This calls for a special incentives and motivation programmes by all concerned to stem the rot. For, it is still not too late to undo the damages. In this connection, successive Prime Ministers and Presidents have been cautioning the scientific community through the platform of Indian Science Congress, annual Indian Science Conference and other national and regional fora. Situation has reached an alarming proportion. It is time all concerned joined hands together to lift pure sciences from the morass of neglect by elevating it to the level of applied sciences so that career prospects in this most vital segment of basic sciences are equally remunerative with attendant career progression!
Meanwhile, the UPA Government has taken several initiatives to lift science and technology from the slough of status quo in tune with the emerging globalization of Indian economy. The new initiatives include raising financial allocation for science and technology from the heretofore less than one percent of country's GDP to 2 per cent of GDP in the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012), which is a good augury. It has already prepared a perspective plan for 2015 envisioning development of an empowered science and technology base in the country. Accordingly, steps are afoot to attract talent, rejuvenate university research, enable women scientists to re-enter careers in science, strengthen technology business incubation processes, promote excellence in research, engage private sector in research and development, create greater science awareness and develop scientific temper among our people. Besides, a Science and Engineering Research Board has been set up to channel increased funding during the Eleventh Plan period. In addition, collaborative research in new areas of research and development is being expanded. New schemes have also been introduced for knowledge alliances in bilateral and consortium modes, setting up of incubation centres and permitting mobility of scientists between CSIR laboratories and private industry.
Other measures include formation of a dedicated Ministry of Earth Sciences to look at planet earth as an entity with the constitution of the Earth Commission as an enabling mechanism for a better ecological balance, scale of numerical modeling for weather prediction improved for a greater precision, and installation of high speed computers for improving weather prediction for monsoon in 2007 and thereafter. The Government is also understood to have decided to send a scientific team to the Arctic for the first time.
Added to the foregoing initiatives by the Government, India has reached crescendo by making vital strides in its space programme. The ninth consecutively successful launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7) in January 2007 placing four satellites precisely in predetermined orbits, including CARTOSAT-2 having special resolution of less than one metre for detailed map development applications and disaster management, as also successful demonstration of key technologies through the Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) are recent milestones. Besides, Chandrayaan-1 Mission is making substantial progress. Launch of INSAT-4B carrying DTH transponders is a major accomplishment. EDUSAT has connected around 10,000 class rooms, benefiting rural and remote areas. In addition, the satellite based telemedicine network has connected 182 hospitals. The Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (SCRAMJET) required for advanced rocket systems has been demonstrated successfully. Added to this, the indigenously developed cryogenic stage for the Geo-stationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) has been ground tested successfully. Above all, for the first time, India has been entrusted the responsibility for a dedicated and full fledged commercial launch of a foreign satellite, with Italy assigning the launch of its satellite Agile to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
A vision for science and technology will not be complete unless pursuit of study of pure and basic sciences is given parity with the applied sciences at all levels, be it employment in trade, commerce and industry, research and development and other frontiers of sciences. The very foundation of science and technology is pure sciences. Governments at the Centre and States and all those concerned with the well being of the nation must take initiatives in right earnest in this regard, before it is too late lest India should be trailing in the frontiers of science and technology with increasing dependence on imported technology. #