MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b): Yes Madam, the Government has initiated an all inclusive National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013 (STIP-2013) with a view to promote scientific research through various programmes and activities. The salient feature of the policy include making carriers in science, research and innovation attractive for talented and bright mind, establishing world class R&D infrastructure, creating an environment for enhance private sector participation in R&D, creating a robust national innovation system besides others key aspirations. The Department of Science and Technology has taken several steps to implement salient features of the policy such as creation of a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) with an objective to promote basic research in science and engineering, implementation a scheme called Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) to attract talent towards science education, water and clean energy initiative, Nano Science and Technology, development of infrastructure in university sector for scientific research, launching of Mission Innovation etc. The Department of Science and Technology has recently launched a new programme “Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (ICPS)” to foster and promote R&D in the emerging field of research.
(c) No Madam, important area of development in universities regarding research particularly in Science and Technology has not been neglected while formulating Science and Technology policies.
(d) The Government has created a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) for promoting research in basic field of science and engineering. Besides SERB other Departments such as, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) etc. are also promoting research and development in their respective domains. The Govt. of India has taken various steps to strengthen the Intellectual Property ecosystem in the country, which in turn has a positive impact on new inventions and technology in Science and Technology sector. A comprehensive National Intellectual Property Right (IPR) policy has been approved in 2016 to stimulate innovation and creativity across sectors. In order to protect, Intellectual property of scientific community of the country Department of Science and Technology has established a Patent Facilitation Cell (PFC) which facilitates protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The following table gives the details of the patent applications filed and patents granted in India for scientific and technological innovations during last 5 financial years.
Year Patent Applications Filed in India Patents Granted in India
2012-13 43,674 4,126
2013-14 42,951 4,227
2014-15 42,763 5,978
2015-16 46,904 6,326
2016-17 45,444 9,847
(e) The Government has indented to invest more funds in the field of research and gave full support to Science and Technology endeavors for the cause of national development. Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences cover a very large canvas of Research & Development in the country. The Government has consciously provided higher allocations for Science, Technology and Innovation promotion. Budget allocation for Department of Science and Technology during last 5 years was Rs.19764 crore, which is a whopping 90% increase over the preceding 5 years (2009-10 to 2013-14). Similarly, there was an increase of 65% for Department of Biotechnology; almost 43% increase for Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; and 26% increase for Ministry of Earth Sciences during the last 5 years. Recently, the Government has also approved the launching of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) at a total outlay of Rs. 3660 crore for a period of five years.
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