Indian science and technology has arrived on the world scene. It is now a force to reckon with, thanks to India’s human resources. The 2002-03 Budget recognises this in good measure. There has been a 20 to 25 per cent increase in budgetary allocations for science and technology.

To overcome the financial hazards, the budget for the current fiscal has increased the allocation for five science and technology departments by 25 per cent or Rs 790 crore over the 2001-2002 budget from Rs 3,110 crore to Rs 3,900 crore. Atomic energy has been given Rs 535 crore against Rs 418 crore in 2001-02. Space research which is making India one of the leading nations in this highly sophisticated area, gets Rs 1,950 crore against Rs 1,600 crore. This is an increase of 22 per cent as India has many new space and satellite projects in hand in view of the increasing demand from several sectors. Oceanographic research has been given a boost with a provision of Rs 175 crore, Rs 55 crore more than the 2001-2002 allocation. Other scientific research will receive Rs 1228.80 crore, a jump of Rs 872 crore.

Telecommunication services are being given Rs 18,069 crore in the current year against Rs 17,723 crore in 2001-02, a small increase in the budget. However, the private sector investments and joint sector investments in this sector are very substantial. Already, India has around 40 million fixed line telephones and more than four million mobile phones. The growth rate is high and is expected to be accelerated during the Tenth Five Year Plan. Hence, telecom sector which is regarded as the key to future progress, is receiving a new fillip.

Sectoral reforms and investment opportunities in information and communication technologies seek to bridge the digital divide and improve the quality of life of the deprived people. With the opening of the international long distance service and the internet telephony from April 1, 2002, the process of liberalisation in the telecom sector would be complete.

By the year 2005, India is expected to have 70 million fixed telephone lines and each one of the six lakh villages will have more than one public call office. India has 285 million people living in towns and cities with 35 cities having a million or more people including metropolises and megalopolises like Greater Delhi, Greater Kolkata, Greater Mumbai and Greater Chennai with more than 10 million people each.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has got Rs 1,032 crore against Rs 924 crore. India has 42 laboratories under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which are now engaged in practical applications and delivering device and products rapidly for commercial use to make life less hazardous.

Biotechnology, with an outlay of Rs 225 crore against Rs 185 crore in 2001-02, is to cover many facets of human, animal and plant life. Biotechnology covers many processes-not only high-yielding disease-resisting crops but also cures for killer-diseases. India can now proudly hope to increase grain production from 210 million tons to 300 million tons to feed more than 1.2 billion or more people in less than 10 years by using less land and diverting some of the farming areas to cash crops like cotton.

Shortage of funds has been a perennial problem but is being slowly overcome. The national budget has been trying to address the financial crunch as far as possible. But more than money, it is the capacity of the human brain to cash in on what is available. With that unfailing human endeavour, Indian scientists have reached the frontiers of science and technology and are proving their mettle at its best.