Executive Summary:
This document provides details on the implementation status of the Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) scheme, including participation statistics, involved institutions, financial aspects, research project outcomes, and patent information. It covers data up to 2025 and includes details on faculty participation, funding, and research projects initiated under the scheme. The information was presented in response to questions raised in Lok Sabha.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **VAJRA Faculty Participation (2017-2025):**
* Details of VAJRA projects sanctioned, broken down by state, year, and gender of participating faculty.
* Most projects involved male faculty, with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra being prominent states.
* **Participating Academic Institutions:**
* Lists Indian institutions such as IIT Madras, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Bombay, and other IITs, research institutes, and universities.
* Lists overseas institutions across multiple countries like the USA, Australia, UK, and others.
* **Financial Aspects of the Scheme:**
* VAJRA Faculty received USD 15,000 for the first month and USD 10,000 for subsequent months, with a contingency grant of ₹5.0 lakh per year for research expenses.
* Financial support was provided to Indian collaborators for collaborative research activities and lectures by VAJRA faculty.
* Details of funds released and utilized by each participating Indian institution.
* **Research Projects:**
* Number of research projects initiated and successfully completed, listed by institution.
* **Outreach Programs:**
* No outreach programs were conducted in foreign diaspora hubs for promoting collaborating research under the VAJRA scheme.
* **Patents and Startups:**
* The government maintains data on patents generated from VAJRA projects.
* Details of patents filed in India (Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha) and the United States related to VAJRA projects.
Impact Analysis:
* **Participating Faculty (Indian and International):**
* Impact: Opportunity to collaborate on advanced research projects, access funding for research and travel (for international faculty).
* Action Required: Continue to engage in research projects, utilize allocated funds effectively, and adhere to the scheme's guidelines.
* **Participating Academic Institutions (Indian):**
* Impact: Enhanced research capabilities, potential for increased publications and patents, improved international collaborations.
* Action Required: Facilitate research activities, manage funds responsibly, and support collaborative efforts.
* **Department of Science and Technology (DST):**
* Impact: Oversight and management of the VAJRA scheme, responsibility for tracking outcomes and impact.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring project progress, assessing the scheme's effectiveness, and promoting its benefits.
Key Entities Referenced
VAJRA Scheme: Visiting Advanced Joint Research VAJRA scheme, an initiative to bring an international dimension to the R&D ecosystem of India by leveraging overseas scientists' expertise.
SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO: Member of Parliament who raised questions regarding the VAJRA scheme in Lok Sabha.
DR. JITENDRA SINGH: Minister of State Independent Charge of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, who provided the answers to the questions raised about the VAJRA scheme.
Indian Institute of Technology Madras: An Indian academic institution participating in the VAJRA scheme.
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru: An Indian academic institution participating in the VAJRA scheme located in Karnataka.
Queensland University of Technology: An overseas academic institution from Australia participating in the VAJRA scheme.
Arizona State University, USA: An overseas academic institution from USA participating in the VAJRA scheme.
Punjab: Indian state where patents were filed as a result of VAJRA scheme projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2975
ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF VAJRA SCHEME
2975. SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of the number of faculty and scholars that have
participated Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) scheme till
date, State, years and gender-wise;
(b) the list of academic institutions in India and abroad
participating under the scheme;
(c) the quantum of funds allocated, released and utilised under this
scheme to participating faculty, institute-wise;
(d) the details of the number of research projects initiated and
successfully completed under this scheme, institute-wise;
(e) whether any outreach programs were conducted in foreign
diaspora hubs for promoting collaborating research under VAJRA
scheme, if so, the details thereof, Country-wise; and
(f) whether the Government maintains the data of the number of
patents/start-ups generated from VAJRA projects and if so, the details
thereof, State-wise?
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 मंत्रालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) The state, year and gender-wise details of the number of VAJRA
faculties that have participated in Visiting Advanced Joint Research
(VAJRA) scheme till date is given below:-
Page 1 of 16Year - 2017-18
State No. of VAJRA projects Gender (Male/Female)
Sanctioned
Karnataka 2 Male - 2
Gujarat 1 Male - 1
Maharashtra 2 Male - 1, Female - 1
Madhya Pradesh 1 Male - 1
New Delhi 1 Male - 1
Year 2018-19
Gujarat 1 Female - 1
Karnataka 4 Male - 3, Female - 1
Kerala 2 Male - 1
Madhya Pradesh 1 Male - 1
Maharashtra 2 Male - 2
New Delhi 2 Male - 2
Punjab 1 Male - 1
Tamil Nadu 12 Male - 9, Female - 3
Telangana 2 Male - 2
Uttar Pradesh 5 Male - 3, Female - 2
West Bengal 1 Male - 1
Year 2019-20
Karnataka 2 Male - 2
Maharashtra 2 Male - 2
West Bengal 1 Male - 1
Telangana 1 Male - 1
Year 2020-21
Tamil Nadu 2 Male – 1, Female - 1
Year 2021-22
Karnataka 3 Male – 3
Maharashtra 1 Male – 1
New Delhi 6 Male – 5, Female - 1
Odisha 2 Male – 1, Female - 1
Tamil Nadu 2 Male - 2
Telangana 2 Male – 1, Female - 1
Uttarakhand 2 Male – 1, Female - 1
Page 2 of 16Year 2022-23
State No. of VAJRA projects Gender (Male/Female)
Sanctioned
Karnataka 1 Male – 1
Kerala 1 Male – 1
Madhya Pradesh 2 Female - 2
Maharashtra 4 Male – 4
New Delhi 3 Male – 3
Punjab 1 Male – 1
Tamil Nadu 1 Male – 1
Uttar Pradesh 4 Male – 4
West Bengal 1 Female - 1
Year 2023-24
Tamil Nadu 1 Male - 1
Assam 1 Male – 1
Maharashtra 1 Male – 1
Gujarat 1 Male - 1
Year 2024-25
Tamil Nadu 1 Male – 1
Uttarakhand 1 Female - 1
Maharashtra 1 Male – 1
Assam 1 Male – 1
Karnataka 4 Male – 4
Uttar Pradesh 3 Male – 3
Haryana 1 Male – 1
Goa 1 Male – 1
West Bengal 1 Male – 1
Kerala 1 Male - 1
Year 2025-26
Punjab 1 Male - 1
(b) The list of academic institutions in India and abroad
participating under the scheme is given below:-
Page 3 of 16i. List of Indian Institutes participating under the scheme
S. No. Institute
1. Indian Institute of Technology Madras
2. Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
3. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
4. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
5. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru
6. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
7. Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru
8. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
9. Indian Institute of Technology BHU
10. Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar
11. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
12. Indian Institute of Technology Indore
13. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
14. Indian Institute of Technology Ropar
15. Indian Statistical Institute, Bengaluru
16. Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai
17. International Institute of Information Technology
Hyderabad
18. Cochin University of Science & Technology
19. S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences,
Kolkata
20. Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences &
Technology
21. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
Pune
22. Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar
23. Harish-Chandra Research Institute
24. Inter-University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi
25. Punjabi University
Page 4 of 16S. No. Institute
26. National Institute of Ocean Technology
27. National Institute of Technology, Silchar
28. University of Delhi, South Campus
29. International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, TIFR
30. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
31. Institute of Life Sciences
32. Central University of Kerala
33. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational
Sciences (ARIES), Nainital
34. National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
35. Choudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural
University, Hisar
36. Centre for Nano and Soft matter sciences (CeNS),
Bengaluru
37. Bose Institute, Kolkata
38. National Institute of Technology Calicut
39. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific
Research, Bengaluru
ii. List of Overseas Institutes participating under the scheme
S No Institute Name Country
1.
Steklov Institute of Mathematics Russia
2. Queensland University of
Australia
Technology
3.
Arizona State University USA
4.
Seoul National University South Korea
5.
Michigan Technological University USA
6.
Ohio State University USA
7.
Sheffield University United Kingdom
Page 5 of 16S No Institute Name Country
8.
University of Milan Italy
9. University of North Carolina and
USA
North Carolina State University
10.
Pennsylvania State University USA
11.
Swinburne University of Technology Australia
12.
Georgia Institute of Technology USA
13.
Virginia Commonwealth University USA
14.
Texas A&M University USA
15.
University of Kentucky USA
16.
Rice University USA
17.
Washington University in St. Louis USA
18.
University of Houston USA
19.
Swansea University United Kingdom
20.
National University of Singapore Singapore
21. Un iversity Paris-Est Marne-La-Vallée
France
France
22.
University of Southern California USA
23.
University of Toronto Canada
24. M issouri University of Science and
USA
Technology (MST)
25.
Drexel University USA
26.
University of Calgary Canada
27. U niversite Pierre et Marie Curie,
France
Paris
28. University of Illinois at Urbana-
USA
Champaign
Page 6 of 16S No Institute Name Country
29.
Michigan State University USA
30.
Purdue University USA
31.
University of Melbourne Australia
32.
RMIT University Australia
33. P ontificia Universidad Católica de
Chile
Chile
34.
University of Surrey Guildford United Kingdom
35.
Dublin City University Ireland
36.
Monash University Australia
37.
Universite Paris-Sud France
38. Massachusetts Institute of
USA
Technology
39.
Trinity College Ireland
40.
Weizmann Institute of Science Israel
41. State University of Sao Paulo
Brazil
(Unesp)
42.
University California, San Diego USA
43.
University Of Rhode Island USA
44.
Gsi Gmbh, Darmstadt Germany
45.
University Of Cape Town South Africa
46.
Tu Dresden Germany
47.
Oklahoma State University USA
48.
University Of Notre-dame USA
49.
Tufts University USA
50. University of Massachusetts
USA
Dartmouth
Page 7 of 16S No Institute Name Country
51.
Utrecht University Netherlands
52.
University at Buffalo USA
53.
University Of Nebraska-lincoln USA
54.
University of New Mexico USA
55.
University of Missouri USA
56.
University of Oslo Norway
57.
Universität Bayreuth Germany
58.
University of Birmingham United Kingdom
59.
Technische Universität Darmstadt Germany
60.
University of South Carolina USA
61. A ix-Marseille Université, Institut
France
Fresnel, Ecole CentraleMarseille
62.
University of Gothenburg Sweden
63.
Natural History Museum United Kingdom
64.
Louisiana State University USA
65.
Technical University of Dortmund Germany
66. Technion-Israel Institute of
Israel
Technology
67.
Brookhaven National Laboratory USA
68.
Technical University Munich Germany
69.
CNR - Institute for Complex Systems Italy
70.
University Of Illinois at Chicago USA
71.
Helmholtzzentrum Muenchen Germany
72.
National University of Singapore Singapore
Page 8 of 16S No Institute Name Country
73.
University of Tokyo Japan
74.
University of New South Wales Australia
75.
California State University USA
76.
University of California, Los Angeles USA
77.
Ecole Normale Supérieure- Cachan France
78.
Université de Liège Belgium
79.
University of California, Davis USA
80.
New Jersey Institute of Technology USA
81.
Kyushu University Japan
82.
Center for Genetic Regulation (CRG) Spain
83.
La Trobe University Canada
84.
Aberystwyth University United Kingdom
85. I nstitut de Physique du Globe de
France
Paris
86. University Of Kansas Medical
USA
Center
87.
University of Potsdam Germany
88.
JP Morgan & Chase USA
89.
Lehigh University USA
90.
University of Stuttgart Germany
(c) The duration of engagement for “VAJRA Faculty” was limited to
a maximum of three months per year. The program provided financial
support of USD 15,000 in the first month of residence, followed by
USD 10,000 for each subsequent month. In addition, a contingency
grant of ₹5.0 lakh per year was made available per VAJRA faculty for
the research-related expenses during their visit to the host
Page 9 of 16institution. No separate support was provided for travel,
accommodation, medical / personal insurance etc.”
The Indian Collaborator was provided financial assistance to cover
the expenses related to collaborative research activities.
Additionally, ₹1.0 lakh was allocated to support the engagement of
the VAJRA faculty in delivering lectures at the host institute, aligned
with their area of expertise.
The details of quantum of funds released and utilised under this
scheme to participating faculty, institute-wise is given below:-
S. No. Institute Funds released Funds utilised
(amount in (amount in
crores) crores)
1. Indian Institute of 3.88 3.17
Technology Madras
2. Indian Institute of 2.43 1.70
Science
3. Indian Institute of 1.60 0.82
Technology Bombay
4. Indian Institute of 2.74 1.83
Technology Delhi
5. National Centre for 0.60 0.60
Biological Sciences
6. Tata Institute of 0.78 0.78
Fundamental Research,
Mumbai
7. Raman Research 0.65 0.55
Institute, Bengaluru
8. Indian Institute of 1.66 0.96
Technology Kanpur
9. Indian Institute of 0.30 0.30
Technology, BHU
10. Ind i an Institute of 0.92 0.91
Technology, Gandhinagar
11. Ind i an Institute of 1.33 1.02
Technology, Hyderabad
12. Ind i an Institute of 0.60 0.60
Technology, Indore
Page 10 of 16S. No. Institute Funds released Funds utilised
(amount in (amount in
crores) crores)
13. Ind i an Institute of 0.19 0.10
Technology Kharagpur
14. Ind i an Institute of 0.34 0.20
Technology, Ropar
15. Ind i an Statistical 0.24 0.24
Institute, Bangalore
16. Ins t itute of Mathematical 0.13 0.13
Sciences
17. Int e rnational Institute of 0.12 0.12
Information Technology
Hyderabad
18. Co c hin University of 0.10 0.10
Science & Technology
19. S N Bose National Centre 0.74 0.53
for Basic Sciences,
Kolkata
20. Sre e Chitra Tirunal 0.11 0.10
Institute for Medical
Sciences & Technology
21. Ind i an Institute of 0.72 0.48
Science Education and
Research Pune
22. Ind i an Institute of 0.62 0.30
Technology Bhubaneswar
23. Ha r ish-Chandra Research 0.18 0.18
Institute
24. Int e r-University 0.91 0.87
Accelerator Centre, New
Delhi
25. Pun jabi University 0.47 0.32
26. Na t ional Institute of 0.31 0.14
Ocean Technology
27. Na t ional Institute of 0.49 0.21
Technology, Silchar
28. Un i versity of Delhi, South 0.78 0.46
Campus
Page 11 of 16S. No. Institute Funds released Funds utilised
(amount in (amount in
crores) crores)
29. Int e rnational Centre for 0.92 0.54
Theoretical Sciences,
TIFR
30. Ind i an Institute of 0.61 0.40
Technology Roorkee
31. Ins titute of Life Sciences 0.33 0.31
32. Ce n tral University of 0.30 0.15
Kerala
33. Ary abhatta Research 0.37 0.16
Institute of Observational
Sciences (ARIES)
34. Na t ional Institute of 0.23 0.0
Oceanography, Goa
35. Ch o udhary Charan Singh 0.15 0.15
Haryana Agricultural
University
36. Ce n tre for Nano and Soft 0.20 0.05
matter sciences (CeNS)
37. Bo s e Institute 0.20 0.17
38. Na t ional Institute of 0.18 0.0
Technology Calicut
39. Jaw aharlal Nehru Centre 0.60 0.40
for Advanced Scientific
Research, Bengaluru
(d) The details of the number of research projects initiated and
successfully completed under this scheme, institute-wise:-
No of
No of projects
S. No. Institute projects
completed
initiated
1. Indian Institute of 17 15
Technology Madras
2. Indian Institute of Science 7 4
Page 12 of 16No of
No of projects
S. No. Institute projects
completed
initiated
3. Indian Institute of 6 3
Technology Bombay
4. Indian Institute of 8 3
Technology Delhi
5. National Centre for 3 1
Biological Sciences
6. Tata Institute of 4 4
Fundamental Research,
Mumbai
7. Raman Research Institute, 2 2
Bengaluru
8. Indian Institute of 9 4
Technology Kanpur
9. Indian Institute of 2 2
Technology, BHU
10. Indian Institute of 3 3
Technology, Gandhinagar
11. Indian Institute of 4 1
Technology, Hyderabad
12. Indian Institute of 4 4
Technology, Indore
13. Indian Institute of 2 1
Technology, Ropar
14. Indian Statistical Institute, 1 1
Bangalore
15. Institute of Mathematical 1 1
Sciences
16. International Institute of 1 1
Information Technology
Hyderabad
17. Cochin University of Science 1 1
& Technology
18. S N Bose National Centre for 2 1
Basic Sciences, Kolkata
Page 13 of 16No of
No of projects
S. No. Institute projects
completed
initiated
19. Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute 1 1
for Medical Sciences &
Technology
20. Indian Institute of Science 3 2
Education and Research
Pune
21. Inter-University Accelerator 2 1
Centre, New Delhi
22. Indian Institute of 2 2
Technology Roorkee
23. Institute of Life Sciences 1 1
24. Harish-Chandra Research 1 1
Institute
25. Aryabhatta Research 1 0
Institute of Observational
Sciences (ARIES)
26. Bose Institute, Kolkata 1 0
27. CCS Haryana Agricultural 1 0
University, Hissar
28. Centre for Nano and Soft 1 0
matter sciences (CeNS)
29. Central University of Kerala 1 0
30. National Institute of 1 0
Oceanography, Goa
31. Indian Institute of 1 0
Technology Kharagpur
32. Indian Institute of 1 0
Technology, Bhubaneswar
33. National Institute of Ocean 1 0
Technology, Chennai
34. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for 1 0
Advanced Scientific
Research
Page 14 of 16No of
No of projects
S. No. Institute projects
completed
initiated
35. International Centre for 1 0
Theoretical Sciences (ICTS),
Bengaluru
36. National Institute of 1 0
Technology Calicut
37. University of Delhi, South 2 0
Campus
38. Punjabi University 1 0
39. NIT Silchar, Assam 2 0
(e) NIL.
(f) VAJRA Scheme has been conceptualized to bring an
international dimension to the R&D ecosystem of India by leveraging
overseas scientists’ expertise to the Indian research framework and
catalyzing potential institutional collaborations through faculty
exchange. The state-wise details of patents, as available with the
Department of Science and Technology (DST), are provided below:-
Patents Filed in India:
Punjab:
1. Singh, Malkeet, Singh, Harpreet, Berndt, Charles
Christopher, (2018) “A Technology and Process for Coating a
Substrate with Swarf Particles,” Application No:
201811029355., Date of Filing: 03/August/2018. Request for
Examination Filed: YES
2. Singh, Malkeet, Singh, Harpreet, Berndt, Charles
Christopher, Sarkar, Prabir, (2019) “A Technology and Process
for 3D Printing Using Swarf Particles,” Application No:
201923001267., Date of Filing: 10/January/2019. Request for
Examination Filed: YES
Page 15 of 16Uttar Pradesh:
(i) A process for making solid-state ion sensor for on-chip
determination of potassium ion in body fluid. Indian Patent
201811041978;
(ii) A process for making microneedle-based transdermal
biosensor involving polyethylenimine-modified Prussian blue-
gold nanohybrids-enzyme ink for on-chip electrochemical
biosensing in body fluid. Indian Patent 201811049930.
Odisha:
Patent application in preparation 'Development of an Infectious
Clone for an Indian Strain of Chikungunya Virus'
Patent Filed in United States
1. Singh, Malkeet., Singh, Harpreet., Berndt, Charles
Christopher., (2019) “A Technology and Process for Coating a
Substrate with Swarf Particles,” US Patent Application No.
16/352,331., Date of Filing: 13/March/2019. Request for
Examination Filed: YES
*****
Page 16 of 16