29 Jan VAIBHAV initiative
This article covers ‘Daily Current Affairs’ and the topic details of “Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) initiative” .This topic is relevant in the “Governance” section of the UPSC CSE exam.
Why in the News?
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently announced the inaugural batch of students under the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) project, a strategic initiative focused at strengthening short-term cooperation with Indian-origin scientists working overseas. The Vaibhav scheme shares features with the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (Vajra) initiative, which was launched in 2018.
About VAIBHAV scheme
- In 2023, the government will launch the VAIBHAV fellowships programme to connect the Indian STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) diaspora with Indian educational and R&D institutions for collaborative research work, resulting in the sharing of expertise, wisdom, and innovations in frontier areas of science and technology.
- The VAIBHAV Fellow would select an Indian institution for partnership and could stay up to 2 months per year for a maximum of 3 years.
- The VAIBHAV fellows are intended to engage with their Indian counterparts and help kick off research activities in the host university in cutting-edge science and technology.
- The DST, Ministry of Science and Technology, will implement the VAIBHAV fellowships programme, which will award outstanding scientists/technologists of Indian origin that are conducting research in their respective countries.
- Incentives: Fellowship would comprise a fellowship grant (INR 4,00,000 per month), foreign and domestic travel, lodging, and contingencies. Host institutions get research funding to help them collaborate.
- It promotes international cooperation in scientific research and encourages information exchange and expertise infusion inside Indian academic and research organisations.
About Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme
- VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme is a dedicated programme for overseas scientists and academics, with an emphasis on NRI and PIO/OCI, to work as adjunct / visiting faculty for a set length of time in Indian government-funded academic and research institutes.
- The Scheme recognises the importance of collaborative research as a critical component of information sharing among academics for updating and obtaining knowledge and skills, as well as drawing on multiple viewpoints to tackle a common problem.
- During their stay, faculty members might also teach or guide students. The Faculty will spend at least one month and no more than three months every year working at an Indian university.
- Even when the assignment is completed, the Indian host institution may retain him or her for an extended period of time. The part-time faculty position will be initially offered for one year and can be renewed annually.
- Incentives Offered: The VAJRA Faculty will be paid a sum of USD 15000 in the first month of participation in a year and USD 10000 per month in the other 2 months to compensate for their travel and honorarium.
- While no independent funding is offered for items such as housing, medical/personal insurance, and so on, the host institute may consider offering additional assistance. The payout to the academics will be in Indian rupees.
Vaibhav vs. Vajra
The Vaibhav Fellowship Programme primarily seeks assistance from the Indian diaspora, with a focus on translational successes in crucial areas of scientific research. While Vajra Scheme is Available to all foreign scientists, it encourages short-term visits by foreign professors to Indian institutions, hence providing a greater platform for global cooperation.
Prelims practice questions
Q1) Consider the following statements regarding Research and Development (R&D) in India:
1) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is a key government agency overseeing R&D initiatives in India.
2) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is primarily focused on healthcare research.
3) The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the largest autonomous research and development organization in India.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
- a) One
- b) Two
- c) Three
- d) None
ANSWER: C
Mains practice questions
Q1) Explore the challenges faced by researchers in India, particularly in terms of funding, infrastructure, and collaboration. How can these challenges be addressed to enhance the quality and quantity of research output?
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