VIGYAN DHARA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Education)

Context: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister approved continuation of the three umbrella schemes, merged into a unified central sector scheme namely ‘Vigyan Dhara’ of Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Vigyan Dhara

• About: It is scheme in which merge several existing science promotion programmes being run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for better fund utilisation, and improve efficiency.
• Objective: To focus scientific energies on some specific areas that were key to India’s sustainable growth and development in the coming decades.
• The scheme has three broad components:

oScience and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building,

oResearch and Development and

oInnovation, Technology Development and Deployment. These schemes merged in to Vigyan Dhara.

• Duration: The 15thfinance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Aligned in line with: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
• Features: The scheme endeavours to promote research in areas such as basic research with access to the international mega facilities, translational research in sustainable energy, water, etc.

oIt will also contribute to building critical human resource pool to strengthen the science and technology landscape and expand the R&D base of the country towards improving the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researcher count. 

oFocused interventions will be taken up to enhance the participation of women in the field of Science and Technology (S&T) with the ultimate goal of bringing gender parity in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

• Benefits: DST gets the flexibility to reorient schemes within the broad framework of achieving the three objectives. This can include reallocation of funds as well… 

oThe second thing is the ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation, a newly created institution) is creating its own programmes.