1919 m. In the current plan. Three quarters of this expenditure goes towards just five sectors: agriculture, atomic energy, space research, Industrial research and general S and T matters. India now spends close to 0.6 per cent of Its GNP on S&T. S&T INFRASTRUCTURE Today India has about 130 special lzed Institutions and labo­ ratories engaged In R&D. These would be too numerous to I 1st. Hence, I wll I merely mention the departments they come under, to give an Idea of the scope of their activities: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research. the Council tor Scientific and Industri­ al Research, the Indian Council for Medical Research, the Depart­ ments of Atomic Energy. Space, Electronics, Science and Techno­ logy. Ocean Development. Environment, Non-Conventional Sources of Energy, and Electronics; The Defence Research and Development Organization. In addition, there are over 700 In-house R&D units In the various Industrial corporations. Consultancy organizations have also blossomed. Over 150 such organizations today empty nearly 24,000 scientists and technologists. India Is keenly aware of the strides being made In the newly emerging and frontier areas of technology. Efforts are being made to create an lnt~astructure for VLSis, micro-processors, bio­ technology. new sources of energy and fibre-optics. In many of these fields some advance has already been made. A National Bio­ technology Board has been set up. and al~o a Semi-Conductors Complex. APEX MANAGEMENT The scientific departments (which Include Atomic Energy, Electronics, Environment. Space and Ocean Development) are being looked after directly by the Prime Minister ·of India, who Is also the Preslent of the national Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. The Union Cabinet or the councl I of India's highest pol ltlcal executive at the central level has Invariably had a scientific advisory committee (SAC). Since 1981 the SAC to the cabinet has 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be discussing the state of science and technology in India, highlighting the country's expenditure on research and development, its infrastructure, and its efforts to create an infrastructure for emerging technologies. It also mentions the management structure of scientific departments, which are directly under the Prime Minister.

**Category**
Science and technology