What is the Vigyan Dhara Scheme?

About Vigyan Dhara Scheme:

• It is a new central sector scheme unifying three umbrella schemes of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• The scheme has three broad components:
  • Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building,
  • Research and Development and
  • Innovation, Technology Development and Deployment.
• These three schemes have been merged into the unified scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’.
• This initiative, managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is designed to enhance India’s S&T capabilities through a streamlined approach. 
• The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’ is Rs.10,579.84 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• The merger of the schemes into a single scheme would enhance efficiency in fund utilization and establish synchronization among the sub-schemes/programs.
• The primary objective of the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme is to promote S&T capacity building as well as research, innovation, and technology development towards strengthening the Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem in the country.
• Components:
  • 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. and collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
  • It will also contribute to building a 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.
  • Focused interventions will be taken up to enhance the participation of women in the field of S&T with the ultimate goal of bringing gender parity in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). 
• All the programs proposed under the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme would be aligned with the 5-year goals of DST towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. 
• The R&D component of the scheme will be aligned in line with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

Q1. What is Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)?

ANRF has been established with Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) 2023 Act. The ANRF aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories. ANRF will act as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP). With the establishment of ANRF, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an act of Parliament in 2008 has been subsumed into ANRF. ANRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries.

Source: Vigyan Dhara scheme gets Cabinet nod