Wednesday, September 28 2005 16:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With a view to strengthening country's foundations in basic science, the Government will set up two institutes dealing exclusively with science education and research, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Sept 28, 2005) said.

"I have always felt that it is a pity that a country of a billion people has only one Indian Institute of Science," Singh said here at the presentation of CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award and Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Awards.

"To rebuild our foundations in basic science, the Government is creating two institutes dealing with science education and research, one each at Pune and Kolkata," he said hoping these institutes would attain world class standards as the institute at Bangalore.

He said that Government was very keen on pushing forward many meaningful and productive public-private partnerships. In particular, research in pharmaceuticals was of critical interest, he added.

He said that government had initiated a number of steps to promote science.

Ministry of Human Resource development had set up a task force on rejuvenation of scientific research in universities.

The task force has a target of doubling the number of Ph.Ds within the next five to six years, he said.

Besides, a new National Science and Engineering Research Foundation has been approved which will receive generous funding and will operate in autonomous manner.

Other initiatives include institution of Ramanujan

Fellowship, JC Bose Fellowship and fellowships for scientists and technologists of Indian Origin, he added.