infrastructure of ‘Women Universities’. Two Women Universities have already been supported, namely, Banasthali University, Banasthali and Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore with a grant of Rs. 5.50 crore each for 3 years. This new initiative is expected to make an impact on the quality of research output from these universities.

National Mission on Nano Science & Technology (Nano Mission)

Nano mission was mounted on 3rd May 2007 through a cabinet decision with an allocation of Rs.1000 crores. Under the nano mission several new initiatives have been taken. An Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) has been approved at Mohali as part of the Knowledge City and co-located with IISER-Mohali. INST-Mohali would focus on agri and bio-nanotechnologies. Another Institute of Nano Science and Technology, as a center of JNCASR, Bangalore, is in advanced stages of approval and is expected to be established this year.

Innovation Policy

The Department has been engaged towards evolving a National Innovation Policy. A draft National Innovation Act has been prepared and placed on Department’s web-site for comments.

The Department has initiated Innovation Clusters scheme during 11th Plan. The scheme envisions to ‘strengthen institutions, support systems and their inter-linkages that will enable Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) among select MSME clusters to innovate thus leading to enhanced competitiveness, employment generation and poverty alleviation’.

Solar Energy Research Initiative

Department of Science & Technology under Solar Energy Research Initiative aims at improving efficiency of devices, systems and sub-systems; Innovative R&D demonstration projects for 24x7 oH grid power supply and forging inter-institutional linkages to develop critical mass of manpower for Solar Energy Research.

The Department has initiated a Nationally Coordinated Programme on Solar Energy Research synergizing strengths of leading Indian Technological Institutes. Four rounds of interactions amongst different IITs and DST have resulted in how IITs could synergise their strengths in achieving this national objective.

Technology Mission: “Winning, Augmentation and Renovation for Water” (WAR for Water)

On the directive of the Hon. Supreme Court of India, the Department of Science and Technology has initiated a Technology Mission – ‘Winning, Augmenting and Renovation for Water’ (WAR for Water) aiming to undertake research-led technological solutions on war footing for different water challenges being faced by the people of India. The Technology Mission ‘WAR for Water’ is developed on the principle to provide timely, urgent, cost effective, socially viable and sustainable techno-management solutions for solving problems of water scarcity by exploring, scouting and sourcing of technologies available and accessible from the global experience under real life situations.

Coordination of National Missions on Climate Change under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

The Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating two out of eight national missions on climate change as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) unveiled by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 30th June, 2008. These are:

• National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)
• National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC)

The board objectives of NMSHE include - understanding of the complex processes affecting the Himalayan Eco system and evolve suitable management and policy measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan eco-system,

The NMSKCC has been launched with the broad objectives of mapping of the knowledge and data resources relevant to climate change and positioning of a data sharing policy framework for building strategic knowledge among the various arms of the Government.

As per the mechanism set out by the NAPCC, the missions will be periodically monitored and progress evaluated by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change from time to time.

Policy for Data Sharing and Accessibility

There is a large data generated at the cost of public funds by various organizations and institutions in the country. Some of this data, which is non sensitive in nature can be used by public for scientific, economic and developmental purposes. Keeping in view the above, the Department of Science and Technology proposes to develop a national policy for data sharing and accessibility.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : January 11, 2010