Allocate more funds for R&D in mining sector: Par Panel

A Parliamentary committee today recommended increasing fund allocation to boost research and development (R&D) infrastructure in the mining sector on the lines of countries like China and US.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Steel also called for setting up of a coordinating mechanism to ensure effective utilisation of R&D results to boost effective and efficient mining practices.
It is "disconcerting" that at international level, India is far behind in R&D, as it is ranked 48th in capacity innovation, 52nd in scientific institution and 30th in R&D expenditure in the world, the panel said in its report.
India's poor ranking was mainly on account of lower percentage economic output devoted to R&D investment and lower scientific and engineering researchers per capita, it added.

"The committee feels unhappy to find that India spends a meager 0.81 per cent of their GDP on R&D as compared to 2.05 per cent by China, 4.36 per cent by South Korea and 2.7 per cent by US.
"Further, India stands at a lowly 81 out of 141 countries in the Global Innovative Index," it said.

There is an imperative need to boost R&D infrastructure across various sectors by allocation of more funds for R&D resources, making R&D jobs attractive to young scientists and professionals as well as greater institutional collaboration with renowned foreign universities/ institutes, it said.
Also, there is a need to increase focus on future upcoming technologies to meet global challenges in value-added products, technology and cost competitiveness and development of indigenous cutting edge technologies, the panel said.

Keeping in view the importance of R&D in the mining sector, the panel said it feels that the Mines Ministry's endeavour to synergise all the initiatives would result in maximising R&D outcomes.
It also stressed on the need of putting into place an "effective coordinating and monitoring mechanisms at a distinctly higher level in the hierarchy" not only for the achievement of targets set out in the National Mineral Policy, 2008, but also for ensuring optimum utilisation of R&D results to boost efficient, economic and safe mining activities.
"The Committee would like to be apprised of the action taken by the government in this regard. The committee would also like to be apprised of the outcome of 16 R&D projects approved during 2014-15 and the present status of 86 research projects received during 2015-16," it added.