Parliament Question: Raja Ramanna Scheme for Advanced Research

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1747 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2026 RAJA RAMANNA SCHEME FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH

1747. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

(a) the salient features, objectives and present status of the Raja Ramanna Scheme including its role in promoting advanced scientific research, innovation and capacity building in the country;

(b) the details of funds allocated, released and utilised under the scheme during the last three years, year-wise along with the number of research projects institutions, and scientists supported;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the scheme on strengthening indigenous research, emerging technologies, and collaboration between academia, research institutions and industry and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to expand the scheme by encouraging greater participation of young researchers, start-ups and institutions from aspirational and backward regions and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps being taken/being taken by the Government to ensure wider outreach, timely financial support and effective implementation of the scheme in line with the objectives of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) Department of Atomic Energy has instituted a national level scheme known as "DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair" (DAE-RRC) since April 2025 after revising the erstwhile similar Scheme.

The Scheme is intended to utilize the services of active retired scientists, engineers and technologists, who have been involved in high quality research in their specialized disciplines in the units of the DAE or any National Laboratory or University or Institute and who after retirement are keen to carryout R&D and studies on the topics as identified by DAE.

(b) The Raja Ramana Chair Scheme in its current form is in operation since April 2025. The Chair has been awarded to 22 scientists in the year 2025 and to 6 scientists in the year2026 across various units, Universities and Institutions in the country and funds of Rs.3.78 crore has been allocated and released. Out of which an amount of Rs.2.97 crore has been released to 22 scientists and funds to the tune of Rs.2.64 crore has been utilised.

Funds for the remaining 6 scientists shall be released on joining their host institutions and submission of requisite documents.

(c) Yes. RRC Scheme has been extremely effective in deploying expertise in a variety of areas of science and technology by field experts post their superannuation towards basic science research, technological innovation and capacity building in the country in line with the objectives of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

(d) Such proposal is not currently under consideration.

(e) The nominations for award of Chair are sought from various national Universities, academic institutions and units of Department. In addition, the Scheme is permanently on display on DAE website. Financial support for first year is immediately released on the basis of selection of the awardees and their joining host institutes. For second and third year of chair, financial support is released after review of previous years’ progress report.

Major research areas contributed by the awardees of the Scheme include thrust areas such as Hydrogen production, Fundamental and applied research in nuclear, and high energy physics, Astrophysics, Neutrino physics, Accelerator Development and Deployment, High Intensity Superconducting Electron Accelerator, Advanced Control algorithms, and other niche areas of science and technology in line with objectives of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

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