The three departments functioning under the Ministry of Science and Technology - Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) represent different areas of scientific research. These three departments have supported scientific research works, research publications, technology development; and has acquired significant scientific knowledge through innovations that contribute to the overall development of the country. This can be gauged from the patents granted to Indian scientists by the Indian Patent Office (IPO).
In the last three years, the Indian Patent Office (IPO) has granted more than twice as many patents to Indian scientists. In the year 2018-19, 2511 patents were granted to Indian scientists, whose number increased to 4003 in the year 2019-20, and 5629 in the year 2020-21. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; This information has been provided in Rajya Sabha by Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh. It is noteworthy that the increasing number of patents can be considered as an indicator of scientific research and innovation. Patents are important for India to bridge the technological gap with the leading countries in the field of science and technology.
The Union Minister told the Parliament that India's Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking has also improved during the last few years. According to the GII Index-2021, India's GII ranking, which was ranked 81 in the year 2014, has now improved to 46th position. He said that India's research performance in science and technology has also improved significantly in recent years. Referring to the NSF - Science and Engineering Indicators-2022 report, Dr Singh said that India's position globally in scientific publications improved from 7th position in 2010 to 3rd position in 2020. He said that India's scholar output increased to 1,49,213 papers in the year 2020, which was limited to the publication of only 60,555 papers in 2010.
Responding to a question in the Parliament regarding the efforts of the Central Government to encourage education and scientific research in future, Dr. Singh said that the government is making constant efforts to promote education and scientific research in the country. . Major efforts in this direction include gradual increase in plan allocation for scientific departments, and creation of centers of excellence and other facilities in emerging and frontier areas of science and technology in academic and national institutions. Dr Singh informed that many schemes/programmes have been implemented for human and institutional capacity building, promotion of basic and applied research in the field of science and technology.
The programs and schemes of the Ministry of Science and Technology include Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology Infrastructure (FIST), Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF), INSPIRE Fellowship (INSPIRE), Program for Promotion of Women in Science, INSPIRE Award Standard (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge), Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA), financial assistance to research students to attend seminars/seminars abroad, National Post-doctoral Fellowship Scheme, Prime Minister's Research Fellowship of DST, and students and scientists The CSIR-Curiosity program is mainly involved in connecting Government Department of Biotechnology-World Academy of Sciences (DBT-TWAS) grants to scientists through international fellowships and extra-mural research funding, promotion of public-private R&D partnerships, recognition and financial incentives to R&D units, and research and promoting efforts related to education and scientific research through support to increase the participation of industries in development activities.
The Union Minister said that in the year 2021-22, about Rs 13,499 crore was allocated to the three departments working under the Ministry of Science and Technology, out of which about Rs 11,502 crore funds have been utilized by these departments. Rs 5,240 crore to DST in the year 2021-22, about Rs 5,298 crore to DSIR including CSIR; And Rs 2,961 crore was allocated to DBT.
