Government approves Unified Vigyan Dhara scheme of the DST

In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has approved the merger of the Department of Science and Technology's three central schemes into a new scheme, ‘Vigyan Dhara’.

According to the government, the scheme has been merged to avoid overlapping funding, encourage utilisation efficiency, and establish synchronisation among the sub-schemes.

The Department of Science and Technology is under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. 

The Department is the nodal body that organises, coordinates and promotes science and technology in the country.

Merged Scheme in ‘Vigyan Dhara’

The three schemes merged into Vigyan Dhara will continue as components of the new scheme.

The merged scheme as the components of the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme are:

• Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building,
• Research and Development and
• Innovation, Technology Development and Deployment.

Duration and Outlay of ‘Vigyan Dhara’Scheme

• The ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme is from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• The proposed outlay for the five-year Vigyan Dhara scheme is Rs.10,579.84 crore. 
• This funding will be co-terminus with the 15th Finance Commission period of  2021-22 to 2025-26.

Aim of the Vigyan Dhara Scheme 

Vigyan Dhara Scheme will formulate five-year plans to realise the government's goal of Vikshit Bharat 2024.

The scheme's research and development component will align with the objectives of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). 

The ANRF was established under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) 2023 Act. It focuses on seeding, growing, and promoting research and development (R&D) and developing a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s Higher Educational Institutions, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

The main aim of the Vigyan Dhara Scheme is to 

• Promote capacity building in Science and Technology by building trained human resources in the country,
• Create an innovation ecosystem in the country to promote research and development in science and technology,
• Promote gender parity in Science & Technology and innovation by  encouraging women's participation in these fields,
• Strengthen the Science & Technology infrastructure of the country by helping establish well-equipped R&D labs in the Academic Institutions,
• Improve the  Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researcher count in the country,
• Promote innovations at all levels in the country, from school level to higher education, and in the industries and startups,
• Support the increase in collaboration between academia, government, and industries.