Special package for the science and technology sector in Bihar

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today said that the government was considering revising the value of several government fellowships for scientists.

“The government is considering revision of the value of doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships, as well as formulation of new schemes that would cover all research scholars with some funding support,” he said inaugurating the 97th Indian Science Congress.

Singh also said that the government was planning a special package for the science and technology sector in Bihar and other such regions as part of its efforts to bridge asymmetries in development.

The prime minister said National Science and Engineering Research Board will start functioning before March. The Board is part of a government initiative to de-bureaucratise research, and hand over the task of funding research to an independent panel of eminent scientists.

Noting that under-representation of women was causing imbalance in the scientific resource pool, Singh asked science administrators to redouble efforts to attract talented young women to take up careers in science.

He announced a new scheme now available for women’s universities named Consolidation of University Research, Innovation and Excellence (Curie). This scheme provides financial help for complete upgrading of facilities in these universities, he said.