Government earmarks Rs 600 cr a year for research activities

Aiming to increase the number of Ph.Ds in universities by five times in ten years, the government has earmarked Rs 600 crore per annum for supporting research activities in these institutions.  

The Ministry of HRD has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC), which provides financial support to around 400 universities in the country, to earmark 20 per cent of its budget for supporting the research activities in varsities.  

The ministry has also asked the UGC to implement the recommendations of a Task Force for basic science research, headed by Prof M M Sharma. 

 "The UGC will earmark 20 per cent of its budget, which is about Rs 600 crore per annum, for promoting research. The target is to increase the number of Ph.Ds in the universities by five times in ten years," a senior ministry official told PTI here.  

Out of Rs 600 crore, about Rs 400 crore will be spent on infrastructural development, including setting up new laboratories and facilities. About Rs 150 crore will be spent on setting up of ten centres of Basic Sciences, he said.  

These centres will work on physical sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences, material sciences and mathematical sciences in leading universities. They will promote collaborative research and impart training in frontier areas of sciences. As per the recommendations of the Task Force, 1000 positions of Research Scientists will be created and will be filled up in a phased manner over five years.  

Formal linkage between universities and national level institutes, including laboratories of CSIR, will be promoted through joint research projects and training.  

Similarly, linkages of universities and their faculty with industries and user organisations will be encouraged. The system of Winter Schools and Summer Schools, which provide short-duration programmes on science, will be supported.  

The major thrust of the programme will be creation of infrastructure. The UGC will provide development grants to the tune of Rs 400 crore per annum which will be spent on creation of new laboratories, power facility and procurement of equipment, the official said.  

The UGC will also support colleges by providing Rs five lakh each to 700 science departments in 97 colleges.  

The UGC will also set up an empowered autonomous body, headed by an eminent scientist, for implementing the recommendations of the Task Force.  

The UGC will spend Rs five core per annum towards research fellowships and post-doctoral fellowships. 

All PG programmes on science and technology will have in-built component on research.