SPOCS123

The scheme component aims to promote hands-on "doing science" through experimental, self-discovery exhibits. Financial assistance for capital costs and corpus fund under three categories is provided to State/Union Territory Governments and their Societies.

The component "Science Centres - Category-I, Category-II, Category-III" under the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India aims to provide the scope of "doing science" by adopting a hands-on approach, offering the visitor a number of experimental options through which they can discover scientific concepts themselves. 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, under three categories based on the population of the city or town. This mode of education has so far proved to be very effective in supplementing formal science education in the country. 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 proposing a Category 1 Science Centre should locate it in a city or town with a population of 15,00,000 or more.
• The applicant proposing a Category 2 Science Centre should locate it in a city or town with a population between 5,00,000 and 15,00,000.
• The applicant proposing a Category 3 Science Centre should locate it in a city, town or location with a population of less than 5,00,000.
• The applicant proposing a Category 1 Science Centre should provide a minimum of 7.0 acres of land.
• The applicant proposing a Category 2 Science Centre should provide a minimum of 5.0 acres of land.
• The applicant proposing a Category 3 Science Centre should provide a minimum of 2.0 acres of land.
• 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.
• 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 facility 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 with the applicable rate of interest.
• The applicant should provide provisions for the solar rooftop in the Detailed Project Report.
• 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.

> Preference/Priority/Relaxation:

• For Category 2 Science Centres in the North East region, hilly terrains and island territories, 2.5 to 3.0 acres of land will be acceptable provided the land has good vicinity and accessibility.
• In case the land is located in the heart of the city where land availability is scarce, the land requirement may be relaxed in the case of science centres. The building may be constructed in multiple stories utilising the available Floor Space Ratio of the location. However, the Science Park shall be an integral part of the science centre.
• Under Type B operational mode, State Governments/Union Territory administrations desirous of having more than one science centre, or wanting accelerated development of Science Centres, shall be given priority, provided they agree to bear the entire operating cost of the centre after it is developed and handed over to the States/Union Territories.
• Under Type C, State Governments agreeing to fully fund the science centre project, provide land and other required facilities, and operate and manage them shall be accorded priority.
• Under Type A, priority areas and locations/regions where Science Centre activities have not yet started may be considered for full funding from the Ministry of Culture.
• The eligibility criteria of population, land, funding pattern, and feasibility and financial viability may be relaxed and/or modified in special cases/circumstances by the Honourable Chief Minister, Government of India, as stated in the document.
• In construction, priority/preference may be given to local material, labour and expertise; use of renewable energy and energy-saving devices may be given top preference.

> Science Centre – Category I:

LocationCapital CostCorpus FundTotal Project CostAll locations other than the North Eastern Region, including Sikkim, Hilly Terrain and Island territories₹31.50 crore₹9.50 crore₹41.00 croreNorth Eastern Region including Sikkim₹37.80 crore₹11.30 crore₹49.10 croreHilly Terrain and Island Territories other than location in North Eastern Region including Sikkim₹37.80 crore₹11.30 crore₹49.10 crore

> Science Centre – Category II:

LocationCapital CostCorpus FundTotal Project CostAll locations other than the North Eastern Region, including Sikkim, Hilly Terrain and Island territories₹17.10 crore₹5.15 crore₹22.25 croreNorth Eastern Region including Sikkim₹20.50 crore₹6.20 crore₹26.70 croreHilly Terrain and Island Territories other than locations in North Eastern Region including Sikkim₹20.50 crore₹6.20 crore₹26.70 crore

> Science Centre – Category III:

LocationCapital CostCorpus FundTotal Project CostAll locations other than the North Eastern Region, including Sikkim, Hilly Terrain and Island territories₹5.10 crore₹1.55 crore₹6.65 croreNorth Eastern Region including Sikkim₹6.10 crore₹1.85 crore₹7.95 croreHilly Terrain and Island Territories other than locations in North Eastern Region including Sikkim₹6.10 crore₹1.85 crore₹7.95 crore

> Conditions Attached to the Benefit:

• Under Type A funding, for Science Centres to be set up in locations/regions where Science Centre activities have not yet started, or in priority areas, the Ministry of Culture may consider providing full funding for such Centres through NCSM. In no case will more than one Science Centre be set up in any State/Union Territory in future under the scheme. In States/Union Territories where NCSM centres already exist, such provision shall not be applicable.
• Under Type B funding, the capital cost for a Science Centre (Category 1, 2 and 3) is shared on a 50:50 basis, except for the North Eastern Region including Sikkim, where it is shared on a 90:10 basis. The corpus fund is shared 20:80.
• 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.
• 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 Mobile Science Exhibition bus facility will be added to the Science Centre only on allotment of a separate budget by the State Government/Union Territory.

> Indicative Break-up of the Capital Cost:

• Category I: Expenditure on Building construction works – Grand Total ₹23.07 crore, for a Science Centre of 4,000 square metres minimum. Expenditure on Exhibits, Equipment and Stores – Grand Total ₹8.43 crore, which includes three thematic galleries of approximately 600 square metres with 50 exhibits each (₹3.75 crore), Science Park of approximately 4 acres with pathway and 50 required exhibits (₹1.00 crore), inflatable dome planetarium system called Taramandal (₹0.10 crore), fully functional exhibit development laboratory (₹0.25 crore), other facilities like Computer training area, Library, Conference Room, Stores and Office (₹0.80 crore), training of required staff members and other miscellaneous expenses (₹0.15 crore), 3D theatre facility with equipment and furniture (₹1.00 crore), miscellaneous building or auditorium furnishing, signage and murals (₹0.25 crore), and salary and Travelling Allowance/Daily Allowance of project staff (₹1.130 crore). Corpus Fund at 30 per cent of the project cost.- Category 2: Expenditure on Building construction works – Grand Total ₹12.60 crore, for a Science Centre of 2,000 square metres minimum. Expenditure on Exhibits, Equipment and Stores – Grand Total ₹4.50 crore, which includes two thematic galleries of approximately 250 square metres with 25 exhibits (₹2.00 crore), Science Park of approximately 3 acres with pathway and required exhibits (₹0.80 crore), inflatable dome planetarium system (₹0.10 crore), fully functional exhibit development laboratory (₹0.20 crore), other facilities like Computer training area, Library, Conference Room, Stores and Office (₹0.40 crore), and salary and Travelling Allowance/Daily Allowance of project staff (₹1.00 crore). Corpus Fund at 30 per cent of the project cost.- Category 3: Expenditure on Building construction works – Grand Total ₹3.55 crore, for a Science Centre of 500 square metres minimum. Expenditure on Exhibits, Equipment and Stores – Grand Total ₹1.55 crore, which includes one Fun Science Gallery of approximately 100 square metres with 20 exhibits (₹0.50 crore), setting up of Temporary Exhibition cum Multipurpose hall of approximately 100 square metres (₹0.40 crore), Innovation and Activity Centre (₹0.50 crore), and salary and Travelling Allowance/Daily Allowance of project staff (₹0.15 crore). Corpus Fund at 30 per cent of the project cost.

> Mode of Disbursement:

• For a Science Centre set up under Type A and Type B, NCSM will complete the Science Centre on a turn-key basis, including construction and commissioning, and hand over the project after completion to the State Government/Union Territory. NCSM shall start the construction work only after the share of funding is received from the State/Union Territory Government.- For a Science Centre set up under **T

• Under Type A funding, in no case will more than one Science Centre be set up in any State/Union Territory in future under the scheme.
• In States/Union Territories where NCSM centres already exist, the provision of full funding under Type A shall not be applicable.
• The principal of the corpus fund shall in no case be utilised for any activity.