Modi Government Sets Up National Research Foundation, Rs 50,000 Crore Fund Over Five Years For R&D

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Union Cabinet on Wednesday (28 June) approved the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the Parliament.  

The approved Bill will pave the way to  establish NRF that 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 government said in a statement.

The administrative Department of the NRF will be the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the foundation will be governed by a Governing Board comprising eminent researchers and professionals from various disciplines.

The Prime Minister will serve as the ex-officio President of the Board, while the Union Minister of Science and Technology and the Union Minister of Education will act as ex-officio Vice-Presidents.

The NRF’s functioning will be governed by an Executive Council chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

In a move to streamline research activities, the NRF Bill also includes the repeal of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), established by an act of Parliament in 2008.

The SERB will be subsumed into the NRF, which will have an expanded mandate covering activities beyond those of the SERB.

NRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries.

It will focus on creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.