Although, the Ministry of Science & Technology does not implement any Centrally Sponsored Schemes and also do not have any provision for making state-wise allocations, the Ministry in coordination with State Governments, including the State of Gujarat, implements some Central Schemes like Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Award scheme, State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP) and Patent Facilitation Cell (PFC) Programme and seek proposals from them. Details on INSPIRE Award, SSTP and PFC programmes for the last three years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 are as under:
(i) Under INSPIRE Award scheme of Department of Science & Technology (DST), two students are selected from every middle & high school of the country having classes 6 to 10 during a Five Year Plan period for an INSPIRE Award of Rs.5000/- each for preparing a Science Project/Model. Merit based selection of students is done by the State Government machinery involving Headmaster/ Headmistress/Principal of the schools. Award amount is directly sent to the selected children in the form of an INSPIRE Award Warrant issued by Bank. The awardees participate in the District Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (DLEPCs) and best 5% to 10% entries from the District are selected for participation in the State Level Exhibitions & Project Competitions (SLEPCs). Best 5% entries from the State/UT, subject to a minimum of 5 are selected to participate in the National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC). Implementation of the scheme is done by the State/UT Governments. All the 28 states and 7 UTs are participating in the scheme. Entire cost for conduct of competitions at various levels is borne by the Central Government. Money is released to State Nodal Officers in-charge of INSPIRE for organizing competitions at District and State Levels.
Under State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP) of DST annual core grant support is provided to State Science & Technology Councils. Core support is provided to State S&T Councils with the objective of facilitating these councils in planning, monitoring and implementing S&T activities in the States. This core grant assistance partially covers support for Scientific, Technical & Administrative manpower, travel, office expenses and modern office equipment etc.
Under Patent Facilitation Cell (PFC) programme of DST, 24 Patent Information Centres (PICs) are supported in various states including the State of Gujarat for creating awareness and extend assistance on protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) including patent, copyright, geographical indication etc. at state level. These PICs are also creating Intellectual Property Cells in Universities (IPCU) of their respective states. As of now 71 IPCU’s have been created in different universities of the states.
:2:
Year-wise details of the grants provided under the above programmes in the State of Gujarat during the last three years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 are as under:
(Rs. in lakhs)
|
Name of Programme
|
2010-11
|
2011-12
|
2012-13
|
Total
|
|
INSPIRE Award*
|
270.25
(5405)
|
1086.14
(21670)
|
1159.91
(23138)
|
2516.30
(50213)
|
|
SSTP
|
53.00
|
66.09
|
56.00
|
175.09
|
|
PFC
|
4.50
|
4.66
|
4.87
|
14.03
|
|
Total
|
327.75
|
1156.89
|
1220.78
|
2705.42
|
* figures in brackets indicate the number of INSPIRE Awards to all states.
In addition, the Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) of the Ministry of Science & Technology has taken steps to setup an Innovation Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in the 12th Five Year Plan for catalyzing innovation ecosystem in the region, incubating platform technologies in the identified areas, incubating spin-offs and nurturing Micro, Small and Medium Sector Enterprises (MSMEs) in the designated fields through innovative inputs etc.
Under the INSPIRE Programme out the proposal received from Government of Gujarat during the financial year 2012-13, sanction of 769 awards were pending as on 31st March, 2013. These pending proposals have been already processed for sanction.
The Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Shri S.Jaipal Reddygave this information in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.
Tags: Science And Technology
Inspire Awards
Pfc
State Science And Technology Programme
