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Thursday, December 3, 2009

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Quality of research work in Universities

LOK SABHA

Looking at the declining quality and quantum of scientific research in India, a Task Force under Prof. M.M. Sharma was constituted by the Central Government for basic Scientific Research in universities. In its Report, the Task Force has inter alia, recommended creation of 1000 positions of Research Scientists at various levels, five fold increase in the number of Ph.Ds from Indian universities within a span of ten years with proper standards, promotion of formal linkage between the Universities and national level institutions including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories through joint research projects and training, inbuilt component of research in post-graduate programmes pertaining to Science and Technology, upgradation of infrastructural facilities in universities to promote quality scientific research, and creation of networking centers in Basic Sciences in leading Departments of Universities to promote collaborative research. The Task Force has been converted into an Empowered Committee for monitoring the implementation of its recommendations. The following schemes have been implemented by UGC as per guidelines formulated by the Prof. M.M. Sharma’s Empowered Committee:

(i) 1800 Junior Research Fellows have been granted to the science departments recognized as CAS/DSA/DRS in universities,
(ii) Award of 500 Post-doctoral Fellowships in all areas of Science designated as “Dr.D.S. Kothari Post –doctoral Fellowships” has been launched.
(iii) An infrastructure strengthening grant of Rs.5 lakhs to each of the 700 science departments of 97 colleges with potential for excellence has been released by University Grants Commission (UGC).

The Government is implementing a Central Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Education through Information & Communication Technology (NMEICT) which has a provision of broadband connectivity to Universities and Institutions of higher learning. It was decided that the work of creation of the broadband network under NMEICT be entrusted to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) combine and they should be given flexibility to rope in Rail Tel and Power grid as per local needs. An amount of Rs.300.00 crore has been provided to the Department of Telecommunications during 2008-09 for the purpose.

On an average, every university will be provided a Local Area Network (LAN) of 400 nodes which will be connected via 1 Gbps link to the National Knowledge Network (NKN) Port. Government polytechnics and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) shall also be provided broadband connectivity under the scheme. BSNL has been asked to provide connectivity to 6000 colleges which are eligible to receive grants under section 12-B of the UGC Act in the first phase. The institutions shall also be provided e-learning material free of cost.

This information was given by the Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal, in a written reply to a question, in the Lok Sabha.