STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (NRF) will realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of India’s science driven growth, said the Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh while chairing the monthly joint meeting of Union Secretaries of all the Science Ministries and Departments, at Science Centre here on Friday.
The Minister said, the NRF, envisaged by PM Modi, will catapult us to the league of handful of developed nations pioneering new research in new frontiers, he said.
“Anusandhan” NRF Act was passed by the Parliament in the recent Monsoon session. NRF will provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of Natural Sciences including Mathematical Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Health and Agriculture.
Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Dr. Abhay Karandikar informed the Minister that he convened the first meeting of NRF Implementation Committee recently. The Draft Rules & Regulations will be ready by next week and once finalized, it will be tabled in Parliament.
Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood said, a proposal of names for the 16-member NRF Governing Body is also under finalization. It will include 6 Experts, 5 Industry representatives and 1 Humanities expert. The NRF will connect to Tier 2 & Tier 3 institutions since 11% of its budget is earmarked for their Capacity Building.
Dr Jitendra said the Executive Council of NRF is mandated not only to monitor the progress of the different projects but also to analyse the accountability of the funding at different level stages. NRF will promote the culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories and give further impetus to Clean energy research in India and Mission Innovation, he said.
Dr Singh stressed that Tier 2 & 3 Institutions will need handholding so that they can absorb the funds. Besides, he said, the NRF will bring about sweeping changes in the work culture as Industry will have to come forward to take risk cover and await the gestation.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the NRF will hike the R&D spending in the country.
“The demarcation between the Public and Private sector will be bridged and there will be integration. NRF will also act as a think tank, it has the mandate of deciding the themes on which the projects have to be undertaken and funded, and deciding on foreign tie-ups,” he said.