Science in India Newsletter

Index

S&T Policies:

 S&T Policies:

1. Government to set up board to fund scientific research

The Indian government has decided to set up an autonomous board on the lines of the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the US to fund scientific studies. The Board is expected to have a budget of Rs 1,000 crore (172 Mio Euro) and be an autonomous body instead of a department of the government. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) on April 22 to review the progress made on various fronts in the field of science and technology. Prof C N R Rao, Chairman of the Council, made a presentation to the Prime Minister in which he suggested launching of a knowledge channel targeted at the kids to attract them to science.
Based on the suggestion of the SAC, the Home Ministry has agreed to set up a national agency for forensic science. The restructuring of the Indian Council for Medical Research is being undertaken by the Ministry of Health to ensure that medical research and education get adequate support and are also properly directed in years to come.

(PTI Science Service, 01.-15.05.2007)              

                                                                                          

As the pen shaped custom-made launch vehicle, the PSLV-C8 carrying the Italian Space Agency (ASI’s) 352 kg satellite AGILE soared into the sky on April 23 at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, it launched India into a bigger league in the commercial space launch market. Twenty-two minutes later, by placing AGILE into a ‘precise orbit’ as Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO described it, India found itself a place in the USD 2.5 billion space launch market. Notwithstanding that this is India’s first ever commercial launch from its own soil, ISRO charged the ASI a whopping USD 29,000 per kg compared to international rates of USD 10,000- 15,000. The precision with which the launch was executed has enabled India’s ability to showcase its prowess in the space launch arena.
He also hinted the possibility of more European countries which are looking at launching satellites, consider ISRO as a destination. ISRO officials said that Italy was looking at launching four to five satellites over the next 10 years. However, ISRO was not too very wary of launching a foreign satellite as it has in the past missions carried six satellites riding piggyback along with India’s satellites. But the challenge lay in the fact that this was the first time that a specific mission was being carried out for a foreign satellite as a primary payload. The PSLV had to be reconfigured and sent without the six strap on motors - a regular feature on the workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO. Officials however insist that ISRO’s primary objective will be India’s space and scientific operations.

 
(by T K Rohit, journalist with the Press Trust of India, PTI Science Service, 01.-15.05.2007)      

                                                                                        

The country's space agency, which successfully launched the Italian satellite Agile last month, has signed agreements for putting into space three more foreign satellites, Rajya Sabha (The Upper House) was informed today. The government is encouraging Antrix Corporation, the marketing arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to promote the commercial use of capacity available on space systems, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said in a reply. A contract was signed for launching the Agile which was successfully put into space on April 23. ISRO, through Antrix Corporation, has inked commercial agreements with EADS Astrium of Europe to jointly make and supply two commercial communication satellites. The commercial use of Indian space capabilities and developing alliances for global marketing will be considered after meeting national needs, he said.

(Press Release Indian Government, 10.05.2007)
  

A government panel, set up to frame stem cell guidelines to regulate research in this emerging sector, has submitted the final guidelines to the Health Ministry. Government had set up a committee comprising experts from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology in 2005 to frame National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Therapy in a bid to regulate research activity. Director General of the ICMR, Ganguly, however, said they have not listed penalty in the guidelines, which would act as a rule book for future research. But if someone has a complaint, they could entertain it under the provisions of malpractice, unethical medical practice and unethical conduct, he said. Stem cells obtained from bone marrow, umbilical cord and adult blood cells have shown potential in application, particularly in areas of cardiac, neurological and opthalmological disorders. A few companies have also set up cord blood banks in the country to store the blood collected from the umblical cord that could be used for treatment of several diseases.

(PTI Science Service, 16.-31.05.2007) 

                                                                                          

To accelerate the pace of technology innovation in India in the field of healthcare, the Indian government launched a programme to develop cost-effective medical solutions. The programme, a collaborative venture of the Stanford-India Biodesign Programme and Department of Biotechnology, aims to create technology innovation and develop leaders in biomedical technology. It seeks to provide training to young engineers from IITs and leading engineering institutions with the help of a medical institution to identify major health needs in India. The focus will be on the development of implants, medical devices and bioinstrumentation.

(PTI Science Service, 16.-30.06.2007)                 

                                                                                          

 Research:

6. Supreme Court allows approved field trials of GM crops

In a boost to supporters of Genetically Modified Crops, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre to conduct approved field trials of genetically modified seeds in the country subject to certain restrictions. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan permitted field trials of GM crops, which were earlier approved by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in April and May 2006, provided it fulfilled certain conditions. The government should increase the isolation distance up to 200 metres between the GM planted fields and the other fields and a protocol for testing for contamination up to 0.01 per cent for neighbouring fields was established, the apex court said. It also said a designated scientist should be made responsible for ensuring that all the conditions were complied with during the field trials of GM seeds. While the court allowed the commercial release of four approved Bt cotton varieties, it said no new species should be introduced. The bench said GEAC, the GM regulatory authority under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, should submit detailed data, if any, about the effects of GM crops - i.E. the toxicity and allergic reactions before the court. The apex court, on a public interest litigation filed by Aruna Rodrigues and others, had on 22 September 2006 directed GEAC not to clear any GM crop for fresh field trials. On 1 May 2006, it had also said the GEAC and not the Review Committee for Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) under the department of Biotechnology should be responsible for field trials and approval of GM crops.

(Press Release Indian Government, 08.05.2007)

                                                                                          

Lifeline Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research (LISTER) Chennai claimed a series of successes in restoring normal functioning in patients who suffered paralysis after road accidents using stem cell therapy. LISTER was set up in partnership with Nichi in the Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), an Indo-Japanese institute focused on harvesting and preparing stem cells used in the therapy.

(National Herald, 13.06.2007)        
                                                                                         
 

Researchers at the University of Pune have claimed to have developed an ultra lightweight aerogel material which can bear a weight 500.000 times more than its own body mass. The material, which uses carbon nano tubes (CNT) and silica, can have wide ranging applications in various fields, including defence, space, automobile etc, Dr Sulbha Kulkarni, who led the research team at the university, said. The research, funded by Department of Science and Technology, was carried out in
collaboration with Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. The University of Pune will try to secure a patent for the material which will be called ‘Aerogel UoP’, Vice-Chancellor Dr Narendra Jadhav said.

(PTI Science Service, 16.-31.05.2007)                                                                               
                                                                                           
 

A low-cost integrated therapy that includes proper nutrition, yoga and individual-specific use of homeopathic and Ayurvedic medicines has been found effective in preventing the onset of full-blown AIDS among HIV-positive people for up to 15 years, claims a charitable trust. With this integrated and holistic therapy, a number of patients are living healthier and quality lives in spite of being infected by HIV for over 15 years, said Geeta Bhave, former professor and head of the department of microbiology in charge of the AIDS surveillance centre at KEM Hospital in Pune. "Encouraged by the response from a growing number of HIV patients, the trust Samvedan, meaning empathy, opened branches in Pune, Nasik, Yavatmal and Aurangabad," said Bhave, the chief trustee who has worked on various international HIV-AIDS projects for over two decades. Available data showed that about 50 per cent of HIV patients cannot tolerate anti-retrovirus therapy (ART). Hence an alternative integrated treatment was developed to maintain immunity among the affected, she explained. Since emotional stress reduces immunity levels and leads to a drop in the C-4 count, yoga and spiritual counselling are used to boost the mental strength of patients and to help them fight the disease.

(www.indiadaily.com, 05.06.2007)                          

                                                                                          

 Academic Exchange/ Education: 

10. Government plans to set up 20 new IITs

The government is planning to set up 20 new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has submitted a proposal to this effect to the Planning Commission, its annual report for 2006-07 said. The Planning Commission has suggested that the setting up of the new IITs could be considered under public-private participation, the report stated. Currently there are seven IITs and six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in the country. The government has recently decided to set up three new IITs in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. The government will set up the seventh IIM at Shillong, the report said. Two new schools of Planning and Architecture are also proposed to be started at Vijayawada and Bhopal. In addition to the existing Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) at Gwalior, Allahabad and Jabalpur, a new IIIT (Design and Manufacturing) has been approved to be set up at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, the report said. The government has set up two Indian Institutes of Scientific Education and Research at Kolkata and Pune. One more such institute will be set up at Mohali, while two more are proposed — one each in Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. The University Grants Commission was given a plan budget of Rs 1,269 crore (219 Mio Euro) in 2006-07, which was a substantial increase of about 68 per cent over the 2005-06 allocations, it added.

(www.inhomerediff.com, 24.04.2007)                     
                         
                                                                                         

11. DAE joins hands with Mumbai University

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mumbai University to set up the Centre for Excellence of Basic Science. A five-year integrated M.Sc. course will be offered to 30 students at the facility from the next academic year. The students will be exempted from fees and will get free accommodation. The Rs 51.5 crore (8,8 Mio Euro) project is funded for the first five years by the DAE. The new centre will have a Board of governors, including the directors of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Vice- Chancellor of University of Mumbai and few faculty members. The course will have both sound basic sciences as well as experience on practicals including building instruments and facility building. The Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, Kakodkar, said, “we are embarking on great idea which will make a difference in the field of education and research”.
The design of the courses will start with physics, biology, chemistry, maths and computer applications.

(PTI Science Service, 16.-30.04.2007)

                                                                                          
 

To tackle the shortage of scientists and engineers required by ISRO, an Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) would be set up within two years in Thiruvananthapuram with an initial investment of Rs 270 crore (=50 Mio Euro) and annual recurring cost of Rs 40 crore (7,3 Mio Euro). According to a proposal, cleared by the Cabinet the courses will commence from the academic year 2007-08 itself in an alternate campus in the premises of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, pending development of the regular campus. To enable close interaction with ISRO, the institute will be located close to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Thiruvanthapuram. The campus and other infrastructure facilities will be completed within 24 months. The IIST would be set up on lines of IITs to provide high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education in space technology and science. The curriculum will be customised to meet the high technology requirements of ISRO, mitigating the problem of acute shortage of quality human resources for the organisation. IIST will have an intake of 150-200 students per annum and entire expenses of the course will be supported by ISRO in the form of scholarships and assistantships. All the high performing students coming out of the institute would be absorbed into ISRO stream.

(PTI Science Service, 16.-31.05.2007)
                                                                                          
 

P M Bhargava, who bickered with National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda, has been dropped as Vice Chairman of the high-profile body which has been reconstituted. Pitroda will continue to head the Commission, which will have P Balram of Indian Academy of Sciences and Sujatha Ramdorai, Associate Professor at the School of Mathematics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research as new members. They replace Bhargava and Andre Beteille who had earlier quit the Commission on the reservation issue. The objections raised by Bhargava with regard to Pitroda's recommendations on higher education included giving permission to universities to use their land for funds generation, allowing the entry of foreign education providers and expansion of higher education in terms of creating more universities.

(www.rediff.com, 05.05.2007)
                                                                                           
 

In a move that combined diplomacy with education, India was made a provisional member of the Washington Accord, a 10-member apex global organisation that determines standards of engineering education. India’s candidature was proposed by UK, Australia and Canada, with a generous recommendation by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
Indian undergraduate engineering degrees will ultimately be given "equivalency" in all member countries; they will be recognised as engineering degrees of high international standard.
India has been pursuing membership of the accord to substantially improve the quality of its second and third rung engineering colleges. In the next two years, the Indian nodal agency, in this case the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), will work with teams from member countries to update assessments and quality of faculty and courses in Indian engineering institutes to bring them up to international standards.

(Times of India, 27.06.2007)
                                                                                           
 

The ambitious South Asian University for SAARC countries would be based in the vicinity of Delhi and is expected to be made functional by July 2009. The university, intended to be a centre of excellence, will have campuses in all the eight SAARC member countries, a SAARC meeting held in New Delhi has decided. At the two-day meeting of the SAARC Steering Committee, India offered to bear the entire cost of setting up the university. The proposal to set up the university was made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 2005 Dhaka Summit of the regional grouping. The role of the governments of the eight SAARC member countries will have to be confined to provision of capital for setting up the institution. Once fully operational, the governments will not be expected to provide annual subsidies and grants. The university will have to look for private and corporate donors without allowing them to influence its administrative and academic autonomy.

(Press Release, Indian Government, 31.05.2007)
                                                                                           
 

The Universities of Tübingen and Pune in India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which includes a student exchange programme. Vice- Chancellor of the University of Pune, Dr. Narendra Jadhav, also held a presentation on “India: Re-emerging” and offered a reading from his autobiography.

(www.internationale-kooperation.de, 15.05.2007)
                                                                                           
 

 Miscellaneous:
 

17. ATCM clears India’s proposal on new antarctic research base

India wants to set up a new station in Antarctica in the Laremann Hills region and researchers argue that the site offers distinct scientific advantages and studies in the region will help understand how India broke away from Antarctica. The mandatory Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation Report (CEER) for the area has been submitted to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (ATS) and was discussed at the 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meet (ATCM) that was held in Delhi between April 30 and May 11, 2007. The Committee of the ATS was formed in 1998 and makes an Environment Impact Assessment on the proposals of countries willing to set up research bases in Antarctica. India currently has a research station Maitri in Antarctica where studies are being carried out for several years. The country had launched a special expedition last year to carry out a thorough survey of the Larsemann Hills area – a rare stretch of ice-free rock around Prydz Bay on the eastern shores of Antarctica. The three nations with bases already in the area — Russia, China and Australia — pleaded with India at the last Antarctic treaty meeting in Edinburgh in June 2006 not to go ahead with the base as “the area had already suffered human impacts”. During the meeting the experts gave their nod for the ambitious Indian project.

(PTI Science Service, 16.-31.05.2007)

                                                                                           
 

Aiming to provide rains in drought- prone areas, scientists at the Hyderabad-based National Centre for Environmental Sciences and Payload Engineering (NCESPE) a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) are working on a novel method of cloud formation to induce artificial rains by using water instead of chemicals. For the scheme, the first of its kind in the country, the scientists will work with a technology that uses water for cloud growth to bring in artificial rains and will not use any chemicals, said NCEPSE chairman Ravi Manchanda. The technique will be first used in the drought-prone districts of Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh and a proposal to this effect has been sent to state government and the Department of Earth Resources, he said. The new technology is cheaper than conventional ones which use chemicals and the success rate is expected to be more as it will copy nature. The cloud growth is done by seeding warm clouds by using water to provoke artificial localised rains.
Dr J R Kulkarni of IITM told PTI, "we have some technologies and some are being developed and they are very scientific." Kulkarni said both Centre and state governments should invest in indigenous scientific methods and aircrafts and specialised Doppler radars for monitoring the cloud models of various places. IITM is developing lot of techniques and "recently we have given a proposal to the Centre on artificial rain with improved methods with more success rates," he said. Explaining the different dimensions of weather modifications, Manchanda explained that, in its civilian dimension, the weather modification capability can be used to make artificial rain over drought prone areas or clear the cloud cover at will.

(www.dnaindia.com, 06.06.2007, www.outlookindia.com, 10.06.2007)
                                                                                           
 

Global warming is one of the causes of a fungal disease that is leading to fast depletion of Shisham timber, used widely in furniture-making in India, ringing alarm bells in the timber industry. Following a survey, scientists found that the loss was huge in terms of mortality of Shisham, which is also known as pay-cheque in the timber business parlance. Nearly 800.000 to 1.000.000 trees have so far dried causing loss of Rs 800-1000 crore (=147 Mio Euro) in India alone, said Dr A N Shukla, the head of the forest pathology division at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun. The root cause of the disease plaguing Shisham is a soil-born fungus called Fusarium Solani which afflicts the trunk of the Sheesham following which the tree does not recoup. Various factors like climate change due to global warming, type of site and hydrological stress in the form of flooding and drought have been attributed to the dying of these trees, preliminary investigations show.

(www.zeenews.com, 10.06.2007)
                                                                                           
 

An Indian chemist and a Mexican biologist were each awarded the Trieste Science Prize on 26 April.
Administered by the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, the annual Trieste Science Prize celebrates scientists from the developing world whose achievements have made "an enormous impact on international science".
The winners were Luis Rafael Herrera-Estrella, professor of plant genetic engineering at the Centre of Research and Advanced Studies in Irapuato, Mexico, and Goverdhan Mehta, currently honorary professor of organic chemistry and former director of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore (IISc). Goverdhan Mehta was recognized for significant advances he has made in the synthesis of organic compounds. Anti-cancer drugs and carbon compounds with potential applications in nanotechnology devices are among the 50 complex and biologically active products that Mehta's group have synthesised. As president of the International Council for Science in Paris, Mehta is now dedicating himself to promoting international collaboration in science, particularly on issues relating to sustainable development. He also plays a key role in developing science education and policy in India as a member of the country's Scientific Advisory Committee.

(www.scidev.net, 03.05.2007)
                                                                                          

The poisonous cone snails of the southern Indian coast can make a multi-billion dollar business in developing pain killers, pain relievers or anaesthetic compounds. “While cobra venom contains one or two component toxins, cone snails have 100 to 200, which could offer a wealth of molecules that can be isolated and studied,” said Prof. K.S. Krishnan of National Centre of Biological Science in Bangalore (NCBS), a part of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research that has explored the entire southern coast and collected a variety of cone snails. Unlike most neurological drugs available today, they promise to be non-addictive, and yet up to 1000 times as potent. These toxic components of cone snail venoms are becoming increasingly popular as tools for neuroscience research and drug discovery, Krishnan said.
                    
(PTI Science Service, 16.-30.06.2007)                         
                                                                                         

This newsletter has been prepared by the Science Section of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi. Texts of articles from science magazines and newspapers have been edited for their length and are partly based on information from the Embassy. No responsibility for the content of the articles is accepted.