GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2619

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17/12/2012

 

STATUS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 

2619.   SHRI C.P. NARAYANAN:

 

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

 

(a)        the extent to which the country is self sufficient in science and technology sectors like agriculture, drugs, defence, energy, nuclear energy and space travel;

(b)        the details of funds allocated for Research and Development (R&D) during the last three years along with the details of their utilisation;

(c)        the extent to which capacities of universities and R&D institutions in public sector have been utilised during the above period; and

(d)        the number of research projects entrusted to these institutions by Government during the above period and the amount spent thereon?

 

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

(S. JAIPAL REDDY)

 

(a)        India has demonstrated self-sufficiency in many areas of science and technology in strategic and non-strategic sectors. In sectors like agriculture the country has made significant achievements in increasing yield and production through development of high yielding varieties, appropriate transfer of technology, better farm management practices, increased area under cultivation of hybrids etc. Improved wheat varieties resistant to rust, including race ug99, have been developed and these are spreading fast in the rice-wheat system. Improved varieties of crop plants such as wheat, maize, pearl millet, mustard, chickpea etc., which cover nearly 40% of the cropped area of the country, have impacted most in the improved production and productivity. Through various programmes of the Government, our country has enhanced its capabilities towards development of new drugs in all systems of medicine. Efforts were made to engage enhanced public private partnerships for developing drugs for diseases such as leprosy, malaria, tuberculosis, japanese encephilitis, syphillis, leishmaniasis, filariasis, HIV/AIDS, tetanus, measles, drug resistant enteric fever, hepatitis B, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, dengue, dementia, parkinsons disease etc. Significant improvement in self-reliance has been recorded in the defence sector as evidenced by the fact that the Self-Reliance Index (SRI) in the area of defence technology has increased from 30% to approximately 55% in a span of last ten years. The increase in SRI is on account of joint efforts of DRDO, Industries (both public and private), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Ordnance Factories with the support of Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces. Significant improvement in energy sector has been reported. The R&D efforts in the non-conventional energy sector have led to design and development of solar water heating system, solar cookers, solar photovoltaic system, biogas plants, improved biomass cookstoves, gasifiers, biomass cogeneration, etc. R&D efforts are going on to design, develop and demonstrate hydrogen and fuel cells for power generation and other uses. India occupies a unique position in the world having formulated its own nuclear programme and cultivated self-reliance in areas of reactor technology and its entire associated fuel cycle. The country designs, constructs and operates nuclear reactors, fabricates the required fuel, reprocesses it, and treats

 

Contd..2/-

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the waste generated in the entire fuel cycle in a comprehensive manner by a totally indigenous effort. India is self sufficient in launching 1.8 Ton Satellite into Polar orbit and 2 Ton class of satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) respectively. India is also developing the next variant, GSLV Mk III launch vehicle capable of launching 4T class satellites into GTO, which will make India totally self sufficient in the area of launch vehicles. India has also initiated development of few critical technologies including Space Recovery Missions of relevance for future Space Travel.

 

(b)        The Plan funds allocated to Central S & T Ministry/ Department/ Agencies for Research and Development (R&D) during the last three years (2009-12) along with the details of their utilization are given below:

Rs. in crore

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

BE

Utilization

BE

Utilization

BE

Utilization

10763.00

9370.31

12909.86

10826.75

15334.00

12059.04

 

(c)        In addition to utilize the capacities of universities and R & D institutions to carry out research projects in wide range of areas of science and technology through extramural and intramural research programmes of various Departments/Agencies like Department of Science and Technology (DST), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Biotechnology, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Defence Research & Development Organization, Ministry of Earth Sciences etc., the capabilities of researches in these institutions have been significantly enhanced through planned programmes such as Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructures in universities and higher educational institutions (FIST), Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE), Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE), Research Awards / Fellowships etc.

 

(d)        A total of 5491 research projects in various areas of science and technology have been entrusted to universities and R & D institutions and a total of Rs. 5886.1 crore have been spent by the Ministry of Science and Technology during the last three years.

 

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