Parliament Question: Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5041 ANSWERED ON 23/03/2026 Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) 5041. Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) the details of the number of universities that have submitted proposals under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), phase-wise and State-wise; (b) the details of the number of proposals approved under SPARC, phase-wise and State-wise; (c) the details of funds sanctioned and released for SPARC projects, State-wise and phase-wise along with amounts utilised under the scheme; (d) the details of the number of collaboration projects undertaken under SPARC, including inter- institutional, international and industry linkages, State-wise; (e) the details of the outcomes of such collaborations, including research publications, patents filed, technology transfers, student/faculty mobility and any tangible socio-economic impact therefrom; and (f) the measures taken by the Government to enhance outreach to universities, improve the quality of proposals and ensure timely execution and monitoring of SPARC collaborations? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (f): The Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) was launched on 28th October 2018 with an aim to improve the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Education Institutions, with a budget outlay of Rs. 418 cr for the period 2018-19 to 2019-20. Due to COVID constraints, Phase – I projects were extended till September 2023. The scheme was further extended with SFC approval in December 2021 with additional budget outlay of Rs. 425.2 crores for a five year period from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Out of the total allocated budget of Rs 843.2 crore, projects worth Rs. 600.65 crores have already been sanctioned till 05.03.2026 under SPARC scheme. The scheme, inter-alia, facilitates joint research projects between top Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and the best foreign institutions on 12 themes of national and internationalimportance. Since its inception, four phases of SPARC have been launched, with 865 joint research projects so far awarded, out of which 392 have been completed and 473 are ongoing. Significant achievements under SPARC include: (i) visit of 850 foreign faculty to India and 150 Indian faculty members abroad for research and conducting courses, as well as training programmes and workshops, as part of their respective approved project; (ii) visit of 700 Indian students abroad and 150 foreign students to India for training and experimentation; (iii) organization of 967 workshops and 50 international conferences on SPARC identified themes; (iv) publication of 267 monographs and bringing out 1,700 journal publications, grant of 17 patents; (v) successful culmination of a SPARC project jointly undertaken by NIT, Tiruchirappalli and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil into an Indian startup "SWACHATA VIDYUT" focusing on plasma based gasification to convert various waste streams into value added energy products. With a view to expand outreach of SPARC among Indian universities, the Government has opened the ‘call for proposals under SPARC’ round the year. Further, seminars, documentation of success stories, publications, social media outreach activities are also undertaken on periodic basis for greater outreach. Recently, a National SPARC Conclave was organized during 8 & 9 March 2026 at IIT Kharagpur Research Park, Kolkata bringing together key stakeholders to review progress and share best practices under SPARC. Details of SPARC sanctioned projects phase and state wise is attached as Annexure. *****ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (F) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NUMBER 5041 FOR 23.03.2026 REGARDING “SCHEME FOR PROMOTION OF ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH COLLABORATION (SPARC)” ASKED BY SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO, HON’BLE MEMBER OF LOK SABHA Phases Projects State-wise approved proposals Approved Phase I 392 projects Assam(12), Bihar(3), Chandigarh(4), Chhattisgarh(1), (2018–23) Delhi(41), Gujarat(16), Haryana(6), Himachal Pradesh(10), Jharkhand(2), Karnataka(23), Kerala(10), Madhya Pradesh(13), Maharashtra(26), Odisha(12), Puducherry(6), Punjab(4), Rajasthan(12), Tamil Nadu(80), Telangana(19), Uttar Pradesh(28), Uttarakhand(15), West Bengal(49) Phase II 232 projects Andhra Pradesh(3), Assam(6), Bihar(3), Chhattisgarh(3), (2023–25 (2 Projects Delhi(21), Goa(6), Gujarat(1), Haryana(2), Himachal extended dropped) Pradesh(1), Jharkhand(2), Karnataka(16), Kerala(13), Madhya till March, Pradesh(7), Maharashtra(16), Meghalaya (1), Mizoram (4), 26) Odisha(4), Punjab(8), Rajasthan(5), Tamil Nadu(31), Telangana(25), Uttar Pradesh(24), Uttarakhand(7), West Bengal(21) Phase II B 30 projects Andhra Pradesh(3), Assam(1), Delhi(2), Jammu and (2024–26) Kashmir(1), Himachal Pradesh(1), Karnataka(2), Kerala(2), Madhya Pradesh(1), Maharashtra(2), Tamil Nadu(5), Telangana(4), Uttar Pradesh(1), Uttarakhand(3), West Bengal(2) Phase III 133 projects Assam(2), Delhi(11), Goa (3), Gujarat(2), Haryana(1), (2024–26) (1 project Himachal Pradesh(1), Karnataka(9), Kerala(5), Madhya dropped) Pradesh(6), Maharashtra(4), Odisha(7), Punjab(6), Rajasthan(8), Tamil Nadu(16), Telangana(14), Uttar Pradesh(7), Uttarakhand(10), West Bengal(20) Phase IV [ 12 projects Delhi(2), Gujarat(1), Karnataka(1), Kerala(3), Madhya SPARC- Pradesh(1), Uttar Pradesh(1), Uttarakhand(2), West Bengal(1) GIANT [(German Indian Academic Network for Tomorrow)] (2025–26) Phase IVA 66 projects Assam(1), Chhattisgarh(3), Delhi(3), Gujarat(2), Himachal (FY 2025- Pradesh(2), Jammu and Kashmir(3), Karnataka(4), Kerala(7), 26) Madhya Pradesh(1), Odisha(3), Punjab(2), Rajasthan(3), Tamil Nadu(16), Telangana(5), Uttarakhand(2), West Bengal(9) *****