Parliament Question: S&T related Schemes and Employment/Self-Employment Ventures

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2010 ANSWERED ON 11/02/2026 S&T RELATED SCHEMES AND EMPLOYMENT/SELF-EMPLOYMENT VENTURES †2010. SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI: Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of the science and technology-related schemes being implemented in various parts of the country particularly in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; (b) the number of persons who have benefited from these schemes during the last two years in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli including the number of women beneficiaries and the number of persons who have been assisted in starting their own employment/self- employment ventures, scheme-wise; (c) the State and district-wise details in this regard; (d) the positive steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure smooth implementation of these schemes and to extend their reach to people in rural areas across the country so that the benefits of these schemes reach all sections of society; and (e) the details of steps taken by the Government so far in this regard? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) The Ministry of Science and Technology is implementing various Central Sector schemes across the country with the objective of promoting research and development (R&D), innovation, entrepreneurship, technology dissemination, and inclusive socio- economic development. Page 1 of 6These schemes are implemented through a competitive, proposal- based mechanism, and do not have State or district-wise budgetary allocations. Institutions, researchers, startups and innovators across all States and Union Territories, including Dadra and Nagar Haveli, are eligible to apply as per the prescribed guidelines of the schemes. Following are the major schemes being implemented. The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme is operational under the Department of Science & Technology (DST),with an objective to enhance private sector participation in R&D. The scheme supports low-interest &long-term financing in high-risk, high-impact R&D projects and startups. The Scheme covers sunrise sectors such as energy security and climate action; deep technologies such as quantum, robotics and space; artificial intelligence applications; biotechnology and biomanufacturing; pharmaceuticals and medical devices; digital economy, and other technologies critical for strategic and economic security of the country. DST, under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) has supported the development of indigenous capabilities in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum materials, along with the creation of an ecosystem with strong R&D and skilled manpower base in quantum technologies. DST has supported research infrastructure schemes such as the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST), Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE), Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF), and Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI) to strengthen advanced research facilities in academic and R&D institutions. The National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) program of DST has supported innovation-driven and technology-based startups through prototyping, incubation, seed funding, and entrepreneurship development activities. Under NIDHI PRAYAS program, mentoring and financial assistance is provided to innovators and entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, for proof of concept and prototype development, helping them to create their own ventures and employment. Under NIDHI EiR (Entrepreneur in Residence) program, entrepreneurial mentoring and financial support is Page 2 of 6provided to students to pursue entrepreneurship, create ventures and employment. Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programmes, including INSPIRE–Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge (MANAK), INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) and Vigyan Jyoti, has been supporting meritorious youth, through scholarships and fellowships, to pursue studies in basic and natural sciences at the college and university levels and to take up research careers in basic and applied science disciplines, including engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary sciences etc. Climate, Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) program has supported R&D in renewable energy, hydrogen and fuel cells, advanced energy storage, carbon capture and utilisation, methane mitigation, and technologies for hard-to-abate sectors. National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM- ICPS), has established Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) in leading institutions with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, cybersecurity, and related areas. Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supports research and development across the country through the Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme, covering Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D), Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED), and Biomanufacturing &Biofoundry. (b) to (c): The State-wise details of the number of persons who have directly benefited under the specific schemes during the last two years are placed at Annexure-I. (d) to (e): The Government has taken several positive steps to ensure smooth implementation, effective outreach, and equitable access, particularly in rural, aspirational, and underserved regions. Following activities have been supported:  Establishment of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs for holistic development of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Page 3 of 6Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, aimed at livelihood creation and quality-of-life improvement.  Technology awareness, demonstration, and adoption programmes at the grassroots level to enhance the outreach of R& D schemes.  Establishment of Technology Enabling Centres (TECs) in universities to promote industry–academia–government collaboration, translational research, and local innovations.  Capacity building, skill development, and entrepreneurship training to enable participation from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.  NIDHI Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (NIDHI – iTBI) Program to promote entrepreneurship in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, with a focus on inclusiveness in terms of geographies, gender, persons with special abilities, etc. Page 4 of 6Annexure-I State-wise number of direct beneficiaries S. Name of Number of direct beneficiaries of the specific No. States/UTs program (DST) Entrepreneur- NIDHI– INSPIRE in-Residence PRAYAS Programme (NIDHI–EiR) Programme (Scholarship, Programme Fellowship & Faculty Fellowships) 1. Andhra Pradesh 1 21 288 2. Arunachal -- -- 15 Pradesh 3. Assam -- 10 691 4. Bihar -- 13 1270 5. Chhattisgarh -- 2 2360 6. Goa 3 1 95 7. Gujarat 11 52 745 8. Haryana -- 21 734 9. Himachal 2 2 888 Pradesh 10. Jharkhand -- 2 194 11. Karnataka 5 81 964 12. Kerala 3 41 3093 13. Madhya -- 9 3401 Pradesh 14. Maharashtra 11 71 1797 15. Manipur 2 -- 636 16. Meghalaya -- -- 143 17. Mizoram -- -- 51 18. Nagaland -- -- 73 19. Odisha 3 32 920 20. Punjab -- 5 535 21. Rajasthan 3 23 13052 22. Sikkim -- -- 10 23. Tamil Nadu 23 99 762 Page 5 of 6S. Name of Number of direct beneficiaries of the specific No. States/UTs program (DST) Entrepreneur- NIDHI– INSPIRE in-Residence PRAYAS Programme (NIDHI–EiR) Programme (Scholarship, Programme Fellowship & Faculty Fellowships) 24. Telangana 5 44 490 25. Tripura -- -- 42 26. Uttarakhand -- 4 2089 27. Uttar Pradesh 12 29 29246 28. West Bengal 3 11 3875 29. Andaman and -- -- 4 Nicobar Islands 30. Chandigarh -- 1 136 31. Dadra and -- -- 2 Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 32. Jammu and -- 4 284 Kashmir 33. Delhi 2 14 775 34. Pondicherry -- -- 20 ***** Page 6 of 6