MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a):The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that the total number of students enrolled in M. Phil and Ph. D programmes in private universities is 2314 and 11946 respectively. University-wise break up is at Annexure. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has reported that it has funded 126 research projects in 38 private/deemed to be universities in frontier areas of Science and Engineering. Private universities also undertake other research efforts like publication of research papers, filing of patents etc. However, UGC has reported that data is not maintained separately for private universities.
(b): Private universities are eligible to apply to the UGC for teacher and student oriented schemes including schemes aimed at promoting research provided these universities are eligible to receive funding under section 12B of the UGC Act. Under the UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium programme, the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre has initiated its Associate Membership Programme with an aim to extend access to e-resources subscribed by the Consortium to private universities and other research institutions.
(c): No, Madam. The UGC has reported that the number of science students enrolled in universities and colleges in regular programmes has increased from 36,40,707 in 2011-12 to 40,00,876 in 2012-13. As per information provided by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), interest in scientific research and development activities, supporting strategic sectors like the Indian Space Programme, is on the increase.
(d):No, Madam. As per information available with DST, India`s performance in science sector has been improving in recent years and its position in research publications has improved from 10th position in 2006 to 9th position in 2010. DST has also reported that India has emerged as third country in nano sciences and fifth in the world in Chemistry with respect to scientific publications.
(e):The Government has taken various measures for the promotion and growth of research in the country. In scientific areas, these include the continuous increase in successive plan allocations for scientific departments, the setting up of new institutions for science education and research, the creation of centres of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas in academic and national institutes, the establishment of new and attractive fellowships, strengthening of the infrastructure of Research & Development (R&D) in universities, encouraging public-private R&D partnerships, the recognition of R&D units and national awards for outstanding R&D for industries etc. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had set up a Task Force for rejuvenation of Basic Scientific Research in Indian Universities which was subsequently converted into an Empowered Committee to implement the recommendations of the Task Force.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been providing financial assistance under its Special Assistance Programme (SAP) to university departments to put in place facilities to accelerate research in the country. The UGC is continually taking steps to encourage students to undertake research work. It has started the following schemes for promoting research work in universities: Infrastructure grants to Centre of Advanced Study (CAS)/ Departmental Special Assistance (DSA)/ Departmental Research Support (DRS/Non-SAP Departments), Infrastructure grants to College with Potential for Excellence / Autonomous Colleges, Minor and Major Research Projects, Infrastructure to National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Accredited Colleges, Networking Resources Centre, Dr. D. S Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Research Fellowship in Sciences for Meritorious Students, Basic Scientific Research etc. In addition, the UGC is providing fellowships to those candidates who have qualified the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET)/UGC- CSIR NET.
MHRD has also launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) namely Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), which inter-alia provides funding under the component Research, Innovation and Quality improvement.
The JC Bose, Ramanujan and Ramalingaswami Fellowships of the Government have attracted outstanding Indian scientists and engineers to take up research in the country. The recently introduced Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship is aimed to attract eminent scientists of any country to undertake collaborative and part-time research in laboratories in India over a period of three years. Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Award is meant for young Indian scientists from all over the world to carry out quality research. Women Scientist Scheme, National Women Bio-scientists Awards etc. are some measures to support women scientists for doing quality research. CSIR provides performance linked incentives to the awardees of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. Some other incentive systems are: Sharing of proceeds with scientists from contractual R&D, consultancy and premia & royalty received from the transfer of technology; and Setting up of knowledge enterprises while being in service.
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