The scheme is aimed at providing scholarships for students and encouraging them to continue with science and later, for opportunities in research careers. This government funding for scholarship is arguably the first such initiative on promoting science.

“In view of the fact that leading institutions like ISRO are facing a deficit of quality science students, this move by the government is a good start,” said Ranjeev Misra, Chairperson of Science Popularisation at the city-based Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). “The shortage has more to do with quality than with quantity. The toppers of standard X and XII do not take up science, but choose other lucrative options, we need to promote science such that the brightest students come to science,” he said.

Pure science students, who have taken up careers in other fields like information technology sector, are expected to be encouraged to go into research and stem the internal brain drain.

“Between research and a job, students prefer a job because it means an immediate pay packet. There has been a growing awareness to offer more financial incentives to students to take up science. Scholarships of this kind would be an incentive to promote research,” said T Padmanabhan, Dean of Academic Studies, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics.