(a) whether the Government has any proposal to set up Government backed research institutes to shape the future vision of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of Government funded research institutions that are working in the country; and
(d) the total funds which have been allocated by the Government to the policy research institutes?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (c) The augmentation of research and development infrastructure in the Higher Education system is an ongoing endeavour. The Government has taken various measures for the promotion and growth of research in the country. 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.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is also funding research in the Social Sciences and Humanities through its various research councils, viz., the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and the National Council of Rural Institutes (NCRI).
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) also supports research institutions which constitute an important mechanism for implementing the Council’s policy of dispersal of research talent and building up of research capabilities in the different regions of the country, particularly in the areas where social science research is not yet well developed. At present the number of research institutions funded by the ICSSR under its Grant-in-Aid scheme is 25.
(d) The annual fund allocation made to these 25 research institutions under Plan and Non- Plan for the current financial year (2014-15) is Rs.1583.00 lakhs and Rs.4295.00 lakhs respectively.