New Delhi: The government has taken several measures to encourage young scientists to undertake research work. The schemes are designed to identify promising young researchers with innovative ideas and provide them with training and research opportunities in niche areas of basic science and engineering. This was stated by the Minister of State for Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Y S Chowdary while answering questions in the Parliament on July 26, 2017.

“Some of the notable programmes of the Ministry targeted at young scientists include Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), National Postdoctoral Fellowship (N-PDF), Early Career Research Award (ECRA), Research Associateship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship Schemes etc. These schemes provide a platform for young scientists to develop as independent researchers and thereby elevating the S&T landscape of the country,” mentioned the Minister.

Govt says that young scientist research programmes have received funds worth Rs 807.6 crore, Rs 1083 crore, Rs 1322.9 crore and Rs 248.4 crore during 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and first quarter of FY 2017-18 respectively.

Mr Chowdary further added that ease of funding, speed of delivery, attractive fellowships etc. are some of the characteristics of the young scientist research programmes. “The funds allocated/released exclusively for young scientist research programmes during 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and the current year by the Ministry of Science and Technology are Rs 807.6 crore, Rs 1083 crore, Rs 1322.9 crore and Rs 248.4 crore (first quarter of FY 2017-18) respectively,” he revealed.

The MoS for S&T further said that the CSIR provides Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship to certain top ranking JRF- National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified candidates to nurture the budding scientific talent and to nourish the objective of pursuit of scientific research. He pointed out that the Thematic Fellowship programmes in Solar Energy, Building Energy Efficiency Higher & Advanced Network, Bioenergy and Water Research have been initiated by DST to support young faculty and research scholars for conducting research in US R&D and academic institutions.