Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt of India

A programme viz. NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing & Harnessing Innovation) to address the complete chain of innovation ecosystem right from scouting to mentoring to scaling up innovations has been launched. Under the aegis of NIDHI, a research park at IIT Gandhinagar has been supported at a cost of ` 90 cr besides implementation of several other components.

The Indo-US consortium has developed the crucial prototype test loop that demonstrates the multiscale aspects of the supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle (s-CO2 ) at IISc, Bengaluru for development of high temperature concentrated solar power in the country.

Water Quality Technologies

Some one crore dwellings in India are estimated to be off-grid or under severe brown-out. In order to capture day light and concentrate the same inside the dark rooms, a low cost device named Surya Jyoti has been developed and tested with the support of a project from the Department of Science & Technology during 2015-16.

For inclusive development of the country, it is vital to have sustainable industrial activities using local resources. DST has been paying adequate attention to benefitting the rural population through the application of Science and Technology. One such initiative of the Department has culminated into the establishment of a Rural-Industry Complex in a plot of wasteland at Malunga village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan during 2015-16.

a) Devasthal Optical Telescope

In the context of Start-up India initiative of the Government, INSPIRE Awards scheme has been revamped to foster a culture of scientific innovation among school children of class VI to class X. This will significantly broaden the base of our innovation pyramid to produce future entrepreneurs in large numbers. The programme has been targeted to encourage children to visualise/analyse needs of the society and inspire them to devise innovative ideas to address them. The scheme has been rechristened as INSPIRE Awards-MANAK.

Development of algorithms and techniques to acquire and print a three dimensional digital replica of complex structures spread over a large area of Hampi has been demonstrated. This also allows a virtual tour of the heritage site with information. The technology has been transferred to a Start-up company which is now working in PPP mode in collaboration with Ministry of Culture for reconstruction of Ghats of Varanasi, Buddhist Circuit, Taj, Delwara, etc

National Supercomputing Mission is a visionary programme to enable India to leapfrog to the league of world class computing power nations. The NDA Government approved the Supercomputing Mission at a total cost of ` 4500 cr in March 2015.