Indian Institutes Started
In a bid to reverse brain-drain the government today launched a scheme under which non-resident Indian scientists will be able to work in the country's institutions for a period of one to three months.
Salient Highlights
- The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology will implement the Scheme.
- The Visiting Advanced Joint Research (Vajra) faculty scheme is a dedicated programme for foreign scientists and academicians, with emphasis on non-resident Indians, persons of Indian origin and overseas citizens of India to work as adjunct faculty in the government-funded academic and research institutions.
- The scheme would promote broad areas of research like energy, health, advance material among others. Public funded academic institutions and national laboratories will be eligible for hosting the VAJRA Faculty. The VAJRA faculty can reside in India for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months a year. The applications received from the interested foreign researchers would be evaluated by a Selection Committee of eminent scientists.
- The Committee will meet twice a year in January and July and make recommendations. DST Department of Science & Technology (DST) was established in May 1971 and functions under the ambit of Ministry of Science and Technology. The department functions with an objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology. It acts as a nodal department for organising, coordinating and promoting S&T related activities in the country. The DST funds scientific projects in India and supports researchers in the country to attend conferences abroad and to conduct experimental works.
