Research and development in a country like India needs to focus on the needs of the common man, T.K. Chandrashekar, secretary, Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India said.
In the past few years, the union government has increased funding for research, with a budget of Rs. 19,000 crore allotted for research under various departments. “The DSTE alone spends around Rs. 3,000 crore on research, with around 10 to 12 per cent of that dedicated to projects dealing with energy generation and production of clean water,” he said, speaking at the Research Day function at SRM University here on Friday.
To help researchers with proven track records undertake cutting-edge research, the government has introduced track-based funding that would provide Rs. 2.5 crore over five years without any proposal, Mr. Chandrashekar added.
At the function, awards were given to students and faculty for their research projects. “The university receives funding of Rs. 53 crore for 121 research projects from the government of India in engineering, medicine, dental, science and humanities,” D. Narayana Rao, Director (Research), SRM University said.
P. Sathyanarayanan, President, and T. R. Paarivendhar, chancellor of the university were present.
DSTE alone spends around Rs. 3,000 crore on research
