(vi) Voluntary organizations engaged in the S&T activities must be associated in the formulation and implementation of the State S&T plans.
(vii) District and village specific problems should be identified so that the challenges based on these can be thrown open to the scientific community. These problems should be made known to R&D institutions and specific teams must be identified for solving them.
(viii) Remote sensing centres should be made fully operational. The State National Informatics Centre (NIC) units, and the Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS) programmes, wherever they exist, should be integrated for evolving a S&T
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based information systems for the district level planning.
(ix) Each development sector must earmark a certain percentage of its plan outlay for the S&T activities, which should be executed by the concerned development department on the basis of advice given by their stand- ing research advisory committees/expert committees, and the State Council for S&T.
(x) Funds for the S&T activities in the States/UTs should be increased in the State plans and budgets especially in the socioeconomic sectors and these should be "earmarked" and not diverted/ reappropriated to any other programme.
(xi) In the planning process in the States/UTs, the S&T Secretaries/Heads of State S&T organizations including the State Councils should be involved/ consulted/represented to reflect the S&T efforts in all the development sectors.
(l) Management & Administration or S&T 18.3.45 With the growing demand on the application of science and technology to the various programmes of development, the S&T activities cannot be looked at in isolation from the others. These activities cannot remain limited to research institutions alone. The effective pursuit and the use of S&T in the Government both Centre and States, industry and in socioeconomic developmental programmes require a proper understanding of the management and administration of S&T in these structures. The basic requirement of having S&T personnel per- form and manage these activities may be common. The expertise and skills that need to be developed and the environment in which they are applied are however widely different. The administrative practices followed in autonomous research institutions, educational institutions, industry, voluntary field groups/agencies and Government organizations are so diverse that it becomes extremely difficult to provide a flexible deployment of S&T personnel from one organization to the other. Moreover, the skills acquired by a researcher in a laboratory may have to be suitably tuned and perhaps augmented with training programmes in different facets of manpower development. These include familiarization with skills for financial management or through learning of programme planning techniques, budgeting, public relations etc. In all these, the professional background and scientific thinking, with emphasis on innovation, curiosity and creativity must remain the hallmark of S&T personnel involved in different types of S&T activities described above.
18.3.46 During the Eighth Plan, this aspect of management and administration of S&T activities has to be fully appreciated and appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that science not only becomes a rewarding career in itself but that the S&T personnel are trained and encouraged to implement a wide variety of s&T programmes which are being taken up for national development. We should not only produce outstanding scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians for our R&D programmes but also ensure that an adequate number of highly trained S&T managers and administrators and field workers are also available for performing the multifaceted programmes of national development through the application of S&T.
(m) Organizational Structures and Framework 18.3.47 The organizational structure in most of the scientific agencies and national laboratories have been autonomous and quite independent of the structures in educational institutions. However, the efforts to establish linkages between these two structures is of recent origin. In the Eighth Plan, a far more integrated approach is needed for the promotion and utilization of the wide range of national S&T efforts that exists in the country. For this to become effective, some modifications in the organizational and management systems would be necessary.
18.3.48 There is a need to set up a mechanism in the form of a forum to bring about close interaction amongst the S&T departments/ agencies and the experts from the academic institutions, industries, and socioeconomic sectors and users.
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Seventh Plan Review
General 18.4.1 During the Seventh Plan, major efforts were directed towards optimal utilisation of the capabilities and the infrastructure already created for scientific and technological activities in the country. Some of the existing structures have been strengthened and augmented for taking up specific programmes. New structures have also been created in the high priority areas. A Department of Biotechnology was set up in February, 1986. An Apex Body under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister and a Project Management Board were established for dealing with the newly developing field of high temperature superconductivity. A Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) was also created. The Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (SAC-PM) comprising almost entirely of scientists and technologists from outside the Government system was also set up and a Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister was appointed.
18.4.2 A major action in the Seventh Plan involved National Technology/Societal Missions in the areas of vaccination and immunisa- tion of vulnerable population especially children; edible oil, intensive cultivation of oil seeds and oil extraction; better communications; drinking water in every village and water management; eradication of illiteracy; dairy development and wasteland development. The responsibility for the implementation of these was assigned to the concerned nodal ministries. Nine Science and Technology projects in the mission mode were also undertaken in the areas of immunological approaches to fertility control; integrated vector control of malaria, filaria and other vector-borne diseases; national goitre control programme with full coverage of UP; S&T inputs for monitoring development and production of immunodiagnostics; cattle herd improvement for increased productivity using embryo transfer technology; operationalisation of National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) and Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS); setting up of a National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting and development of agrometeorological services; development of amorphous silicon solar cell technology; and application of technology for the welfare and rehabilitation of the handicapped. These were monitored by the Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister.
18.4.3 Efforts were mounted to enter the newly emerging areas such as microelectronics, informatics/ telematics, biotechnology, new ma- terials, renewable energy sources, ocean sciences, and several other frontier areas of basic research. Some positive trends in the education of science and technology have emerged through programmes like COSIST. A few universities have emerged as centres where quality work in specific departments has reached a high level.
Activities of S&T Agencies 18.4.4 The Seventh Plan outlay and expenditure for the central S&T agencies and departments are given in Annexure 18.3. The expenditure during the period accounts for 1.17% of the public sector outlay.
Atomic Energy (R&D) 18.4.5 Through sustained R&D effort, capability has been developed in the field of nuclear energy. This covers the entire nuclear cycle including the exploration, mining, extraction, purification and conversion of nuclear materials, production of fuel elements for reactors, the design and construction of power reactors and their control systems for the units of 235 MWe capacity; production of heavy water; health and safety instrumentation; reprocessing of spent fuel; waste management and production and use of radio isotopes. Some of the other achievements include: operation of the 100 MWe Dhruva research reactor at full power from January 1988 and its utilisation; commissioning of the 14 MV Pelltron accelerator; the commissioning of the Fast Breeder Test Reactor; initiation of the design work on the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor; development work on advanced laser systems and the synchrotron radiation light source. The neutron source reactor KAMINI at Kalpakkam was completed and zero energy reactor PURNIMA III at Trombay attained criticality in 1991. Under the atomic energy programme, there have been wide-ranging applications of radio-isotopes in medicine, agriculture and industry. The numerous spin-offs from the R&D work include: neutron activation analysis for crime detection; development of beryllium technology for space programme; design of control systems for anten-
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nas etc. The design and development of advanced instrumentation systems for scientific research like the radio-telescope, mass spec- trometers, high vacuum systems, computer-controlled diffractometers and spectrometers etc. Three national programmes viz. National Centre for Characterisation of Pure Materials, Giant Meter Radio Telescope (GMRT) and a National Centre for Research in Biosciences were envisaged but except for the GMRT, the other two programmes could be initiated during the later years. The tasks of the selection and acquisition of site for the Giant Metre-Wavelengh Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune and also the basic design of GMRT were completed.
Biotechnology 18.4.6 An integrated programme was launched with the setting up of a Department of Biotechnology. Eleven national infrastructural facilities have been set up in various scientific institutions in the country which include germ plasm collection, animal house facilities, a centralised facility for the import and distribution of enzymes and biochemicals, protein-peptide sequencing, supply of oligoneucleotides, genetic engineering units and a network of bio-informatic system etc. A manpower training programme has been launched for providing the skilled manpower at various levels. Twenty six universities have set up separate departments of biotechnology. Four S&T projects in the mission mode were undertaken in the areas of cattle herd improvement using embryo transfer technology; development and production of immunodiagnostic kits; immunological approaches to fertility control and tissue culture of cardamom. Under the vaccine programme, a new joint sector unit called the Indian Vaccine Corporation Ltd. (IVCOL) is being set up with French Collaboration in Gurgaon district in Haryana to produce vaccines for measles; vero rabies (VRV); killed polio vaccine (KPV) and a quadruple vaccine (DPTP). The other unit in the public sector viz. Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corpo- ration Ltd., (BIBCOL) is being established in Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with the Soviet Technology Consultancy Cor- poration under the Long-Term Programme of Cooperation in S&T between India and Russia to manufacture 100 million doses of oral polio Vaccine. The embryo transfer techniques have been standardized in cattle. The National Institute of Immunology has developed products like animal fertility vaccine, TALSUR, immunodiagnostics for the early detection of pregnancy and immunodiagnostic kit for the amoebic liver abscess. Biotechnology Consortium India Limited (BCIL), a bioventure company has been set up in collaboration with industry and financial institutions with a view to facilitating commercialisation of biotechnology in India. Two major pilot plant facilities for providing a large number of planting materials at the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune and Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi have been set up. Major programmes were initiated on biological pest control, crop and animal biotechnology and aquaculture of fishes and prawns with specific targets and objectives.
Ocean Development 18.4.7 A first order survey of polymetallic nodules occurring in large quantities on the deepseabed in the central Indian Ocean was completed with delineation of a prospective area covering 300,000 sq. km., which formed the basis of the legislation and allotment of 150,000 sq. kms. mine site to India. Thus, India had become the first country in the world to get a mine site registered, as a Pioneer Investor, in August, 1987. Six scientific research expeditions to Antarctica have been launched since 1984. The second permanent station was established at Maitri in 1988 in the Schirmacher Hills. Two marine pollution centres were established at Bombay and Calcutta.
Science and Technology 18.4.8 In the overall promotion of Science & Technology, three new autonomous research institutions namely, the Institute for Plasma Re- search, Satyendra Nath Bose Centre for Basic Sciences and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research as well as an autonomous body called the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) were set up. Through the activities of the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) and other specific schemes for the promotion of research, several hundred projects were supported and regularly monitored through periodic reviews and through group monitoring workshops. The engineering research and technology promotion programmes have made substantial progress in the areas of new materials such as fibres and composites, micro-hydro turbines, computer-aided ship design and power
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engineering. The instrument development programme has resulted in the development of some selected instruments such as: IR-Spectropho- tometer, grain moisture analyser, field usable pH meters, etc. The science-and society related programmes have largely concentrated on developing technologies relevant to the improvement of living conditions for the rural population, weaker sections of the society and in particular, for the rural women. The nationally organized Bharat Jana Vigyan Jatha was a major feature of the science popularisation programme. Production of films like the Bharat Ki Chap, Ramanujan and C V Raman; publications in regional languages; introduction of courses on S&T Communication etc. are also some of the achievements. Under the S&T entrepreneurship development, 6 Science and Technology Enterpreneurship Parks (STEPs) have been set up; 20,000 S&T personnel were exposed to camps and this has resulted in 400 units, started by such entrepreneurs. To enhance our quantitative capability in the weather forecasting, a super-computer has been commissioned and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) has been set up as a S&T project in mission mode. Under the autonomous scientific institutions, some major facilities such as the 234 cm Vainu Bappu telescope the largest in Asia - has been set up at Kavalur. TOKOMAK facility for plasma confinement at Gandhinagar, a large millimetre wave radio telescope at Bangalore and modern facilities for biomedical engineering at Trivandrum have been set up.
Meteorology 18.4.9 The Indian Meterological Department has been working on the identification of high quality scientific programmes, improvement of services and removal of obsolescence. A cyclone warning centre was established on the west coast at Ahmedabad. Round-the-clock watch was introduced at the cyclone warning centres at Bhubaneshwar and Bombay. Messageswitching computers were installed at Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta airports. The messageswitching computer at the regional telecommunication hub was modernised. A storm detection radar, two sets of airport meteorological instruments and RTT/facsimile facilities at two centres were commissioned. Runway visual range observations were introduced at four national airports. Capabilities forecasting of monsoon are being developed.
Scientific and Industrial Research 18.4.10 The schemes of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) relate to National Information System for S&T (NIS- SAT), technology utilization, NRDC and CEL. Under NISSAT, eleven sectoral centres in the areas of leather, food, machine tools etc. and hard data centres in the areas of Crystallography and advanced ceramics were established. A number of technology utilization schemes, such as National Register of Foreign Collaboration (NRFC), Technology Absorption and Adaptation Schemes (TAAS) etc. have made an impact in facilitating interactions in many areas such as industrial research, transfer of technology and related aspects and consultancy development activities. As many as 1200 in-house R&D units were recognised under the programme of promotion of research in industry and for providing support to industrial R&D projects. Towards the end of the Seventh Plan, 40 projects of 20 industrial units were supported under the Technology Absorption and Adaptation Schemes (TAAS). A Consultancy Development Centre was also set up. Under the scheme on National Register of Foreign Collaborations (NRFC) technology status studies on 83 areas/products were initiated. As a result of ag- gressive marketing policy, the National Research Development Corporation's lumpsum premium had increased from Rs. 16.62 lakhs in 1984-85 to Rs. 43 lakhs in 1989-90. It has built up a close working and policy links also with the other public sector venture capital financing companies, namely the Risk Capital and Technology Corporation of IFCI and TDIC of ICICI Plan support for the Central Electronics Limited (CEL) was provided initially for an R&D project on multi-crystaline silicon solar cells (MSSC). Subsequently, S&T plan programme was evolved comprising 11 projects in three thrust areas viz., solar photovoltaics, electronic components and electronic systems.
18.4.11 Most of the work on the establishment and development of a few institutions under the CSIR viz., CCMB, CFB, IMT, Palampur Complex and RRL Bhopal, was completed by the end of the Seventh Plan. A number of new national facilities in the areas of testing of tower structures (SERC, Madras), acoustic
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testing (NAL), modular transfer function (CSIO), hydro-metallurgy (RRL/B) and novel drug testing on primates (CDRI), computeraided- design (CLRI) etc. were established with inhouse capabilities. The CSIR also participated in the national societal missions, undertook work on the frontier areas in basic sciences/high technology and endeavoured to develop scientific temper in the country. Evidence of the excellence of CSIR can be found in the breakthroughs achieved such as early flowering and seeding of tissue-cultured bamboo, improved strains of yeast for fermentation of molasses to ethanol for enhanced yield/productivity, a novel catalyst for a single step process for the production of ethylbenzene, a bimetallic catalyst for petroleum refining, centchroman - a novel once a week non-steroidal female contraceptive, etoposide an anti-cancer drug, azidothymidine an anti- AIDS drug, an indigenous probe for DNA finger-printing and liquid nitrogen SQUID. More importantly, some production processes were licensed to other countries such as gugulipid to France for $ 50,000; pentasil zeolite catalyst to Holland for $ 3,00,000 plus $ 6,50,000 as royalty; membranes for desalination plants to Thailand for $ 1,60,000; and azidothymidine and etoposide drugs to the Phillipines for $ 50,000. Consultancy for setting up of a Polymer Research Institute in China for a fee of $ 1,30,000 is another important landmark. Indus- trial production, based on CSIR knowhow/technologies, has increased from Rs. 650 crores in 1986-87 to Rs. 1300 crores in 1990-91. The total value of this production, over the last six years (1985-91), works out to over Rs. 4500 crores.