Summary:
- The Cabinet of India has approved the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, aimed at giving a significant boost to research in the country.
- India has been trailing behind in research and development (R&D) expenditure compared to countries like China, the United States, and South Korea.
- The NRF aims to create a policy framework, regulatory processes, and funding to enhance research capacity across various disciplines.
Details:
- The NRF Bill was approved by the Indian Cabinet last week, signaling a major step forward for research in the country.
- India spends less on R&D compared to China, the US, and South Korea, which invest significant public funds in research and development.
- The NRF will improve research capacity in India by promoting collaboration, increasing funding for competitive research projects and bridging the gap between different sectors.
- The foundation will serve as an apex body, governed by a board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals from various disciplines.
- The Department of Science and Technology will act as the administrative department for the NRF, with the Prime Minister serving as the ex-officio president.
- The scope of the NRF is expected to be wide-ranging, impacting all ministries and sectors, including social sciences.
- The foundation will receive an estimated budget of over 50,000 crore rupees (approximately $6.7 billion) over five years (2023-2028) to fund research projects.
- Any unspent funds during the initial years will be held as a corpus for the NRF, ensuring steady returns for future research initiatives.
- The NRF will have autonomy in setting its own financial and governance structures, promoting a professional approach to research management.
- Creating the NRF is important for India’s research ecosystem and its global research position.
Table 1: R&D Expenditure Comparison
| Country | R&D Expenditure (% of GDP) |
|---|---|
| India | Less than 0.85% |
| China | 2.0% |
| United States | 2.9% |
| South Korea | 4.3% |
Table 2: Researchers per Million Population
| Country | Researchers per Million |
|---|---|
| India | 591 |
| China | 1586 |
| United States | 4245 |
| South Korea | 7498 |
In a significant development for research in India, the Cabinet has given its approval to the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill. The goal is to increase research and development spending to catch up with other countries like China, the United States, and South Korea.The NRF Bill seeks to provide a much-needed boost to research capacity by establishing a policy framework, regulatory processes, and increased funding. The foundation will be governed by a board consisting of distinguished researchers and professionals. The Prime Minister will serve as the ex-officio president of the foundation. NRF will give money to research projects and promote cooperation between various fields. The budget is 50,000 crore rupees for the next five years. This move is anticipated to create a thriving research ecosystem in India and enhance its global standing in the field of research and development.
#FinancialExpress – The #NRF push to #research in India: An explainer.@PMOIndia @DrJitendraSingh @srivaric @guptaakhilesh63 @serbonline https://t.co/30Xn5Jwo78 pic.twitter.com/YJSLNP46Om
— DSTIndia (@IndiaDST) July 3, 2023
#Printcoverages on #Cabinet approval for introduction of National Research Foundation #NRF Bill 2023 in #Parliament. #CabinetDecisions @PMOIndia @DrJitendraSingh @srivaric @guptaakhilesh63 @serbonline pic.twitter.com/QCIE2EeCX6
— DSTIndia (@IndiaDST) June 29, 2023
Approval of the National Research Foundation Bill will pave the way for bolstering R&D. It will foster innovation and collaboration among academia, industry, and government, a crucial step in realising our vision for a scientifically advanced nation. https://t.co/0lohgIYQDu https://t.co/m8GvzZqypf
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 28, 2023
