THE BUDGET gives only marginal, if any, benefits to public-funded research and development, though it opens the door to private funding of this sector. The overall S&T budget of Rs 3,903 crore is 19.6 per cent more than the revised estimates for 1992-93. Only a few departments, such as the departments of space, of electronics and of non-conventional energy sources, actually benefit from the increase.

The budget allocation for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research will be sufficient only to meet its salary and maintenance requirements. This will further reduce the availability of additional finance for R&D.