The departments of health research, biotechnology and industrial research have received only 4–12 percent increases, but “none of us feels that our projects will suffer,” Ramasami told Nature News.

Funding for Earth sciences has, however, increased by 50 percent to 12.1 billion rupees, with a provision of 5.48 billion rupees for oceanographic research, including the setting up of a third Indian station in Antarctica and purchase of research vessels.

The budget for higher education increased by nearly 41 billion rupees to 154 billion rupees, including 4.5 billion rupees for new institutes of technology.

In a move to draw students to science, the budget provides for interest-free loans for those pursuing approved courses of study in technical and professional schools.

Another 5.4 billion rupees has been set aside for a National Knowledge Network of gigabyte bandwidth to connect educational institutions across the country.