Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 18 : India has jumped from 7th to 3rd global ranking in scientific publications. This was disclosed here today by Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh while addressing the media in the presence of Union Secretary Department of Science & Technology (DST) Dr S. Chandrasekhar.
Lauding the consistent efforts of India’s scientific fraternity, Dr Jitendra Singh gave all credit to an enabling milieu and freedom of working provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, the very fact that such quantum leaps in our scientific pursuits are happening only in the last few years is a testimony to the push given by PM Modi both in terms of the ease of policy as well as his personal indulgence and prioritisation.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that as per the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Science & Engineering Indicators 2022 report of the United States, India’s position globally in scientific publications, has improved from 7th position in 2010 to 3rd position in 2020. He also added that India’s scholarly output increased from 60,555 papers in 2010 to 1,49,213 papers in 2020.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, this became possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who not only has a natural predilection for science but is also forthcoming in supporting and promoting science and technology based initiatives and projects in the last 8 years. He said, India’s scientific prowess is going to have a major role in the making of “AtmaNirbhar Bharat’’.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, India’s research performance in science and technology has improved significantly over the past few years which is visible through large amount of scientific knowledge in terms of research publications, development of technologies and innovations contributing to overall development.
Dr Jitendra Singh also took pride that India now ranks 3rd in terms of number of PhDs in science and engineering. He was also apprised of the fact that the number of patents granted to Indian scientists at India Patent Office (IPO) during the last three years has also increased from 2511 in 2018-19 to 4003 in 2019-20 and 5629 in 2020-21.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Government has taken several steps to boost the science and technology sector which includes successive increase in allocations for Scientific Departments, incentivizing investment by private sector to increase their share in GERD, improving the ease of doing business in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) activities; introducing flexible tools for public procurement; creating avenues for collaborative STI funding through portfolio-based funding mechanisms such as Public-Private-Partnerships and other innovative hybrid funding mechanisms.
A senior official informed that the Department of Science and Technology is likely to get 20 percent more money in the upcoming Union Budget 2023-24 to around Rs 7,930 Crore including funds for National Research Foundation. In the last budget, DST was given Rs 6,002 Crore, which was 42 percent of the total fund of Rs 14,217 Crore allocated to the Ministry of Science and Technology. DSIR received Rs 5,636 Crore (40%), while DBT got Rs 2,581 Crore (18%).
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