Soon foreign and NRI scientists will work in the country's scientific institutions for a period of one to three months that would help expose doctorate and post-doctorate students to global research culture, the Government said on Tuesday, even as it added that in the last three years, India has moved from the era of "brain drain" to "brain gain" as over 1,000 Indian scientists have returned from foreign countries to work here .
Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harshvardhan said, "To attract best brains, 'Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme', will be launched soon aiming to enhance global ranking of Indian institutions."
The Minister, who was highlighting the ministry's achievements in the past three years, said in the since Modi era, India has moved from the era of "brain drain" to "brain gain" as over 1,000 Indian scientists have returned from foreign countries to work in the country during the period.
Harshvardhan said that Indian scientists, who had earlier migrated to work in other countries, have started returning to India because of Modi's Government's initiatives to boost science research in the country. "Now our scientists have access to the best facility and the returning scientists have joined almost all research areas, Harshvardhan said.
"We have tried to take science out of the four walls of the laboratory and connect it with the people. We have aligned science now to all our national priorities."
"In a short span of time, we have become the sixth country in the world with the maximum number of research. In the next two years, we aim to become number 4 or 5. In Nanotech research, India has become third," he added.
Talking about the new plans to be carried out in the next two years in science and research sectors, Harshvardhan said that around 1 lakh scientists would be specially trained in the coming years to realise the New India vision while to boost curiosity of school children towards science, a new 'Jigyasa' scheme in the next few days for them where they would get an opportunity to visit big laboratories of the country.
He further informed that India would get a Polar Research Vehicle in the next three years. Besides, he said, "Soon you would get to see solar-powered ATMs. Research on this is at a very advanced stage.
Also, a cloud-seeding project in Solapur, Maharashtra is in the offing this year to resolve draught problem, he added.