Obstacles in research must be removed, says PM Modi
- Recently, the Prime Minister chaired the first meeting of the Governing Board of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
- The meeting aimed to initiate discussions on enhancing India’s research ecosystem.
- The PM called for path-breaking research aimed at providing localized solutions to global problems, in alignment with Indian needs.
Strategic Decisions by the Governing Body
- The board decided to implement a mentorship model where universities at a nascent research stage are paired with established institutions for guidance.
- Areas of focus include
- positioning India globally in strategic sectors
- aligning research and development (R&D) with national priorities
- promoting inclusive growth
- bridging the gap between academic and industrial research through industry-aligned translational research.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
- NRF, as an apex body, aims to
- provide “high-level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship”
- enhance “India’s national research infrastructure, knowledge enterprise, and innovation potential, for scientific pursuit”.
- The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be NRF's administrative department.
- ANRF is working toward creating a ₹50,000 crore corpus, with ₹36,000 crore coming from non-government sources.
- For the current fiscal year, the Union Budget has allocated ₹2,000 crore to the ANRF.
Challenges and Criticisms
- Despite its goals, the governing body lacks participation from Indian industries and State universities.
- The current 15-member board includes only one industrialist and two American academics of Indian origin.
Functions of NRF
- Preparing the roadmap for short, medium, and long-term research and development.
- Facilitating and funding the expansion of R&D and related infrastructure in universities, colleges, and research institutions.
- Funding competitive peer-reviewed grant proposals to eligible individuals.
- Assisting in the transformation of research into capital-intensive technology.
- Enhancing India's role and engagement in significant national and global areas.
- Encouraging private and public sector entities to invest in the foundation.
- Carry out annual surveys of scientific research, outcomes, and spending.
Prelims Takeaway
- Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
- Department of Science and Technology (DST)