India saw an increase of women science leaders over a period of two years with a four per cent increase in women researchers, said a recent report of the Directory of Extramural Research and Development.
The report said that the involvement of Women Principal Investigators (PIs) in research that received Extramural Research (EMR) support (support through peer-reviewed competitive grant mechanism) was 28 per cent in 2018-19. This was 24 per cent in 2016-17, according to the Directory of Extramural Research & Development (R&D) Project 2018-19 report.
The Centre for Human and Organisational Resource Development (CHORD) division of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been compiling information annually on extramural R&D projects since 1990-91. CHORD has been entrusted with the task of building the information base on a continuous basis on resources devoted to scientific and technological activities for policy planning in the country.
PROJECTS
Moreover, the Central Government’s extramural R&D support or R&D support through peer-reviewed competitive grant mechanisms stood at Rs 2091.04 Crore in 2018-19. This was Rs. 2036.32 Crore in 2017-18. Apart from this, the report mentions that the number of projects supported also increased, as has the number of PIs. A total of 3839 PIs undertook 4616 projects in comparison to 3491 PIs undertaking 4137 projects during 2017-18. The report stated that eight states received 64 per cent of the projects. Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal received the most funding of 71 per cent, the report said.
IIT
Moreover, the report noted that the 22 Indian Institute of Technologies received 822 projects. They got the highest financial support of Rs. 449.25 Crore. Apart from this, the report said that 26 National Institute of Technology received 191 projects with financial support of Rs. 55.83 Crore. The maximum financial support went to Engineering and Technology, while the maximum number of projects went to Biological Sciences.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) accounted for the maximum Extramural Research (EMR) support of Rs. 1392.21 Crore (67 per cent), followed by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) with Rs. 341.37 Crore (16 per cent). The two Departments together contributed to 83 per cent of the total extramural R&D funding in India.
The government said that data collection and analysis related to resources devoted to science and technology gains significance in t6he wake of the sector playing a vital role in the economic, social, and physical development of the country.
Extramural Research and Development (R&D) projects support is a peer-reviewed competitive grant mechanism of the Central Government to promote, catalyze and advance R&D and innovation in the country. It provides special encouragement to scientists to pursue a research career.
The present directory is the 29th in the series.
