 SCIENTIFIC SURVEYS AND
 DEVELOPMENT

5.01. In the field of scientific research and development, this Ministry looks after the Survey of India, three other Scientific Surveys-Botanical, Zoological and Anthropological and the National Atlas Organisation, all of which are subordinate offices. It also provides financial 'assistance to institutions, organisations, scientific, societies and individuals working in the field (if scientific research.

A: SURVEY OF INDIA

5.02. Topographical and Development Project Surveys: During 1970- 71, about 80 per cent of the staff of the Survey of India was engaged on topographical surveys and mapping (including surveys for boundary demarcations and defence purposes) and the remaining personnel were employed on development project surveys. Mapping was undertaken in Nepal under the Colombo Plan. Field and photogrammetric surveys covering an area of 1,53,816 sq. km. on 1:50,000 scale, 60,346 sq. km. on 1: 25,000 scale, 31,250 sq. km. on 1: 250,000 scale and 7,52,039 sq. km. of verification survey for charts on 1: 1 M scale, were carried out during the year under report. The other main items of work carried out during the year include topographical surveys, surveys for landing and approach charts of different airfields, surveys for town and guide maps, forest surveys, surveys, for development projects, flood control and tidal observations and geodetic surveys..

5.03. Important Conferences: The officials of the Survey of India participated in several meetings/conferences held during the year. The more important of these include: (i) International symposium of I.S.P. of Commission IV held at Delft (Nether-

lands) on September 8-11, 1970; (ii) Symposium of Commission II and VII of International Society of Photogrammetry held at Dresden (GDR and Munich (West Germany) on September 10-21, 1970; and (iii) Sixth UN Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and Far East held at Tehran from October 24 to November 7, 1970.

5.04. Publications: Various topographical and geographical maps, weather charts, landing and approach charts, cantonment maps, tide tables, departmental and extra-departmental books and pamphlets were published. Translation of departmental publications in Hindi and preparation of provisional list of Hindi equivalents of surveying technology is in hand. Some bilingual technical forms and letter heads have been introduced.

5.05. Centre for Survey Training and Map Production: Preci- sion instruments and epuipment received for the Centre for Survey Training and Map Production, was installed and put into operation. The building of the Reproduction Block was completed in July, 1970 and that of the Production Block is nearing completion. The Centre has undertaken research and developmental activities covering (i) numerical cadestre and streamlining of cadestral methods, standardization of technology for 1/ 25,000 scale mapping, and automated system of selection of the most economical alignment of canals, roads and railways; (ii) new block adjustment procedure and independent model triangulation in photogrammetry; and (iii) colour troll technique and electronic circuit diagram in the sphere of cartography and printing. The last has been completed. Work on standardisation of symbology for scribing and import-substitution of stable polyster base has been taken in hand. On the printing side, the introduction of aluminium press plate and water-coat-proving have been successfully done.

5.06. Indian Photo-Interpretation Institute: The Institute continued to impart training in photo-interpretation according to schedule. At present, there are 16 geologists, 22 soil surveyors and 9 foresters under training at the Institute. New buildings for the Institute are under construction.

B: NATIONAL ATLAS ORGANISATION

5.07. During the year, one plate of 1/M Physical Series and 6000 copies of 1/M Transport and Tourism Madras Plate were printed off. Fair drawing of originals for 59 maps. covering 80 pages of the Atlas of India to be published for the National Book Trust, was completed. A number of maps for the Irrigation Atlas and the Tourist Atlas and Town and City maps have been at various stages of compilation, fair drawing, proving and printing.

5.08. The organisation prepared 4 large-size display maps in oil colour for the exhibition of and contributed for the Centenary Celebrations of the Calcutta Port Commission.

5.09. The programme for 1971-72 includes publication of fascicule of the National Atlas, comprising some 40 plates of the English edition of the Atlas and the National Book Trust Atlas of India and the completion of the final drawing of the originals of the Irrigation Atlas of India.

C: ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

5.10. Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Anthropological Survey : The Anthropological Survey of India, which is engaged on research and related activities in the field of anthropology in the country, completed 25 years of its existence in December 1970. The Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Survey was inaugurated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth Services on December 5, 1970 at Calcutta. The main features of the celebrations included publication of a souvenir giving the history and development of the Survey, holding of a national seminar on anthropology in India and organisation of a series of lectures by eminent anthropologists at selected centres in the country. The Anthropological Survey has also been reorganised and strengthened during the year to enable it to dis- charge its expanded responsibilities more effectively. The important research and related activities of the Survey during the year are given below.

5.11. Cultural Anthropology and Allied Subjects: 34 field investigations were undertaken during the year in the field of cul- tural anthropology and allied subjects. Among the other important activities of this Division the following deserve mention: (1) preparation of thematic maps of Varanasi City; (2) preparation of notation of tribal dance; (3) study of tribal linguistics with, reference to Thado Kuki, Chenchu and Maler; (4) intergroup stereo- types and social tension; and (5) traditional learning among Muslims of Calcutta. Seven reports/papers on the projects/studies undertaken were published and 25 others were completed during the year.

5.12. Physical Anthropology and Auxiliary Activities: 34 field investigations were undertaken by the Physical Anthropology Division and 12 by the Auxiliary Division of the Survey. Analysis of data collected during the year under review and during the earlier years in connection with the projects on dermatoglyphy, anthropometry, serology, anthropo-demography, growth and nutritional study, haemoglobin variants, osteology (Rupkund finds and dental 'anthropology), etc., was taken up. Study and analysis of environmental effect on somatic variability, analysis of anthropometric data collected under the All-India Anthropomettric Survey, both South and north zones, and study of some population groups in Santal Parganas and Palamau district and caste groups in coastal Orissa, were also undertaken. A departmental seminar was organised on July 7-9, 1970, in which 36 papers on various aspects of physical anthropology and statistics were read. Cine films depicting the cultural life of the people of Spiti and the Bison Horn Maria, were completed.

5.13. Publications: Five memoirs and five bulletins of the Survey were published during the year, besides the three other publications, namely, (i) Research; Programmes on Cultural Anthropology and Allied Division, (ii) Tribal Map of India-Annexure to the Tribal Map of India, and (iii) Hindustan Ke Adivasi (Urdu).

D: BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

5.14. Flora of India Project: An important project undertaken by the Botanical Survey relates to the revision of the Flora of British India', by J. D. Hooker (Volume I of the Flora of India). Out of 42 families included in the Hooker's Flora, 21 families have been assigned to the officers of the Survey and 4 families to those of the Forest Research Institute and colleges. The remaining families are being assigned.

5.15. Separate projects on the flora of- the various parts of the country, have been taken up. Check-lists of the plants of Bombay, flora of Tripura, and Manual of Alpine Plants of the Western Himalayas have been completed and are in the process of being published. Besides, flora of Goa, Daman & Diu and Nagar Haveli, flora of Nongpoh (Assam), flora of Howrah district (W.B.) and a study of the vegetation of the Hissar district (Haryana), with special reference to the sand- dune areas adjoining Rajasthan, were completed.

5.16. Explorations: Botanical explorations, according to the Survey's usual programme, were continued on the five Regional Circles, Central National Herbarium and the headquarters organisation. The total number of accessioned sheets in different Herbaria of the Survey now stands as under:

        
             (i) Central National Herbarium, Calcutta          6,48,300
        
             (ii) Eastern Circle, Shillong                     859,800
        
             (iii) Western Circle, Poona                       1,09,750
        
             (iv) Northern Circle, Debra Dun                   44,800
        
             (v) Southern Circle, Coimbatore                   1,55,600
        
             (vi) Central Circle, Allahabad                    25,250

5.17. Publications: Roxburgh's Icones Fascicule No. IV, and Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India Vol. 10, were brought

out during the year. 26 scientific papers contributed by the officers of the Survey awaited publication.

5.18. Collaboration with Universities: Facilities were extended to university teachers and students by the different herbaria of the Survey for the identification and critical study of specimens, supply of research materials, and training in herbarium techniques and methodology.

5.19. Training: Under Colombo Plan, two officers of the Botanical Survey were sent to the United Kingdom for one year for training in taxonomy and systematic botany.

E: ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

5.20. Field Surveys: The intensive and extensive faunistic explorations of several parts of the country carried out during the year for study and collection were: (i) inland and-sea-shore fauna from A & N Islands; (ii) fresh water protozoans from the Chilka Lake (Orissa); (iii) general fauna, with special reference to annelids (earthworms) and helminths (parasitic worms) from Goa; (iv) marine molluscs specially the ship-worms (wood-borers) from Mysore coast; (v) faunistic survey with special reference to insects of Kottayam district (Kerala); (vi) general fauna with emphasis on insects (Coleoptera), annelids and amphibians of Darjeeling district (W. Bengal); (vii) helminth fauna from the Nagarjunakonda area; (viii) subterranean soil mesofauna from the shallow black soil of some parts of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas of Maharashtra; (ix) collection of fossils from Tiruchirapally and adjacent areas of Tamilnadu, and (x) freshwater fishes from the river Atrai and its tributaries in North Bengal. Diu Islands were explored by the Survey for the first time and while doing so, the fauna of adjacent areas in Gujarat state were also collected for study. Collection of marine organism, thus made is under study. A joint Daphabum Scientific Survey Expedition was carried out by the scientists of the Zoological Survey, in collaboration with other sister Surveys, viz.,

Geological Survey, Botanical Survey and Anthropological Survey, for a period of two and a half months, for a study and collection of its general fauna with special emphasis on the insect fauna of medical and veterinary importance.

5.21. The Regional Stations of the Zoological Survey under- took general faunistic studies of Jeori, Kalpa, Sarahan in Lahaul and Spiti valleys (H.P.) for general high altitude fauna, Corbett National Park and its adjoining areas for study of major wild. life, and Tuticorin and Kerala coast for marine fauna. Besides, intensive local field surveys for the regional fauna were continued at Shillong, Patna, Dehra Dun, Solan, Jodhpur, Poona, Jabalpur and Madras by the Regional Stations situated in these places.

5.22. Research Work: Research was carried out on systematics, ecology and zoogeography of selected groups of animals such as the protozoans, helminths, annelids, sipunculids, crustaceans, molluscs, insects of different orders, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, collected by the departmental field survey parties from different parts of the country. As a result. of these studies 88 research papers were prepared out of which 42 were published and 46 were sent for publication. Four research fellows continued their studies on the systematics of siphonophores (collenterata), aphids (homoptera insecta), marine fishes of the family soleidae, and ecology of some ungulates. In addition, seven research trainee scholars were working on the systematics of certain groups of animals.

5.23. National Zoological Collections: About 12,658 authentically identified specimens pertaining to 1,222 species were incorporated in the National Zoological Collections of the Zoological Survey. These. include type specimens belonging to 32 new species and 355 specimens pertaining to 75 species new to the collections. These additions have been made mainly as a result of identification of zoological material and research work carried out by the scientists of the department and partly by exchange and donation of material from outside.

5.24. Library and Laboratory Services: At the national level, library and laboratory facilities were extended to several members of staff and research scholars of various universities, Bombay Natural History Society, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Fisheries Research Institutes,. etc. Zoological collections of interest were shown to several batches of postgraduate students at their instance. Similar facilities were also extended to a number of scientists from abroad. Besides, the Zoological Survey continued to render identification and advisory services to various research and teaching institutions in this country and abroad.

5.25. Publications: The following departmental periodicals were published during the period; (1) Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Vol. 62(1&2); (2) Records of the Zoological Survey of India Vol. 62(3&4); and (3) Memoirs of the Zoological Survey of India Vol. 15(1).

F: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

5.26. Encouragement of Scientific Societies/Associations/Re- search Institutes: To encourage scientific research, the Ministry continued to give grants to a number of private scientific research institutions, associations, scientific academies and societies for the maintenance and advancement of their work. The grants were paid to the scientific bodies for expanding and enlarging their research and development activities, publication of scientific journals and literature, holding conferences, symposia and seminars, institution of research fellowships, purchase of equipment, furniture and library books, and construction of laboratories.

5.27. International Scientific Unions: The Indian National Science Academy is the adhering body for the International Council of Scientific Unions ICSU and its affiliated bodies for international scientific co-operation and promotion of international understanding amongst scientists of different nations through participation in scientific conferences, scientific programmes and collaboration in special fields through exchange of personnel.

5.28. National Research Professors: Prof. S. N. Bose, Dr. P. V. Kane, Dr. V. R. Khanolkar, Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterjee and Dr. S. R. Ranganathan continued as National Research Professors.

5.29. Encouragement to Research Scholars: Under the Scheme of Training Research Scholars, the following scholarships were allotted during this year:

        
        (i)  Indian Association for the Cultivation of 
             Science, Jadavpur, Calcutta                       22
        
        (ii) Bose Institute, Calcutta                          13
        
        (iii) Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow  6
        
        (iv) Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of
             Science, Poona                                    4
        
                                                               45

5.30. Partial Financial Assistance to Eminent Scientists Going Abroad: Financial Assistance to the extent of Rs.3,500 in the UK and other European countries and Rs. 5,000 in the USA was given to Indian scientists for participation in international conferences. During the year, seventeen scientists were extended financial assistance under this scheme.

5.31. National Research Development Corporation of India: The annual production from commercial exploitation of researches is increasing and the total value of production based on the processes licensed by the Corporation up to March 31, 1970 was about Rs. 30 crore resulting in foreign exchange saving to the extent of Rs. 22 crore. During the period between 1st April and 31st December, 1970, 47 licence agreements for the commercial utilisation of the various processes developed at different laboratories and institutes were negotiated. During the year Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research, Delhi, which had completed the feasibility trials as well as market trials in respect of the project "Built-in-Lubrication" in the previous year, started development work at the factories of M/s. Delhi Cloth & General Mills, Delhi. The process was licensed to M/s. D. C. M., Delhi. Shri Ram Institute is now taking up further work at the factories of M/s. Bombay Dyeing and Shri Ram Mills, Bombay. The

processes that have gone into production during the period between April 1, and December 31, 1970 are as below:

        1. Metal Oxide Film Resistors                CECRI, Karaikudi
        2. Benzidine                                      do.
        3. Dioctyl and Di-Butyl Phthalate            NCL, Poona
        4. Orthotolyl Biguanide                           do.
        5. Anti-Corrosive Packaging Paper            DRL (M), Kanpur
        6. Medical Instruments                       CSIO, Chandigarh

5.32. Scientific Delegations: The following delegations were sponsored by the Indian National Science Academy and other scientific and research organisations: