Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Science and Technology addressed concerns in Lok Sabha regarding Indian students and researchers pursuing advanced research abroad due to perceived lack of domestic opportunities. The response outlines government initiatives to enhance the domestic research ecosystem through funding, infrastructure, and international collaboration. These efforts aim to promote research excellence within India and reverse brain drain.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Academic and Research Migration:**
* There is no statistical evidence confirming a large-scale migration of Indian students and researchers abroad due to inadequate domestic infrastructure, funding, or opportunities.
* **Initiatives to Improve the Domestic Research Ecosystem:**
* High-stakes mission-driven initiatives: National Quantum Mission, National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, and National Geospatial Mission to develop key technologies and promote domestic innovation.
* Startup Culture: Programs to catalyze startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship.
* Policy Measures: Introduction of Geospatial Policy 2022 and BioE3-Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment Policy 2024.
* Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): Establishment of ANRF through the ANRF Act 2023 to strengthen technological leadership.
* Research Infrastructure: Strengthening through schemes like FIST, PURSE, and DBTSAHAJ Infrastructure.
* Research Grants: Schemes such as CRG, PMECRG, and PAIR program to strengthen the domestic research ecosystem.
* International Cooperation: Fostering cooperation in Science and Technology with developed and developing countries through bilateral, regional, and multilateral collaborations.
* Empowering Young Researchers: Programs aimed at improving access to funding, high-end research laboratories, mentorship, and international collaboration opportunities for young researchers. Key programs include NPDF, Ramanujan Fellowship, INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship, Biomedical Research Career Programme, and MK Bhan-Young Researcher Fellowship.
* VAIBHAV Fellowship: Provides a platform for overseas scientists, including Non-Resident Indians, to undertake collaborative research in Indian institutions.
* Incentive Schemes: Flexible Complementing Scheme and Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) to recruit and retain scientists.
Impact Analysis:
* **Indian Students and Researchers:**
* Impact: Increased opportunities for advanced research within India, potentially reducing the need to go abroad.
* Action Required: Explore and utilize the available funding, infrastructure, and collaboration opportunities within the country.
* **Indian Scientific Institutions and Universities:**
* Impact: Enhanced research infrastructure, increased funding, and opportunities for international collaboration, leading to improved research output and global recognition.
* Action Required: Utilize the available schemes and programs to strengthen research capabilities and attract/retain talent.
* **Government of India (Ministry of Science and Technology):**
* Impact: Strengthened domestic research ecosystem, reduced brain drain, and enhanced global competitiveness in science and technology.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the initiatives and make necessary adjustments to maximize impact.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Science and Technology: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for science and technology policy.
National Quantum Mission: A high-stakes mission-driven initiative by the Government of India focused on quantum technologies.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary CyberPhysical Systems: A mission by the Government of India focusing on cyber-physical systems.
National Geospatial Mission: A mission by the Government of India focusing on geospatial technologies.
Geospatial Policy 2022: A policy measure introduced by the Government of India related to geospatial data and technologies.
BioE3 Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment Policy 2024: A policy measure introduced by the Government of India related to biotechnology.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): A research foundation established by the Indian government to strengthen technological leadership.
Science and Engineering Research Board: An organization involved in strengthening the domestic research ecosystem of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 605
ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025
DOMESTIC RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM
605. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of Indian
students and researchers are going abroad to pursue advanced research due
to lack of adequate infrastructure, funding and opportunities in India;
(b) if so, the reasons identified by the Government for this academic and
research migration;
(c) whether the Government has taken any concrete steps to improve the
domestic research ecosystem, including better funding, modern laboratories,
mentorship and international-level collaboration opportunities; and
(d) if so, the details of such initiatives and their impact in reversing brain
drain and promoting research excellence within the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मत्रं ालय के राज्य मत्रं ी (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) to (b): There is no statistical evidence or data which shows that large
number of Indian students and researchers are going abroad to pursue advanced
research due to lack of adequate infrastructure, funding and opportunities in
India.
(c) to (d): Several initiatives have been taken up by the Government to improve
the domestic research ecosystem like: instituting high-stakes mission-driven
initiatives, namely National Quantum Mission; National Mission on
Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, National Geospatial Mission focusing
on the development of key technologies to reduce dependency on imports,
promote domestic innovation, and position India as a global leader in the
identified sectors. Government has launched several programmes to catalyze
startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and
entrepreneurship in the country. Several policy measures have been introduced
by the Government including the Geospatial Policy 2022 and BioE3
Page 1 of 2(Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy 2024. The
Government has established the Anusandhan National Research Foundation
(ANRF) through the ANRF Act 2023 towards strengthening our technological
leadership, marking a paradigm shift in our R&D ecosystem. The government
has been strengthening research infrastructure through multiple schemes /
programs such as: Fund for Improvement of S&T infrastructures in universities
and higher educational institutions (FIST), Promotion of University Research and
Scientific Excellence (PURSE), Scientific Infrastructure Access for Harnessing
Academia University Research Joint Collaboration (DBT-SAHAJ Infrastructure).
etc. The schemes of ANRF (erstwhile, Science and Engineering Research Board)
such as Core Research Grant (CRG), Prime Minister’s Early Career Research
Grant (PMECRG), Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR)
program, etc. have been instrumental in strengthening the domestic research
ecosystem of the country. The government is also fostering International
cooperation in Science & Technology through bilateral cooperation with several
developed and developing countries including USA, UK, France, Germany,
Russia, Japan; regional cooperation such as with ASEAN, BIMSTEC, etc; and
multilateral cooperation through EU, TWAS, IBSA, BRICS, UNESCO, SCO, QUAD
etc.
Further, government has taken up several programme/schemes aimed at
empowering the young researchers in the country to pursue world-class
research in cutting edge areas of science and technology by improving access
to better funding, high-end research laboratories, mentorship, and international-
level collaboration opportunities. Some of the key programmes like National
Post-Doctoral Fellowship (NPDF), Ramanujan Fellowship; INSPIRE Faculty
Fellowship; Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship; Biomedical Research Career
Programme and MK Bhan-Young Researcher Fellowship have supported a large
number of young researchers and have also attracted brilliant Indian
researchers from abroad to return to India and conduct high quality research.
The VAIBHAV fellowship of DST provides a platform for overseas scientists
including Non-Resident Indians to undertake collaborative research in Indian
Institutions and Universities for a finite period of time. In addition, the Flexible
Complementing Scheme / Merit based promotion scheme positioned in scientific
departments and introduction of Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS)
in strategic Departments have also been instrumental in recruiting and retaining
the scientists. All these efforts made by the government contribute towards
promoting research excellence within the country and thereby reversing the
brain drain.
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