Science and Technology in Modern India - II

Science & Technology Policies

• The first policy relating to Science and Technology was first introduced in 1958.
• It was the first science policy that largely emphasized on basic research in almost every field of science.
• The policy also put emphasized on developing and making available the basic infrastructure for the development of scientific research.
• The policy of 1983 was the second policy that largely focused on the achievement of technological competence and self-reliance.
• Science and Technology Policy of 2003 brought the benefits of Science and Technology to the forefront.
• It also focused on the investment required for research and development.
• Science Technology & Innovation Policy 2013 Released in the Indian Science Congress at Kolkata.

• The paradigm set by the policy of 2013 is “Science technology and innovation for the people.”
  • It aims to Enhance skill for applications of science among the young from all social strata.
  • It was created with an aim to position itself among the top five scientific powers in the world by 2020.
  • It aims to set up large scale R&D facilities via PPP mode.
  • It also planned to increase accessibility, availability, and affordability of innovations, especially for women, differently-abled and disadvantaged sections of society.
  • It aims seeding S&T based high-risk innovations through new mechanisms.
  • It aims treating R&D in the private sector at par with public institutions for availing public funds.

Programs to develop R&D

• Various programs and fellowships schemes introduced to upgrade India’s Research and development in the field of science and technology.

INSPIRE 

• During the 11^th five-year plan (2008), period government introduced a program named INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research).
• It is an innovative programme developed by the Department of Science & Technology.
• It aims to
  • Attract talent to the excitement and study of science at an early age,
  • Help the country build the required critical resource pool for strengthening
  • Expand the S&T system and R&D base.

• INSPIRE has three components as follows:

1) Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent -(SEATS)

• Attracting talented youth to study science by providing INSPIRE Award, to experience the joy of innovations.
• Give Rs.5,000 to one million young learners in the age group 10-15 years.

2) Scholarship for Higher Education -(SHE)

• Attracting talented youth into undertaking higher education in science intensive programmes, by providing scholarships and mentoring through 'summer attachment' to performing researchers.

3) Assured Opportunity for Research Careers -(AORC)

• Attracting, attaching, retaining and nourishing talented young scientific Human Resource to strengthened the R&D foundation and base by offering doctoral INSPIRE Fellowship in the age group 22-27 years.
• It supports both Basic and Applied sciences (including engineering and medicine).

VAJRA Scheme

• Department of Science and Technology launched VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty scheme.
• It enables NRIs and overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to research and development in India.
• Under this scheme, foreign researchers abroad of Indian origin or otherwise can collaborate with faculties in public funded Indian institutions.
• The researchers would receive endowments at par with those in their own countries.

Fellowship programs to develop R&D

• Ministry of Science and Technology is implementing several initiatives, including fellowships.
• It aims to attract Indian scientists who have settled in various parts of the world for pursuing scientific research in India in their respective field of expertise as well as in home country research programs.
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been implementing two schemes to encourage researchers and scientists working abroad to find work opportunities in India.

Ramanujan Fellowships

• It aims to attract brilliant scientists and engineers from all over the world to take up scientific research positions in India.
• The Ramanujan Fellows can work in any of the scientific institutions and universities in the country.
• Also, they are eligible for receiving regular research grants through the extramural funding schemes of various S&T agencies of the Government of India.
• The duration of Ramanujan Fellowship is five years.

Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship

• The scheme was initiated in 2006 by the Department of Bio-Technology for Indian scientists who are working in overseas institutions/universities and would like to return to India to pursue their research interests.
• It is applicable only for biotechnology researchers.
• The fellowship is given for a period of five years initially.
• They could also be considered for another term based on a fresh appraisal depending upon the progress made.

Schemes for woman

KIRAN 

• In the year 2014, Department of Science & Technology restructured all the women specific programmes under one umbrella known as “KIRAN”.
• KIRAN stands for “Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing”.
• It is a unique advertising scheme to bring about, as far as possible, gender equality in the field of science and technology.
• KIRAN is addressing various issues related with women scientists (e.g. unemployment, relocation etc.) and aimed to:
  • Provide opportunities in research (WOS-A),
  • Provide opportunities in technology development/demonstration (WOS-B), and
  • Provide opportunities in self-employment (WOS-C) etc.

Women Scientists Scheme - A, B & C

• Women Scientist Scheme-A(WOS-A): Research in Basic/Applied Science
• Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B): S&T interventions for Societal Benefit
• Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C): Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for the Self-Employment
• It provides a platform to women scientists and technologists for pursuing research in basic or applied sciences in frontier areas of science and engineering.
• The scheme plays a pivotal role in gender mainstreaming as it not only prevents brain drain from the S&T system but also trains and retain women in the system.

Disha 

• The scholarship scheme for women scientists for societal programmes is an initiative of the department of science and technology.
• It is aimed at women who have a “break in their careers” due to social responsibilities but have a desire to return to mainstream science and work as bench-level scientists
• It also, take up projects having distinct societal impact and explore a career in Intellectual Property domain.

CURIE

• Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in women universities (CURIE) is another component of KIRAN.
• It aims to provide state-of-the-art infrastructural support to Women Universities in order to strengthen as well as improve academic and research activities.

Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM

• Department of Science and Technology and Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF) jointly announce the “Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) program.
• It aims to provide opportunities to Indian Women Scientists, Engineers & Technologists to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in U.S.A, to enhance their research capacities and capabilities.

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