PM calls for doubling of R&D spending

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today called for a doubling of spending on research and development from 1 per cent of GDP at presnt as countries like China had overtaken India in sciences.

Speaking at the 99th Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress at Bhubaneshwar, the prime minister said, "Over the past few decades, India's relative position in the world of science had been declining and we have been overtaken by countries like China."

He said, "An occasion like the present one should be used to revisit a fundamental question: what is the role of science in a country like India?"

Saying though there was no simple answer, a country grappling with the challenges of poverty and development, the overriding objective of a comprehensive and well-considered policy for science, technology and innovation should be to support the national objective of faster, sustainable and inclusive development.

"There is much that the scientific community can do to achieve these objectives. Research should be directed to providing 'frugal' solutions to our chronic problems of providing food, energy and water security to our people. Science should help us understand how to give practical meaning to the concept of sustainable development and green growth. Science should help us shift our mindsets from the allocation of resources to their more efficient use. Technology and process engineering should help us reach the benefits of development to those who need it most."

Singh said the fraction of GDP spent on R&D in India has been too low and stagnant. "We must aim to increase the total R&D spending as a percentage of GDP to at least two per cent by the end of the XII Plan Period from the current level of about 1 per cent."