The Hindu : National : Cabinet approves board for basic research

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Cabinet approves board for basic research

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the introduction of a Bill to set up a Board for promoting basic research in science and engineering and for providing financial assistance to individual scientists, academic institutions, research and development laboratories and industrial units engaged in such research.

The Board will be empowered with a high degree of administrative and financial autonomy. It will be chaired by Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, and include as members up to three scientists from academic institutions and up to four scientists drawn from government research laboratories and a pool of scientists with experience of research in industry, and a record of research in social sector and international projects on science and technology.

The Board will also have Secretaries of the Department of Expenditure, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Ministry of Earth Sciences as members.

The Board will constitute an oversight committee of experts to assist it. It will be headed by a scientist of eminence and international repute and include presidents of the Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences and Indian National Academy of Engineering and up to three more distinguished scientists. The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, will be the Vice-Chairman of the panel.

Fund to be formed

The Bill will also provide for the constitution of a fund from which the Board will provide assistance for research activities. The fund will be made of grants and loans from the Central government as also donations from other sources.

Sources in the Science and Technology Ministry said that the exact contribution from the government will be decided only at the time of framing rules and regulations after the Bill is adopted by Parliament. But, the expectation was the Government will provide Rs.200 crore a year. The details about the source of donations will be decided later. The amount of assistance will depend on the nature of the projects and the amount available in the fund.

The Cabinet also gave its approval for setting up coordination mechanisms to create a pool of skilled personnel to meet the growing needs of the industry. Particular emphasis would be laid on the requirements of high-growth, high-employment sectors.

A total of 21 sectors have been identified for the purpose – automobile and auto-components; banking, insurance and finance services; building and construction industry; chemicals and pharmaceuticals; construction materials and building hardware; educational and skill development services; electronic hardware; food processing/cold chain/refrigeration; furniture and furnishings; gem and jewellery; health care services; ITES or business process outsourcing (BPO); ITS or software services/products; leather and leather goods; media, entertainment, broadcasting, content creation and animation; organised retail; real estate services; textiles, apparel & garments; tourism, hospitality and travel trade; transportation logistics, warehousing and packaging; and highly dynamic business/ professional services.

A National Skill Development Corporation will be set up as part of the initiative for skill development in the private sector. For the public sector units, the nodal ministries are to take care of the necessary measures.

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