Question : SETTING UP OF SCIENCE CENTRES

(a) whether the Government has proposed to set up Regional Science Centres and pplanetariums across the country;

(b) if so, the State-wise the number of Science Centres and planetariums set up in the country especially in various districts of Karnataka and Gujarat;

(c) the action taken by the Government to set up more such science centres and planetariums in each States/UT and the funds allocated and expenditure incurred thereon during the last three years;

(d) the present status of the proposed science centres in various States and the time period for likely completion of each project, State- wise; and

(e) the details of activities undertaken by these science centres and planetariums for

(f) promoting scientific approach and aptitude among the people during the last three years

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) CULTURE & TOURISM AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR CIVIL AVIATION (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

a) Yes Madam,National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous Organization under the Ministry of Culture is engaged in establishment of Science Centres throughout the country. The Science Centres/Cities projects are taken up by NCSM in a phased manner depending upon the availability of resources, project-handling capacity of NCSM and the existing level of Science centre activities in a particular State.

b) State-wise details of Science Centres including those in Karnataka and Gujarat are annexed at Annexure-I &II

c) List of Science Centre/Cities projects which have been/shall be taken up during 12th Plan Period and there after in a phased manner and the funds allocated and expenditure incurred thereon during the last three years are annexed at Annexure III & IV respectively.

d) Such science cities/centres will be set up by NCSM within 54 months (for Science Cities)/33 months (for Regional Science Centres) / 27 months (for Sub-Regional Science Centres ) from the date of start of work after the project is finalized by the respective State Govern- ment and infrastructure facilities like land etc. are made available to NCSM.

e) In order to popularize science and technology amongst people, these Science Centres in addition to exhibition galleries, organized travelling exhibitions, seminars, popular lectures, science camps, science fairs, training programmes etc., for teachers, students, house wives etc., and such other out of school educational activities apart from administering the science centres during the last three years