Mega NRF boost for R&D and academic innovations

Paving the way for establishing National Research Fund (NRF), the Centre has approved introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the Parliament.

The NRF will seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions and R&D laboratories.

The Bill, after approval in the Parliament, will establish NRF, an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), at a total estimated cost of Rs 50,000 crore spread over five years (2023-28).

India aspires to become global innovation hub in the next 25 years.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative department of NRF, which will be overseen by a governing board comprising eminent researchers and professionals across disciplines.

The scope of NRF is wide-ranging -- impacting all ministries -- the Prime Minister will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of Science & Technology and Union Minister of Education its ex-officio vice-presidents. It’s functioning will be governed by an executive council chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said: “We’ll have to simultaneously work on multiple fronts to make India a global centre of research and innovation during the ‘Amrit Kaal’ (in the next 25 years). This is the need of the hour.