HYDERABAD: Setting up a national mission for generating mathematicians, promoting research, exploiting IT, strengthening research institutes and encouraging primary education are some of the suggestions made by an eminent scientist for making India a leader in knowledge creation.

Delivering the foundation lecture at Administrative Staff College of India ( ASCI) here, C R Rao, Professor Emeritus, Penn State University, made the suggestions in three basic areas of mathematics, sciences and technology.

Regretting that high quality research in mathematics has come down, he said the Mathematical Olympiad programme can be expanded to cover all students and schools in the country as per a national mission to generate mathematicians.

Students with good performance should be encouraged to pursue research in mathematics and summer schools can be organised in addition, he suggested.

In the area of science, he suggested that the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR) should have two clearly demarcated divisions - Fundamental Research Division (FRD) and Applied Research and Development Division (ARDD).

Noting that there is a shortage of good teachers in universities, Rao said the lectures given by an eminent professor from anywhere can be broadcast to all colleges in India.