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The Government has accepted in toto the recommendations of the Task Force under the Chairmanship of Prof. M.M. Sharma for Basic Scientific Research in Universities. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has directed the University Grants Commission to implement it under Section 20 of the UGC Act. The Task Force has also been appointed as the fully empowered committee to implement, monitor and guide the scheme.
It may be recalled that the Task Force was constituted in March 2005 to make an assessment of the present status of scientific research and training in universities and to determine the areas of concern. It was also asked to suggest solutions and strategies to retrieve and enhance the excellence of Universities in the area of scientific research and training. The terms of reference of the Task Force included an assessment of resources required both in physical and financial terms to implement solutions and its modalities.
Besides Prof. M.M. Sharma the other members of the Task Force included Prof. G. Mehta, IISc., Bangalore; Dr. Kota Harinarayana, Vice Chancellor of University of Hyderabad; Dr. S.P. Thygarajan, Vice Chancellor of University of Madras; Prof. Rama Rao, ARCI Hyderabad and Prof. Ved Prakash, Secretary, UGC.
The Task Force has recommended that the large number of sanctioned faculty positions lying vacant in various universities for a prolonged period should be filled in at the earliest by inducting talented personnel to strengthen the research base.
It has suggested creation of 1000 positions of Research Scientists at various levels equivalent to that of Lecturer, Reader and Professor. These positions may be filled in through a rigorous selection procedure in a phased manner over a period of five years by a duly constituted expert committee. In order to ensure enabling environment on a continuous basis for these prospective scientists, an MOU should be signed between the state Universities and implementing agency.
The Task Force has recommended that 10 networking centres in Basic Sciences should be created in leading departments of Universities in different parts of the country to promote collaborative research, access to advanced facilities and imparting training in frontier areas. Of these, two centres each will be in Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Material Sciences and Mathematical Sciences. These centres will be supported on a long term basis in a substantial manner to enable them to realize internationally competitive status.
The Task Force has called for promotion of formal linkage between Universities and national level institutions including CSIR laboratories through joint research projects and training. It has also said that linkages of universities and their faculty with industries and user organizations should be encouraged. There should be a provision for joint appointments/visiting professorship to stimulate collaborative research. There should be a provision for visiting Fellowships for faculty within the country.
The Task Force has envisaged that the number of Ph. Ds from Indian Universities should increase five fold within the next ten years with proper standards. This should be seen in the context of extremely low fraction of Ph. Ds in India in relation to M.Sc/B. Tech, as compared to that the US, UK, Germany, Japan etc. “The emphasis for research will clearly emerge if we have Universities with only departments and separately Universities having affiliated colleges.
The Task Force has projected an amount of Rs. 600 Crores per annum for implementation of the programme of improving scientific research in Universities. Of this, Rs. 400 Crores is for infrastructure development in Universities and Rs. 150 Crores for setting up of 10 Centres in Basic Sciences.
The Task Force has suggested that the eligibility qualification for a lecturer in the University Science Departments should be Ph. D. However, in the departments of engineering and medicine, initially a lecturer may be appointed with M.Tech/MD or MS qualifications, respectively, with the stipulation of acquiring PH.D within 7 years of appointment.
It has recommended that the age of retirement of University teachers must be uniform all over the country. It has called for enhanced participation of women in basic science research by removing age bar and introducing flexi-time approach. The Task force has called for introduction of five year integrated M.Sc. programmes for higher secondary students and integrated Ph. D programmes for graduates in select Central and State Universities.
The Task Force has stressed on the need for revisiting the present system of National Eligibility Test for determining the eligibility for Lecturer and for award of Research Fellowships to bring about qualitative improvement in the selection procedure.
It has suggested that all UGC-SAP Departments, DST-FIST Departments and the research centres funded by national agencies should be conferred complete autonomy with academic, administrative and financial powers.
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