India’s Global Rank in Field of Scientific Research and Development

India’s position globally in the field of scientific research and development, as measured by the number of research papers published, has improved from 13^th position in 1996 to 12^th position in 2001 and 10th position in 2006 and further to 9^th position in 2010 as per the Scopus International database. 

            The number of applications submitted to patent  new inventions made by  scientists from India and other developed and developing countries received at Indian Patent Office during the last five years is as follows:-

Applications	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
Indian	4521	5314	6040	6161	7262
Foreign	19984	23626	29178	30651	27025
Total	24505	28940	35218	36812	34287

Source: Office of the Controller General Patents, Designs and Trademarks.

Note:   Foreigners Resident Abroad include broadly the residents of Common Wealth countries, American, European, African and Asian countries.

The Government has taken various measures for the promotion and growth of scientific research in the country.  These measures include, successive increase in plan allocations for Scientific Departments, setting up of new institutions for science education and research, creation of centres of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas in academic and national institutes, induction of new and attractive fellowships such as Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), strengthening infrastructure for Research and Development (R&D) in universities, encouraging public-private R&D partnerships, national awards for outstanding R&D for firms etc.