SPCULTURESCIENCE

The scheme aims to create an immersive, experiment-based learning attraction that builds scientific temper. Financial assistance for capital cost and corpus fund is provided to State/Union Territory Governments and their Societies.

The component "Science City" under the "Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science" by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India aims to create a popular tourist attraction at the location that provides an experiment-based immersive learning ambience to inculcate a spirit of inquiry, foster creative talent and create scientific temper in the community as a whole. Through this component, financial assistance towards capital cost and corpus fund is provided to State Governments, Union Territories, and the Societies/Authorities promoted by them. A Science City is characterised by its two-pronged channel of communication, namely exhibits and activities; while the exhibits, both indoor and outdoor, are mostly interactive, the demonstrations and training programmes are fully participatory and help children and adults alike to learn the basics of science through fun and enjoyment. It will be large in dimension with a focus on frontier areas of Science and Technology and edutainment, and shall be financially self-sustainable. The component is implemented by the National Council of Science Museums.

> Objectives:

• To portray the growth of science and technology and their application in industry and human welfare, with a view to developing a scientific attitude and temper.
• To create awareness and enhance public understanding, appreciation and engagement of the public in the process of Science and Technology.
• To popularise science and technology by organising exhibitions, seminars, popular lectures, science camps and various other programmes.
• To supplement science education given in schools and colleges, and to organise out-of-school educational activities.
• To design, develop and fabricate science museum exhibits, demonstration equipment and scientific teaching aids.
• To organise training programmes for science teachers, students, young entrepreneurs, technicians, physically challenged persons, housewives and others.

• The applicant should be a State Government, a Union Territory, or a Society/Authority promoted by the State/Union Territory Government.
• The applicant should propose a location, preferably where no major Science Centre exists.
• The applicant may alternatively propose upgradation of an existing science centre to a Science City in locations where footfall to the science centre is substantial.
• The applicant may alternatively propose a separate Science City in a State capital or the largest city of the State, provided that the Science City is viable and financially self-sustainable.
• The applicant should provide at least 25.0 acres of land; however, 30.0 acres would be preferable to do justice to exhibits and facilities, especially those requiring open spaces and future expansion.
• The applicant should ensure that the land is preferably centrally located, easily accessible, fully developed, without any low-lying area, of fairly regular shape, and secured with a boundary wall without any encumbrances.
• The applicant State Government/Union Territory should give a commitment to provide free land and funds as per norms.
• The applicant should employ adequate professional staff for operation and management.
• The applicant should obtain all other statutory clearances and approvals required by the local authorities of the Central Government, State Government, Union Territory Government or other bodies.
• The applicant should choose the land in consultation with, and with the approval of, NCSM.
• The applicant should ensure that the land is free from all encumbrances and encroachment.
• The applicant should ensure that electricity, water, sewerage connection and telecommunication facilities are available in the nearby vicinity.
• The applicant should ensure that the land has good road connectivity for easy access and transport.
• The applicant should not change the land once offered; if any such incident is noticed after release of grant, the released amount shall be recovered from the organisation with the applicable rate of interest.
• The applicant should provide provisions for the solar rooftop in the Detailed Project Report, which is mandatory for the implementing agency.
• The applicant should ensure that buildings are designed keeping in view applicable fire safety norms of the location and the National Building Code.
• The applicant should sign a Memorandum of Understanding with NCSM for implementation, if the project is undertaken and implemented by NCSM.
• The applicant should form the Society before the start of execution of the project so that it is able to receive monetary grants from both Central and State/Union Territory Governments, private/corporate/industry sources, as well as raise loans from financial institutions.

> Project Cost:

LocationCapital CostCorpus FundTotal Project CostAll locations other than North Eastern Region including Sikkim, Hilly Terrain and Island territories₹179.00 crore₹53.70 crore₹232.70 croreNorth Eastern Region including Sikkim₹214.80 crore₹64.50 crore₹279.30 croreHilly Terrain and Island Territories other than location in North Eastern Region including Sikkim₹214.80 crore₹64.50 crore₹279.30 crore> Conditions Attached to the Benefit:

• A Science City is not to be set up under Type A funding, that is, full funding from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Under Type B funding, the capital cost is shared on a 60:40 basis between the Government of India and the State Government/Union Territory, except for the North Eastern Region including Sikkim, where it is shared on a 90:10 basis.
• The corpus fund is shared 20:80 between the Government of India and the State Government/Union Territory; the Government of India share shall in no case exceed 20 per cent of the total Corpus Fund.
• Under Type C funding, the State Government/Union Territory fully funds the project and sets it up with technical support from NCSM against payment of consultancy charges.
• The corpus fund meets the operational deficit funding. The principal shall in no case be utilised for any activity. Not more than 85 per cent of the interest can be utilised to meet the operational deficit after inauguration, and a minimum of 15 per cent is to be added back to the corpus fund to compensate for inflation on a year to year basis.
• The recurring expenditure is completely borne by the State/Union Territory Government, except where the Government of India decides to fully fund the project and manage it through NCSM.
• Pile foundation, if required, will be considered after getting the Soil Test Report; the additional cost is entirely borne by the State Government.
• Third-party quality assurance charges at 1 per cent of the estimated cost are entirely borne by the State Government.
• Escalation of project cost is governed by the successive cost index over DPAR-2019 as published by the Central Public Works Department; the extra cost is borne by the State Government/local authority.

> Indicative Break-up of the Capital Cost:

• Expenditure on Building construction works: Grand Total ₹110.81 crore, which includes Science Centre building of 14,000 square metres minimum with indoor exhibition halls, internal electrification, external Light Emitting Diode lighting, water supply and sanitary installation, firefighting, car and bus parking, underground reservoir of 2,50,000 litres, lifts, escalators, air-conditioning, Diesel Generator set, Closed Circuit Television surveillance, chairs and carpet, contingency at 3 per cent as per Central Public Works Department norms, and architect fee.1. Expenditure on Exhibits, Equipment and Stores: Grand Total ₹68.00 crore, which includes large format film projection unit with laser projectors and accessories (₹25.00 crore), simulator and 3D film theatre (₹4.00 crore), thematic exhibits for Face to Face with Science and Technology (₹8.00 crore), interactive exhibits for experimentation and curriculum supplement (₹2.00 crore), projection equipment for auditorium (₹1.00 crore) and for digital panorama with laser projectors (₹22.00 crore), workshop tools and machineries (₹1.00 crore), development of Science park exhibits (₹1.50 crore), salary of project staff (₹2.50 crore), Travelling Allowance/Daily Allowance for project staff (₹0.40 crore), other administrative expenses (₹0.40 crore), and advertisement and publicity (₹0.20 crore).1. Corpus Fund for Operational Deficit funding after inauguration: at 30 per cent of the project cost.Mode of Disbursement:

• The project shall normally be undertaken by NCSM on a turn-key basis. The funds are received by NCSM, both from the Central Government and the State Governments/Union Territories. NCSM sets up the Science City and hands it over to the State Government/Society for operation and management.
• In case a State/Union Territory Government seeks financial support for a project to be implemented by themselves, a society should be formed by the respective State/Union Territory Government, and funds will be released by the Government of India to the society based on the recommendations of a Project Implementation Committee constituted by the Ministry of Culture with representatives of the Ministry of Culture, NCSM, experts in the field and the State Government.

> Frequency of Disbursement – Year-wise Utilization of Capital Expenditure:

• For all locations other than North East including Sikkim/hilly terrain and island territories: 15 per cent in the first year, 25 per cent in the second year, 25 per cent in the third year, 25 per cent in the fourth year, and 10 per cent in the fifth year. The Government of India releases ₹16.11 crore, ₹26.85 crore, ₹26.85 crore, ₹26.85 crore and ₹10.74 crore respectively, totalling ₹107.40 crore capital, plus a maximum corpus of ₹10.74 crore, making ₹118.14 crore. The State/Union Territory Government is to release ₹114.56 crore upfront prior to starting of the project, including the minimum share of corpus fund of ₹42.96 crore.1. For North Eastern Region including Sikkim: The Government of India releases ₹29.00 crore, ₹48.33 crore, ₹48.33 crore, ₹48.33 crore and ₹19.33 crore, totalling ₹193.32 crore capital, plus a maximum corpus of ₹12.90 crore, making ₹206.22 crore. The State/Union Territory Government is to release ₹73.08 crore upfront, including the minimum share of the corpus fund of ₹51.60 crore.1. For hilly terrains and island territories other than the above: The Government of India releases ₹19.33 crore, ₹32.22 crore, ₹32.22 crore, ₹32.22 crore and ₹12.89 crore, totalling ₹128.88 crore capital, plus a maximum corpus of ₹12.90 crore, making ₹141.78 crore. The State/Union Territory Government is to release ₹137.52 crore

• A Science City is not to be set up under Type A funding, that is, full funding from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• The land requirement relaxation for scarce land in the heart of the city is available only for science centres and innovation hubs, and not for a Science City.