April has been a great month for climate change awareness in India. On 21 April, HSBC and the Indian government

When HSBC India joined hands with the ministry of science & technology and the ministry of earth sciences last week to set up the Earth Sciences Forum to address climate change challenges, it was not a one-off initiative by the bank. HSBC's other climate change initiatives include HSBC Climate Partnership, HSBC Climate Confidence Index, HSBC Global Environment Efficiency Programme, HSBC Global Climate Change Benchmark Index and HSBC Climate Change Fund.

On the eve of the Earth Day, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Union ministry of science and technology and the ministry of earth sciences and the HSBC to create awareness on the issue of climate change among industries, corporate houses and various stakeholders. This initiative, the Earth Science Forum, will help in creating awareness about the issue through participation by scientists working on the issue, non governmental organisations, academia, citizen forums and representatives from industries and concerned government agencies.

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology is forcing through a controversial act which seeks to regulate rights over government-funded research. Many feel that Public Funded R&D (Protection,

Current policies belie avowed focus on Plant Earth

The 94^th Indian Science Congress's focal theme stressed protection of the Earth from environmental degradation, natural and human-made disasters and the perils of pollution. But is the Indian science establishment geared to tackle such issues. Is it even interested? A look at how the Union ministry of science and technology disburses money compels an answer in the negative:

The 94th Indian Science Congress's focal theme stressed protection of the Earth from environmental degradation, natural and human-made disasters and the perils of pollution. But is the Indian science establishment geared to tackle such issues. Is it even interested? A look at how the Union ministry of science and technology disburses money compels an answer in the negative:

l R&D expenditure has remained at around 0.8 per cent of GNP since the 1990s. At present it is 0.84 per cent: far below the target of 2 per cent of GNP

Gurgaon: With a view to developing India as a hub of innovations, the Centre is planning to create a knowledge pool in the country. As per the plan, top 1 per cent science students of classes X and XII will be selected and their studies will be funded by the government.