Government approves 122 new research projects under IMPRINT scheme

Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has approved 122 new research project proposals worth Rs 112 crore for funding under its IMPRINT-II (Impacting Research Innovation and Technology) scheme.

• These projects were approved at IMPRINT-II Apex Committee meeting chaired by HRD Minister Prakash Javddekar in New Delhi.

Details:

• The 122 approved new research projects aim to advance research in energy, healthcare, security and defence domains in the high education institutions.
• Of the selected 122 new projects, 81 are sponsored by industry.
• The selected proposals include 35 (ICT), 18 (Advanced Materials), 17 (Healthcare Technology), 12 (Energy Security), 11 (Security & Defence), 9 (Sustainable Habitat), 7 Water Resource & River Systems, 5 (Environment & Climate), 4 (Manufacturing) and 4 (Nano Technology).

About the IMPRINT Scheme:

• IMPRINT is a first of its kind MHRD supported scheme to address major science and engineering challenges and boost original scientific and technological research in 10 technology identified domains in the country.
• It was launched in November 2015 with an aim to develop new engineering education policy and create a road map to pursue engineering challenges.
• These 10 domains are Health Care, Computer Science and ICT, Advance Materials, Water Resources and River systems, Sustainable Urban Design, Defence, Nano-technology Hardware, Environmental Science and Climate Change and Energy Security.
• IMPRINT provides overarching vision that guides research into areas that are predominantly socially relevant. Initially under IMPRINT-I, IITs and IISC, were asked to identify major areas where India is facing engineering and technology challenges.
• Now its scope has also been expanded to private institutions along with IITs and IISc under IMPRINT-II and jointly funded and steered by MHRD and Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• The implementation of 142 projects under IMPRINT-I are already underway.
• These projects have received support from several ministries, councils and departments in addition to MHRD.

Question:

Q. Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has approved how many new research project proposals for funding under its IMPRINT-II (Impacting Research Innovation and Technology) scheme?
a. 120
b. 121
c. 122
d. 123