#136: National Research Foundation
What, how and Dont's for UPSC Mains
Update on National Research Foundation (NRF)
- NRF bill approved on June 28 by Union Cabinet; in alignment with NEP 2020
- To form an apex body providing high level strategic direction to scientific research in India
- This bill will subsume Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) 2008
Governance
- Admin department: Dept of SnT
- Governance of NRF:
a) Governing Board to form governance
b) Presided over by PM
c) Members: Science and Education Minister, VPs and eminent scientists, and other learned people
Some stats:
- India spend 0.7% of GDP on R&D while global average is 1.8%
- China: 2%
- Brazil & Russia: ~1%
- South Africa: 0.8%
- USA: 2.8%
Purpose of NRF
- To foster collaboration among academic and research institutions, industry and government departments
- To create policy framework and regulatory processes to encourage collaboration and increased spending by industry on RnD
- To seed, nurture, and promote research, innovation and development across universities, colleges, research in institutions and RnD labs
- To create an interface mechanism for state governments and industries to participate in contribution to scientific R&D
Budget & History
50,000 cr for 2023-2028; 70% budget to come from private sector as research investments and 30% from the govt
Formation discussed by PM Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)
It noted "absence of integrated planning and coordination" is an impediment for conduct of research in India
Mere increase in funding won't result well, we need structural changes in the country
Suggestions to ensure success of this initiative
- Transparency:
Funding to less-endowed institutions and monitoring outcomes shall be transparent
- Roadblocks free Funding
Irregular funding despite approval and roadblocks from red-tapism need to be fixed or else delivery of results will be delayed
- Plan-B
70% of funds to come from the private sector. Government shall have a plan-B in case the funds are falling short
- Decentralized focus
a) The solutions would be found to some big problems in the country but it shall not brush aside basic research and small scale proposal
b) The funding shall not be taken away by big ticket projects alone
- Good governance mechanism
Adequate discussions, effective implementation, and research oriented mindset needs to propagated even among the bureaucracy
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