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Eternal India
encyclopedia
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Exploration and assessment of earth, seas
and atmosphere. Development of education
services, social development & other socio-
economic services, other aims
:
5.5 %
None of the over 200 universities has a budget head called
R&D. Whatever research gets done in the university sector is
usually through projects funded by other agencies.
Sixteen technologies in the "mission mode" have been identi-
fied for completion in the Eighth Plan period.- DST- sugar, Ad-
vanced composites, Natural Disaster Mitigation, Flyash. DBT-
Bio-pesticides, bio-fertilisers, aqua-culture, DOE-parallel com-
puters, Electronic materials, Automation, Microelectronics, Future
air navigation, CSIR-Leather, clean coal. The academic institu-
tions, particularly the universities, have not been allotted any role
in these technology missions.
In relation to population, stock of S&T personnel for India is not
so high as compared to that for developed countries. India had only
4.50 scientists, engineers and technicians (SET) per thousand
population during 1990 as compared to 184.81 in Canada and 111.14
in Japan. Only 0.27 SET per thousand were employed in R&D as
compared to 3.4 in Canada and 6.05 in Japan.
Distribution details available for 1981 when the S&T personnel
was 16.45 lakhs show that 1.4% were doctorate degree holders,
17.7% were post-graduates, 64.6% were graduates and 16.3%
were having ‘other’ qualifications comprising undergraduate diplo-
mas and undergraduate certificates but excluding ITI certificate
holders. In the field of specialisation 58.4% were science graduates
and post-graduates, 27.2% were engineering degree and diploma
holders, 9.3% were medical graduates, nursing gradu-
ates and veterinary graduates and 5.1% were agricul-
tural graduates. The percentage of women has been
constantly rising among S&T personnel. In 1961 there
were4.4.% women, 12.4% in 1971 and 14.8% in 1981.
Turning to employment as on April 1, 1990 nearly
3.01 lakh S&T personnel were employed in research
and development establishments. Of these 35.2%
were performing auxiliary (technical supporting) ac-
tivities and 32.6% were providing administrative or
non-technical support.
S&T expenditure by type of work in 1990-91:
Basic research 14.5%, applied research 39.0 %, Ex-
perimental
Development
34.7%,
other
activities
11
.
8
%.
Research efforts, which lead to the generation of
new processes and products, can be protected by pat-
ents. Patents can be taken out not only in the country
of origin but in other countries also to avoid duplication
or copying of the invention. From the annual reports of
the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade
Marks it can be observed that the number of applica-
tions for patents made every year is around 3000. The
number of applications for patents has been increasing
from 1980-81. This is due to the large number of
applications made by foreigners. The number of appli-
cations made by Indians has been more or less stag-
nant around 1000 applications per annum. The number
of applications for patents received in 1989-90 was 3661 compared
with 3598 in 1988-89. Foreign applicants number 2621 in 1989-90
compared with 2521 in 1988-89. Patents sealed in the year 1989-
90 was 1890 out of which 519 (27%) were sealed by Indians.
Maximum number of applications filed by Indians was from the
Union Territory of Delhi 32% followed by Maharashtra 25.5%,
Tamil Nadu 9.4% and West Bengal 8.9%. The low number of
patents held by Indians compared to that held by foreigners may be
taken as an indicator of the low level of productivity of R&D.
Name of the Country
No. of applications
1988-89
1989-90
USA
969
1055
Federal Republic of Germany
292
257
UK
237
224
France
178
168
Japan
104
113
Switzerland
128
180
Italy
63
43
USSR
145
119
Netherlands
55
52
Others
350
410
Total of foreign countries
2521
2621
India
1077
1040
Total
3598
3661
Source:
Research and Development Statistics
(1990-91). Government of India
Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi.