India 2018

Scientific and Technological Developments 481
A National Postdoctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) scheme will allow the best
of 3000 scientists to stay in India to serve and strengthen R&D institutions,
industry and universities. To augment quality manpower in niche areas of
research, overseas doctoral fellowship was launched in 2015-16. Under this
programme, fellowship to Indian students graduating from Indian universities/
institutes to pursue PhD in select areas of science, technology, engineering and
medicine in academic institutions of international repute abroad are to be
provided.
A scheme for funding High Risk-High Reward Research to work on cuttingedge
innovative science rather than incremental science has been launched to
support upto 10 projects per year costing about ` 20 crores per project.
Attracting Young Talent
Innovation in science pursuit for inspired research (INSPIRE) is an ongoing
initiative for attraction of talent for science and research. About 3.67 lakh
students in the age group of 10-15 have been provided INSPIRE awards during
past 3 years. Science camps of 5 days duration are organised to provide
opportunity to class XI students pursuing science to interact with the science
icons from India and abroad including Nobel Laureates to experience the joy of
innovations. Around 40,000 students have been awarded scholarship for higher
education during last three years. About 3,000 students, who are first rank
holders at Masters level and also INSPIRE scholars completed their Masters
degree with securing 65 per cent marks at the MSc level, pursuing doctoral
degree are receiving INSPIRE fellowship during last three years. INSPIRE faculty
awards are provided to post-doctoral researchers in the age group of 27-32 years
through contractual and tenure positions for 5 years in basic and applied sciences.
Faculty awards have been given to 637 candidates awarded in the last three
years.
Opportunities for Women Scientists
Department of Science and Technology launched several initiatives for women
in science under its flagship scheme namely KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement
in Research Advancement through Nurturing). Through this unique initiative,
DST provides opportunity to women scientists who had break in their career,
primarily due to family reasons, to pursue research in physical & mathematical
sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences, earth & atmospheric sciences and
engineering technology. More than 2,500 women scientists are beneficiaries of
this scheme. During 2016-17, 227 new R&D projects were supported.
Nano Science and Technology
National Mission of Nano Science and Technology - an umbrella programmewas
launched in 2007 to promote R&D in this emerging area of research in a
comprehensive fashion. The main objectives of the nano mission are - basic
research promotion, research infrastructure development, nano application and
technology development, human resource development, international
collaboration and orchestrating national dialogues.