 SCIENTIFIC SURVEYS AND
 DEVELOPMENT

5.01. In the field of scientific research and development, the Ministry of Education and Youth Services directly 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 assistance to research institutions, laboratories, societies and individuals, working in this field.

A: SURVEY OF INDIA

5.02. Topographical and Development Project Surveys:

During 1969-70 about 80 per cent of the Department's staff strength was engaged on topographical survey and mapping (including surveys for the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs) and the remaining personnel was employed on development surveys. Mapping was undertaken in Nepal under the Colombo Plan. Field and photogrammetric surveys covering areas of about 2,40,000 sq. km. on 1:50,000 scale, 3,425 sq. km. on 1:25,000 scale and 3,52,000 sq. km. on 1:2,50,000 scale were completed during the current year in addition to cantonment, guide map and development project area surveys. The other main items of work carried out during the period include, generally, topographical surveys, surveys for landing and approach charts of different airfields, surveys for town and guide maps, development project surveys, town/area planning surveys, forest surveys, flood control surveys and tidal observations, geodetic surveys and boundary demarcation surveys.

5.03. Importance Conferences :

The officials of the Survey participated in several meetings/conferences held during the

year. The more important of these include : (i) the meeting; between the representatives of the Governments of India and. Pakistan held at New Delhi between 4th and 6th April, 1969 at Husainwala on 9th, 10th, 17th and 18th June, 1969 and at Islamabad between 8th and 10th September, 1969 in connection, with the demarcation of the boundary between India and Pakistan in the Gujarat-West Pakistan sector; (ii) the Indo-Nepal, Boundary Meeting at Valmikinagar (Nepal) from 27th to 29th April, 1969; (iii) the meeting of the Indian and Pakistan survey teams at Gandasingwala border between 14th and 16th May, 1969 regarding demarcation of boundary in Gujarat-West Pakistan sector; (iv) the meeting of the Indo-Burma Joint Boundary Commission at Delhi in June, 1969; (v) the 8th Conference of the Directors of Land Record and Surveys, Tripura and East Pakistan at Agartala from 15th to 17th July, 1969; and (vi) a meeting of the Survey of India officials on 6th and 7th August, 1969 in connection with Assam-Bhutan boundary demarcation work.

5.04. Publications:

Various topographical and geographical maps, project maps, weather charts, landing and approach charts, cantonment maps, tide tables, departmental and extra-departmental books and pamphlets were published during the period. Translation of departmental books into Hindi and preparation of provisional lists of Hindi equivalents of surveying, terminology is in hand, while some bilingual technical forms and letter heads have been introduced.

5.05. Pilot Production and Training Centre, Hyderabad:

Precision instruments and equipment involving foreign exchange which has been ordered for the project are being received in, stages. The development of land and construction of buildings is in hand. The construction of Reproduction Block has been completed and the Production Block is nearing completion.

5.06. Indian Photo-Interpretation Institute :

The Institute continued its training programmes successfully. At present 19

geologists, 15 soil surveyors and 8 foresters are under training, while 3 engineers completed their training on October 15, 1969.

B: NATIONAL ATLAS ORGANISATION

5.07. During the year, 6 plates of the main English edition of the National Atlas on 1:1M scale of Transport and Tourism series were printed. A large number of other maps including special types of city and town maps for tourists were at various stages of compilation, fair drawing, proving and printing. Besides continuing the work of compiling the main English edition of the National Atlas of India, the Organisation proposes, to undertake two new schemes during 1970-71, viz., (1) preparation of a Tourist Atlas of India; and (2) establishment of a Field Research Unit with 2 parties, one each for Southern and Northern India.

C: ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

5.08. Steps are being taken to review the entire working of the Anthropological Survey of India and to streamline its working in greater collaboration with the universities and other research institutions and in keeping with modem trends.

5.09. Publications and Documentation:

Ten reports and papers were published in physical, cultural and other sections of the Survey during the year. In addition, 27 reports and papers were completed and another nine are expected to be completed by March 1970. A cine film depicting the cultural life of the Rabari tribe of Saurashtra was edited. Photographic documentation illustrating the cultural life of the Spitialee in, Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh was carried out.

5.10. Field Investigations :

The survey continued its research programmes in physical and cultural anthropology and several important field investigations were undertaken during the year in both these areas.

D: BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

5.11. Botanical Explorations :

Several important botanical ,,explorations were carried out during the period under review. Besides, a party of 2 officers and 5 staff members from the Eastern Regional Circle, has been sent with the joint expedition of the different Survey Departments to Dephabum, in North East Frontier Agency and a joint expedition has been organised by the Geological Survey of India under the auspices of the National Institute of Sciences of India.

5.12. The herbarium specimens collected and accessioned in the various herbaria of the Survey are at present as below:

                                          
             (a)  Central National Herbarium                      5,53,000
             
             (b)  Eastern Circle, Shillong                          85,520
        
             (c)  Western Circle, Poona                           1,09,573
        
             (d)  Southern Circle, Coimbatore                     1,55,614
        
             (e)  Northern Circle, Dehra Dun                        27,372
        
             (f)  Central Circle, Allahabad                         27,372

These are in addition to those in Cyto-taxonomic Herbarium. Ecological Herbarium, and Cryptogamic Herbarium maintained by the Survey.

5.13. Research Papers:

More than 60 scientific papers have been prepared and five publications brought out during the period.

5.14. Training :

Under Colombo Plan two officers of the Survey who had attended a training course in taxonomy in the University of Edinburgh, returned in July, 1969 while a scholar from Nepal is undergoing training in herbarium methodology and techniques in the Central National Herbarium from 1st December, 1969. Three officers were sent to the USSR in April, 1969 for a six-month training under the Indo-USSR Cultural Exchange Programme.

5.15. Indian Botanic Garden :

Research schemes in progress in the Indian Botanic Garden are: (i) studies on growth behaviour of ornamental Solanums; (ii) trials of 'Bonsai' of some woody and some ornamental Cacti and succulents; (iii) palaeo-taxonomical studies on Capparidaceae, Bigoniaceae, Maliaceae, Tiliaceae, and Bombacaceae; (iv) studies on vascular epiphytes of the Garden; (v) studies on the identification of parasites in relation to their host plants; (vi) propagation and rooting be haviour of some non-seed-setting plants; and (vii) introduction and acclimatisation behaviour of some temperate, sub-tropical and tropical exotic plants in the soil of the Garden.

5.16. Orchidria of the Survey:

A 'gift'of nearly 50 species orchids in about 350 pots and 72 blocks, mostly from the Assam hills and a few hybirds of Cymbidium and Cypripedium of American origin have been received from the Estate of late E.P. Gee, as per his 'Will' and these have been incorporated in the National Orchidarium under Eastern Circle at Shillong. Orchids from this Orchidarium were sent as exhibits for an exhibition in Switzerland. In the Orchidarium at Yarcaud, Sheveoy Hills. under Southern Circle, 63 sets of 18 species of orchids were introduced and 189 orchids representing 26 species were multiplied during the period.

E: ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

5.17. Field Surveys :

Intensive as well as extensive faunistic explorations were carried out during the year. In addition to intensive local field surveys, the Regional Stations also conducted surveys of Narmada River (Madhya Pradesh), Kumaon Hills (UP), Simla Hills, parts of Gujarat and Southern Bihar for the study and collection of zoological material.

5.18. Research Work:

Research work was carried out on systematics, ecology and zoogeography of selected groups of animals a result of these studies over 98 research papers were prepared out of which 51 were sent to press and 47 published.

5.19. National Zoological Collections :

About 6,194 authentically identified specimens pertaining to 1,176 species, were incorporated in the National Zoological Collections at the Zoological Survey of India. These include 253 type-specimens belonging to 62 species new to science and 255 type-specimens pertaining to 74 species which are new to the National Zoological Collections.

5.20. Identification and Advisory Services:

During the period, enquiries from 181 parties were attended to of these, 99 were supplied with identification of specimens. Twelve scientific enquiries, received from abroad, were also attended to.

5.21. Miscellaneous :

The Director and a number of other officers attended the 10th General Assembly of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources held at New Delhi from November 24, 1969 and presented papers. A seminar was held in the Survey on May 15-17, 1969 on "Fifty Years of Faunistic Survey in India". It covered reviews of activities on different groups of animals surveyed or studied during the course of the last 50 years. Abstracts of some 28 research papers were printed and the papers discussed in detail. The Survey published two volumes in the Fauna of India series: one on Fishes by Dr. K. S. Misra and another on Grylloidea (Crickets) by Dr. L. Chopard

F: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

5.22. Encouragement of Scientific Societies/Associations/ Research Institutes :

To encourage scientific research, the Ministry continued to give grants to a number of private scientific research institutions, associations, academies and societies for expanding their research activities, publishing scientific journals and literature, holding conferences, symposia and seminars, instituting research fellowships, purchasing equipment, furniture, and library books, and constructing laboratories. During the period, up to February 5,1970, a total amount of Rs. 52,16,299 was given to such scientific bodies.

5.23. National Committees :

The work relating to the National Committees in India for International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and its affiliated international scientific unions is being looked after by the National Institute of Sciences of India, New Delhi. The work relating to the Indian National Committee for Type- Cultures of Micro-organisms which was hitherto being looked after by the Ministry has also been transferred to the latter during the period. The Institute acting through the chairmen of national committees in India adheres to the ICSU and its affiliated bodies.

5.24. National Research Professors :

Dr. C. V. Raman, Prof. S. N. Bose, Dr. P. V. Kane, Dr. V. R. Khanolkar, Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterjee and Dr. S. R. Ranganathan continued to be National Research Professors.

5.25. Encouragement to Research Scholars :

A total of 45 scholarships continued to be allotted to the following institutions: (i) Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences, Jadavpur, Calcutta (22); (ii) Bose Institute, Calcutta (13); (iii) Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaebotany, Lucknow (6); and (iv) Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science, Poona (4).

5.26. Partial Financial Assistance to Eminent Scientists Going Abroad :

Financial assistance varying from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000 was given to four Indian scientists for their participation in international conferences, etc. during 1969-70.

5.27. 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 31st March, 1969 is Rs. 25.60 crores which has resulted in savings in foreign exchange to the extent of about Rs. 20 crores. During the period between 1st April and 31st December, 1969, 63 licence agreements for the commercial utilization of various processes developed at different laboratories/institutes, Indian Agricultural Research institute and Ministries of Defence and Railways were negotiated.

5.28. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore is now engaged in designing the know-how for station class arresters, incorporating certain latest techniques. Further they are working on D.C. arresters for the Electric Traction Departments of Bombay and Calcutta. Steps to evaluate the work done so far on the project by an engineering consultancy firm are also being taken. During the year, Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research, Delhi, completed the feasibility and market trials of the process for improving abrasion and tear resistance of cotton, textiles at D.C.M. in respect of the project, "Built-in-Lubrication", and is now taking up further work at the Bombay Dyeing and Shri Ram Mills Bombay.

5.29. The processes that have gone into production during the period between 1st April and 31st December, 1969 are as below:

                                          
 
         
             (1)  Rust and Scale Removing Jelly               CECRI, Karaikudi
        
             (2)  Ice Flake Machine                           CMERI, Durgapur
        
             (3)  Horizontal Double Twist Punching Machine          Do.
        
             (A)  Vertical Paper Wrapper Machine (loop cable)       Do.
        
             (5)  High Speed Twisting Machine                       Do.
        
             (6)  Paper-cum-Cotton Thread                           Do.
        
             (7)  Single Channel Strain Indicator             N.A.L. Bangalore
        
             (8)  Single Channel Thermocouple Amplifier             Do.

5.30. Scientific Delegations:

Delegations were sponsored by the National Institute of Sciences of India/Indian Association, for the Cultivation of Science/Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeo-botany to the following Conferences or Seminars:

(i) The VIII General Assembly and Congress of the International Union of Crystallography held at Stony Brook, Long Island, USA on August 13-24, 1969.

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(ii) The XVI General Assembly of the International Union. of Radio Science hold at Ottawa, Canada on August 18-29, 1969.

(iii) The 131st Annual Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science held at Exeter, UK on September 3-10, 1969.

(iv) The General Assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics held at Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia on September 11-13, 1969.

(v) he XXII International Congress of Pure and Applied,Chemistry and the XII International Congress of Coordination Chemistry held at Sydney on August 20-27, 1969.

(vi) An International Symposium on Macromolecular Chemistry held under the auspices of the International Union of Pure Applied Chemistry at Budapest on August 25-30, 1969.

(vii) The first International Congress on Mathematical Education held at Lyon on August 23-30, 1969.

(viii) The XI International Botanical Congress held at Seattle from 24th August to 2nd September, 1969.

(ix) The III International Biophysics Congress/General Assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics held at Cambridge, USA, from 29th August to 3rd September, 1969.

(x) The 25th Annual Session of the Ceylon Association for the Advancement of Science held at Colombo on December 17-22, 1969.

(xi) A Colloquium on Liquid Crystals held at Montpellier, France, on Tune 5-11, 1969.

(xii) An International Conference and Seminar on Archaeology held at Colombo on August 21-27, 1969.

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5.31. Indian Science Congress :

The 57th Session of the Indian Science Congress was held at Kharagpur on January 3-9 1970 under the presidentship of Dr. L. C. Verman. The session was inaugurated by Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India.

5.32. Financial Allocations:

Financial allocation for Scientific Surveys and Development during 1969-70 and 1970-71 are as given below :

                                                          (Rs. in lakhs)
                                          
        S.                                      Provision for 1969-70  Budget
        No.            Scheme                                        Estimates
                                                   Original   Revised    for
                                                                       1970-71
                                          
        1  Survey of India                          571.490   590.359  658.828
        
        2  National Atlas Organisation               12.840    11.123   13.383
        
        3  Anthropological Survey of India           20.458    17.722   22.906
        
        4  Botanical Survey of India                 41.673    40.420   53.792
        
        5  Zoological Survey of India                33.727    31.826   38.569
         
        6  Grants-in-aid to Scientific Societies
             and Institutes                          82.313    94.562   91.123
        
        7  National Research Professors
         
             (i) Payment of Salaries                  1.870      1.934   3.549
        
             (ii) Expenditure on Research Work         1.120     1.061   1.179
        
        8  National Research Development Cor-
             poration                                12.100    11.145   1.770
        
        9  International Scientific Unions            2.740     2.740   2.180

SCIENTIFIC SURVEYS AND DEVELOPMENT