Question : Research Work undertaken by Scientists

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to encourage young scientists to undertake research work, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the main features of young scientists research programme and the amount of funds allocated during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) the details of the age related eligibility to avail the benefits of this programme and the details of the achievements made under the said programme so far;

(d) the number of young scientists who have benefitted from this programme;

(e) whether the Government is providing any special scheme or scholarship under this programme;

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(g) the other steps taken by the Government to encourage more and more young scientists to undertake research work?

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) Yes, Madam. Government has taken several measures to encourage young scientists to undertake research work. The schemes / programmes are designed to identify promising young researchers with innovative ideas and provide them with training and research opportunities in niche areas of basic science and engineering. Some of the notable programmes of the Ministry targeted at young scientists include: Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), National Postdoctoral Fellowship (N-PDF), Early Career Research Award (ECRA), Research Associateship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship Schemes etc.

(b) The said schemes / research programmes provide a platform for young scientists to develop as independent researchers; and thereby elevating the S&T landscape of the country. Ease of funding, speed of delivery, attractive fellowships etc. are some of the main features of young scientist research programmes. The funds allocated exclusively for young scientist research programmes during 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and the current year by the Ministry of Science and Technology are Rs. 1039.6 crore, Rs. 1136.9 crore, Rs. 1122.6 crore and Rs. 1158.8 crore respectively.

(c) The required age groups for obtaining benefit from the following popular young scientist schemes are given below:

Scheme / Programme Age group: Upper age limit of
Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme of Department of Science and Technology (DST) 32 years with relaxation of three years to applicants belonging to SC/ST categories
National Postdoctoral Fellowship of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) 35 years with relaxation of five years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ Physically Challenged/Women categories
Early Career Research Award of SERB 37 years with relaxation of three years to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ Physically Challenged/Women categories
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship Schemes 35 years
Research Associate Scheme of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 40 years and 45 years for women candidates






A number of quality publications in high impact journals and patents have emanated from the Young Scientist’s projects. The schemes have helped many young researchers in the progress of their career in S&T, got appointment in academic and research institutions and received recognitions in the form of awards, membership in science and engineering academies.
(d) A total of 18,600 young scientists have been benefitted in the last three financial years through various young scientists programmes of SERB/DST and CSIR.

(e) Yes, Madam.

(f) CSIR provides Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship to certain top ranking JRF- National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified candidates to nurture the budding scientific talent and to nourish the objective of pursuit of scientific research. Thematic Fellowship programmes in Solar Energy, Building Energy Efficiency Higher & Advanced Network, Bioenergy and Water Research have been initiated by DST to support young faculty and research scholars for conducting research in US R&D and academic institutions.

(g) Many other steps have been taken by the Government to encourage more and more young scientists to undertake research work. The recently approved Prime Minister''s Research Fellows (PMRF) scheme of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) offers attractive research fellowship to potential students from Indian Institute of Science/ IITs/ National Institute of Technology/ Indian Institute of Science Education and Research / Indian Institute of Information Technology to undertake doctoral research in cutting edge science and technology domains. The Flexible Complementing Scheme / Merit based promotion scheme positioned in scientific departments and the implementation of the VII Pay Commission pay scale and introduction of Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) in strategic Departments have attracted young scientists to take research as career.

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