Posted inEconomics / India / ToMl

First Modi budget spells austerity for Indian science

Finance minister Arun Jaitely presented the 2014–15 budget on 10 July, just 45 days after the formation of the government. He tempered expectations by saying that it would be wise not to expect much in the face of a two-year slowdown in the Indian economy. And indeed, research received 362.69 billion rupees (US$6.04 billion): a 4% increase over last year, compared with inflation of 8% (see ‘Budget allocations’).

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been given 35.44 billion rupees — an 11% jump — but other ministries have fared less well. For example, the allocation for the Department of Biotechnology has risen by just 0.9%, at 15.17 billion rupees. Space and atomic energy each saw roughly a 6% rise in this year’s budget.

Budget allocations (millions of rupees) 2013–14 2014–15
Department of Atomic Energy 98,330 104,460
Department of Health Research 10,080 10,177
Department of Science and Technology 31,843 35,440
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 35,710 37,072
Department of Biotechnology 15,020 15,172
Department of Space 67,920 72,380
Department of Agricultural Research and Education 57,290 61,440
Ministry of Earth Sciences 16,900 16,990
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 15,340 9,560

— source nature.com

We dont want science. Its all already there in Geetha. And if we really need some gadgets or medicine Americans and Israelis will give. We will pay. No issue.

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