The Government has consistently increased the budget allocation for science and research. The budget allocation (Budget Estimate) for six Major Scientific Agencies/Departments for the last five years is as under:

(Rs. Crore)

Department	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
DST	6067.39	6000.00	7931.05	8029.01	28508.90
DSIR/CSIR	5224.27	5636.46	5746.51	6323.41	6657.78
DBT	3502.37	2581.00	2683.86	2275.70	3446.64
DOS	13949.09	13700.00	12543.91	13042.75	13416.20
DAE (R&D Sector)	7183.44	7257.91	7618.13	8846.29	9627.94
MoES	1897.13	2653.51	3319.88	3064.80	3649.81
Total	37823.69	37828.88	39843.34	41581.96	65307.27

Source: Demands for Grants of Central Government, Expenditure Budget, GoI (various Years)

Note:
1. DST -Department of Science & Technology
2. DSIR/CSIR -Department of Scientific & Industrial Research/ Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
3. DBT - Department of Biotechnology
4. DOS -Department of Space
5. DAE - Department of Atomic Energy
6. MoES -Ministry of Earth Sciences

The Government has been implementing several fellowships that offer direct benefit to young scientists and researchers. Some of the key schemes include: INSPIRE fellowship, INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-PhD, WISE-Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF), Scheme for Young Scientist & Technologist (SYST) program for young scientist & technologists to undertake application oriented socially relevant research, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)-National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (NPDF), Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) and Ramanujan Fellowship by the Department of Science and Technology (DST); Junior Research Fellowship Programme, Research Associateship Programme in Biotechnology and Life Sciences, M K Bhan Young Researcher Fellowship Programme by Department of Biotechnology (DBT); Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-UGC Junior Research Fellowship; Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) fellowship for PhD; Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship by Department of Higher Education (DHE); etc.

 

The government has taken up several steps to enhance private sector participation in Research & Development in the country. Some of the key efforts made by the Government include: incentivizing investment by private sector to increase their share in GERD; creating avenues for collaborative STI funding through portfolio-based funding mechanisms such as Public-Private-Partnerships and other innovative hybrid funding mechanisms. The Government has allowed corporate sector to make R&D investments under the provision of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Corporates can invest in technology business incubators or contribute in research efforts carried out by institutions and national research laboratories as a part of their CSR. There are specific investment incentives offered such as Location-based tax incentives that enables 100% deductions of profits generated from establishing and doing business in northeastern states of India.

The Government has established the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) through ANRF Act of 2023 to provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, wherein, special provisions have been made towards encouraging the Public Sector Enterprises as well as the private sector entities to invest in the activities of the Foundation. Further, the government has also launched the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme with a financial pool of ₹1 lakh crore over five years. This RDI scheme led by DST aims to encourage participation of private sector, in sunrise sectors, driving growth and innovation.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

 ***

NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2150821)