SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has had 29 universities, academic institutions and science colleges supported under various infrastructure schemes of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) during the last five years, the Union Government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said the Government is implementing schemes including the Fund for Improvement of S and T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST), Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) and Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence (CURIE) to strengthen scientific infrastructure in higher educational institutions.
The figures were provided in a written reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4015 concerning infrastructure for science and technology in universities and other institutes of higher education.
According to the State-wise data, Jammu and Kashmir is among the Union Territories and States that received institutional support, with 29 institutions covered during the five-year period. Ladakh had two institutions supported.
At the national level, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number with 107 institutions, followed by Kerala with 57 and Maharashtra with 56. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh each had 39 institutions supported, while Karnataka and Rajasthan had 37 each.
The Government also supports Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF) to provide researchers, particularly those from institutions lacking access to advanced equipment, with sophisticated analytical facilities.
Five national-level Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute (SATHI) centres have been established at IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, Banaras Hindu University, IIT Hyderabad and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. These centres provide shared access to advanced scientific infrastructure and support research, innovation, start-ups and technology development.
The reply said DBT is strengthening research infrastructure through its DBT-BUILDER programme, while its Star College and Post Graduate Teaching programmes also support scientific and laboratory infrastructure. ICAR provides assistance to agricultural universities for upgrading teaching, learning and student facilities.
The Government has also put in place a range of programmes to encourage young scientists, including INSPIRE scholarships and fellowships, INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, WISE-KIRAN, DBT Junior Research Fellowships, CSIR fellowships, ANRF National Post-Doctoral Fellowships, the Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant and Ramanujan Fellowship.
DRDO also provides research fellowships and paid internships for students in relevant engineering and science disciplines.
According to the Government, these programmes provide fellowships, mentorship, skill development, capacity building and career opportunities aimed at enabling young researchers to undertake high-quality scientific work and contribute to India’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem.
