Focus on developing synergy between depts: Vardhan

With increase in budget for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, the focus will now be on developing synergy between scientific community in all departments, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said today.
He said science has been getting more funding over the last two years since the NDA government came to power.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has been allocated Rs 1,672 crore, Rs 254 crore more than 2015-16 and Rs 397 crore more in comparison to 2014-15.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has been allocated Rs 10,352 crore, Rs 864 crore more than 2015-16 and Rs 2,724 crore more in comparison to 2014-15.

"We will focus on developing a better synergy between scientific community in all departments. Not only that, we are also working more closely with different ministries on several collaborative projects," Vardhan said.
He said the focus is on projects like the National Supercomputing Mission to ensure competitiveness in supercomputing in tie-up with the Department of Electronics and Information Technology.

Priority is also being given to shaping a joint R&D initiative with the Ministry of Railways to work in areas of fuel efficiency and emission control technologies.
Another area of focus is the R&D component of electric mobility mission with Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Vardhan said his Ministry would also launch 'Aroma Mission' to help farmers produce high value aromatic plants.