Context: Recently, the R&D Statistics and Indicators 2019-20 based on the national S&T survey 2018 was released by the National Science and Technology Management Information (NSTMIS), Department of Science and Technology (DST).

About the Report

• It is based on the national S&T survey 2018 has been brought out by the National Science and Technology Management Information (NSTMIS), Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• The report on R&D indicators for the nation is an extraordinarily important document for the evidence-based policy making and planning in higher education, R&D activities and support, intellectual property, and industrial competitiveness.

The report captures the R&D landscape of the country through various Input-Output S&T Indicators in the form of Tables and graphs. These includes:

• Investments in national R&D;
• R&D investments by Government and Private sector;
• R&D relationship with economy (GDP);
• Enrollment of S&T personnel;
• Manpower engaged in R&D;
• Data of S&T personnel, papers published, patents and their international S&T comparisons.

Key Findings of the Report

• India’s gross expenditure in R&D has tripled between 2008 & 2018.
• India spent 0.7% of its GDP on R&D in 2017-18, while the same among other developing BRICS countries was Brazil 1.3%, Russian Federation 1.1%, China 2.1% and South Africa 0.8%.
• Extramural R&D support by central S&T agencies has increased significantly.
• DST and DBT were the two major players contributing 63% and 14%, respectively of the total extramural R&D support in the country during 2016-17.
• The number of researchers per million populations has doubled since 2000.
• India occupies 3rd rank in terms of number of Ph. D.’s awarded in Science and Engineering (S&E) after USA (39,710 in 2016) and China (34,440 in 2015).
• India is placed 3rd among countries in scientific publication as per NSF database.
• During 2018, India was ranked at 3rd, 5th and 9th in scientific publication output as per the NSF, SCOPUS and SCI database respectively
• India is ranked at 9th position in terms of Resident Patent Filing activity in the world.
• During 2017-18 a total of 47,854 patents were filed in India. Out of which, 15,550 (32%) patents were filed by Indian residents.
• Patent applications filed in India are dominated by disciplines like Mechanical, Chemical, Computer/Electronics, and Communication.
• According to WIPO, India’s Patent Office stands at the 7th position among the top 10 Patent Filing Offices in the world.

About National Science and Technology Management Information

• It is a division of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been entrusted with the task of building the information base on a continuous basis on resources devoted to scientific and technological activities for policy planning in the country.
• It is responsible for collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of information on resources devoted to S&T activities in the country.