What is the Vigyan Dhara Scheme?

About Vigyan Dhara Scheme:

• It is a new central sector scheme unifying three umbrella schemes of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• The scheme has three broad components:
  • Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building,
  • Research and Development and
  • Innovation, Technology Development and Deployment.
• These three schemes have been merged into the unified scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’.
• This initiative, managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is designed to enhance India's S&T capabilities through a streamlined approach. 
• The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’ is 10,579.84 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• The merger of the schemes into a single scheme would enhance efficiency in fund utilization and establish synchronization among the sub-schemes/programs.
• The primary objective of the 'Vigyan Dhara' scheme is to promote S&T capacity building as well as research, innovation, and technology development towards strengthening the Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem in the country.
• Components:
  • The scheme endeavours to promote research in areas such as basic research with access to the international mega facilities, translational research in sustainable energy, water, etc. and collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
  • It will also contribute to building a critical human resource pool to strengthen the science and technology landscape and expand the R&D base of the country towards improving the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researcher count.
  • Focused interventions will be taken up to enhance the participation of women in the field of S&T with the ultimate goal of bringing gender parity in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). 
• All the programs proposed under the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme would be aligned with the 5-year goals of DST towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. 
• The R&D component of the scheme will be aligned in line with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).