Bill to improve the nation’s research ecology is approved by the cabinet
The National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 has been given the green light by the Union Cabinet, which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The passed Bill would open the door for the establishment of NRF, which will launch, expand, and support research and development (R&D) while fostering a culture of inquiry and innovation throughout all of India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D labs.
After receiving parliamentary approval, the bill would create the National Research Foundation (NRF), an apex entity that will offer high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the nation in accordance with recommendations made in the National Education Policy (NEP), at an anticipated total cost of Rs. 50,000 crores over a five-year period (2023–28).
The administrative division of the NRF will be the Department of Science and Technology (DST), which will be overseen by a Governing Board made up of distinguished academics and industry leaders from many fields.
The Prime Minister will serve as the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Ministers of Science & Technology and Education will serve as the ex-officio Vice-Presidents due to the NRF’s extensive reach, which affects all ministries. An Executive Council, led by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, will oversee NRF’s operations.
The NRF will build partnerships between business, academia, government agencies, and research institutions, as well as an interaction mechanism for business engagement and contribution in addition to that of the scientific and line ministries. It will concentrate on developing a regulatory framework and setting up policies that may promote cooperation and greater industry R&D expenditure.
The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which was founded by a Parliamentary act in 2008, would also be abolished by the law and absorbed into NRF, which has a broader scope and encompasses operations beyond those of SERB.
