(a) whether the report of CSIR review committee with Abid Hussain as Chairman recommended to merge National Institute of Science Communications (formerly PID) and Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre;
(b) if so, whether the said recommendation has been accepted;
(c) if so, the action taken in this regard; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor ?
MINISTER FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)
(a),(b)&(c): Yes Sir, the Abid Hussain Committee in its Report of 1986 had
inter-alia recommended that PID and INSDOC should be merged, as this would consolidate information service around a strong National Science Library, a networked anticipatory information service and a translation service. The Abid Hussain Committee report was remitted by then Prime Minister of India to the Science Advisory Council (SAC) to the Prime Minister for their observation. In regard to the merger, SAC had suggested that the purpose of INSDOC should be re-examined. These recommendations were considered by the CSIR Society, Chaired by the Prime Minister wherein it was decided that the functioning of INSDOC be reviewed. A Review Committee has since been constituted for INSDOC and NISCOM (formerly PID) to consider and assess the possibility of synergising of the roles, functions, core competencies of the two, including merger.
(d) Does not arise.