Dr Jitendra hails Cabinet approval for establishing ‘National Research Foundation’

STATE TIMES NEWS

NEW DELHI: Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday hailed the Union Cabinet approval for establishing the “National Research Foundation” (NRF). The approval came in response to a proposal moved by the Ministry of Science & Technology in the cabinet meeting this morning.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi approved the introduction of National Research Foundation(NRF) Bill 2023 in the parliament to establish NRF that will function as a high level think tank for coordination and long term as well short term planning. It will also seek to create infrastructure and a conducive environment so as to facilitate scientific research and innovation across the countries, including in the peripheral university particularly in the rural and semi urban areas.
In a tweet Dr Jitendra Singh said that the National Research Foundation will foster a vibrant culture of research, innovation, academics, industrial applications, and StartUps in the country, and enhance India’s role as a global player.
The new body will also analyse expenditure and project, and conduct annual surveys of scientific research.
The proposed 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 during five years (2023-28).
The bill will also repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an Act of Parliament in 2008 and subsume it into NRF which has an expanded mandate and covers activities over and above the activities of SERB.