Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan introduced the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Bill 2010 in the Lok Sabha on Friday that will enable the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to start an academy to award post-graduate and doctoral degrees.

"The proposed legislation aims to establish the Academy for advancement of learning and promotion of research in the field of science and technology in association with the CSIR," said Chavan.

The scientists, who are currently pursuing research in any of the 37 laboratories of CSIR across the country, have to register themselves at different universities.

Once the AcSIR is set up, it would enable registration of such researchers. In addition, the academy will also award post-graduate degrees.

The aim is to stem the growing shortage of skilled manpower in the science and technology industry and the dwindling numbers of PhDs.

The academy is expected to produce 1,000 PhDs in science and technology and about 120 PhDs in engineering annually from the fifth year onwards.

The institute is foreseen as a set-up that will network between the 37 CSIR laboratories, pool resources and faculty across these to create a national level academy with a strong research focus.

The headquarters of the institute is expected to be in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad city. (ANI)