Dr. Jitendra Singh Announces Increased Budget Allocations and Key Initiatives to Boost Science and Technology Sector

This announcement was made in response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on August 6, 2024.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, outlined several significant steps taken by the Government to enhance budget allocations and support for the Science and Technology (S&T) sector. This announcement was made in response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on August 6, 2024.

Key initiatives to bolster the S&T sector include:

Increased Budget Allocation: There has been a continuous rise in plan allocations for scientific departments to ensure sustained growth and development.

Centres of Excellence: New Centres of Excellence and facilities have been established in emerging and cutting-edge areas of S&T within academic and national institutions.

Mega Facilities Participation: The government is actively involved in the development and utilization of large-scale scientific facilities.

Extramural Research Funding: Substantial grants are provided to promising scientists through extramural funding to encourage high-impact research.

New Areas of Focus: Enhanced funding has been allocated to critical areas such as Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Smart Grids, Methanol, Desalination, Genome Engineering, and Climate Change Research.

National Missions: The introduction of National Missions, including the National Quantum Mission and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems, aims to drive innovation and interdisciplinary research.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship through start-up grants is being prioritized to build a robust start-up ecosystem.

Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging collaborations between the public and private sectors to leverage combined expertise and resources.

Anusandhan National Research Foundation: This initiative is designed to boost R&D efforts nationwide through increased budget allocations and industry collaboration.

Dr. Singh highlighted that Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 mandates companies with substantial net worth, turnover, or profit to allocate at least 2% of their average net profits to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which includes contributions to R&D projects. However, no additional mandatory policy for industries to allocate profits towards R&D is currently under consideration.

The Minister also noted that Autonomous Institutions (AIs) under the Ministry of Science and Technology have been granted autonomy to initiate R&D activities through their Governing Councils. Relaxations in the General Financial Rules 201 have been made specifically for scientific ministries, delegating financial powers to AIs for research and equipment procurement.

To foster scientific temper and research-oriented thinking in higher education, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) organizes lectures, seminars, and open houses through State S&T Councils. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) offers research support grants for postgraduate dissertation and thesis writing.

Dr. Singh also mentioned the CSIR's "JIGYASA" program, launched in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), which opens national scientific facilities to school children to foster scientific thinking. Additionally, the Ministry provides doctoral and postdoctoral research fellowships to support students pursuing advanced research in science and technology within the country.