Anakapalle MP M. Srinivasa Rao urged the Union Government to increase budgetary allocation under UGC grants for promoting scientific research in various universities across the country.
He raised the issue in the House on Thursday, pointing out that a meagre Rs.716 crore was budgeted for research in the academic year 2014-2015.
In response, Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said that during 2013-2014 only Rs.406 crore had been spent for research and it was increased to Rs.716 crore for the next year. She said that the government wanted to imbibe a culture of accountability for the grants sanctioned under UGC — they were being given on the basis of the number of projects submitted.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao pointed out that because of the meagre grants, people were constrained to opt for research projects in foreign countires.