One of the mandates of National Knowledge Commission is to attract talented students for a career in basic sciences and mathematics. A strong foundation in basic sciences is needed to create the next generation of competent teachers and scientific talent. Technology development is impossible without a strong research and development base of basic science and mathematics. The remedial steps undertaken by various stake holders to revive and strengthen science education include establishing of world class institutions of basic sciences like IISERs, NISER, and UM DAE CBS etc. The other corrective step is Integration. Here integration means integration of disciplines, integration of programs, integration with research institutes and integration with society. The joint education panel comprising of the three science academies Indian Academy of Science (IASc ) Bangalore, Indian National Science Academy (INSA) New Delhi and National Academy of Sciences of India (NASI) Allahabad has also suggested Syllabus restructuring and delivery in the light of fast changing pace of scientific discoveries and emerging technologies. Little exposure of science students to research methodologies is also felt by various expert panels. There are suggestions to introduce research component at all levels. To revive and consolidate ‘Science’ as a career option for bright students from across the country National Knowledge Commission has suggested to increase the number of existing fellowships such as KVPY and to start new fellowships schemes like INSPIRE.
Kishore Vaigyanic Protsahan Yojna is a program started by Department of Science and Technology (DST) to encourage students of basic sciences, Engineering and Medicine to take up research careers in these areas. A generous scholarship ranging from Rs. 4000 - Rs. 7000 per month is provided up to the pre- Ph. D. level to the selected students. In addition to fellowships, KVPY fellows will have access to facilities in research institutes. The entry point of students of basic sciences is higher secondary and B.Sc. Ist and IInd year. The entry point for engineering and medicine streams is Ist/IInd year. Students who represent India in the International Olympiads Physics/Chemistry/Biology /Mathematics/Informatics and Astronomy automatically qualify for KVPY Fellowship provided they complete X/XII Standard Board Examination and continue studying in science subjects. This program is administered by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (iisc.ernet.in/kvpy).
Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) is again a programme by the Department of Science & Technology for attraction of talent to study science and careers with research. The motivation behind INSPIRE is to enlarge the pool of scientific human power and foster research in the sciences. The Scheme includes three sub-components
(i) Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS) aims to attract talented youth to study science through INSPIRE award of Rs 5000 to each awardees. About one million young learners of the age group 10-15 years will be selected for INSPIRE Award from the toppers who constitute approximately one percent in the Class X Board examinations in the country. Summer camps for about 50,000 youth will be organised in which students will interact with global science leaders.
(ii) Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) aims to enhance rates of attachment of talented youth to higher education in science intensive programmes. The scheme offers 10,000 scholarship and mentorship every year @ Rs 0.80 lakh per year for undertaking Bachelor and Masters level education in natural sciences. A main feature of the scheme is in mentorship support for every scholar through INSPIRE scholarship.
(iii) Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC) aims to attract, attach, retain and nourish talented young scientific Human Resource for strengthening the R&D foundation and base by offering doctoral INSPIRE fellowship in the age group of 22-27 in the both basic and applied sciences including engineering and medicine and assured opportunity for post doctoral researchers in the age group of 27-32 years through contractual and tenure track positions for 5 years in both basic and applied sciences areas through an INSPIRE faculty scheme.
Apart from these incentives there are several awards and fellowships for faculty of basic sciences. Most prestigious among which is Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award given annually by CSIR. There are many more awards in Physics alone coordinated by Indian Physics Association. Notable among which are R.D. Birla Award in Physics, Murli M. Chugani Award for excellence in applied Physics, BUTI Foundation Award for excellence in Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics and Biophysics, S.N. Sheshadri Memorial Instrumentation Award in physics and NS Satya Murthy Memorial Award in physics. In addition to various R&D schemes, DST also offers incentives like Ramanujan and JC Bose national fellowship to faculty of science. DST also offers annually the following awards in Sciences
· National Environment Fellowship Award
· National Award for Women's Development through Application of S & T
· National Awards for Science communication
· India UK Science Bridges Awards Program
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