The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) scheme on “Capacity Building and Human Resource Development” with an allocation of Rs. 2,277.397 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 under the Fifteenth Finance Commission cycle.
The scheme, implemented by CSIR, will cover research and development institutions, national laboratories, Institutes of National Importance, Institutes of Eminence, and universities across the country. It aims to provide a robust platform for young researchers aspiring to pursue careers in academia, industry, and national R&D laboratories, fostering growth across Science, Technology, Engineering, Medical, and Mathematical Sciences (STEMM).
Under the initiative, researchers will be guided by eminent scientists and professors, strengthening India’s scientific and technological workforce. The scheme is expected to contribute significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals in the S&T sector by increasing the number of researchers per million population.
Over the past decade, India’s concerted efforts in R&D have enhanced its standing in the Global Innovation Index, achieving 39th rank in 2024 as per the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Government support has also placed India among the top three nations in scientific paper publications, according to NSF, USA data. The new scheme is expected to further enhance India’s scientific capabilities by supporting thousands of scholars and scientists whose research contributes to the nation’s S&T achievements.
The CSIR’s Capacity Building and Human Resource Development (CBHRD) scheme will operate under an umbrella framework, including four sub-schemes: Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships, Extramural Research, Emeritus Scientist, and Bhatnagar Fellowship programmes, Promotion and Recognition of Excellence through Awards, and Travel and Symposia Grant Schemes to encourage knowledge sharing.
