Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a Union Cabinet meeting which gave the nod to the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the Parliament.
The approved Bill will help establish NRF that will seed, grow and promote Research and Development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout the country's universities, colleges, research institutes and R&D laboratories.
After the approvement in the Parliament, the Bill will establish NRF, an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in India according to the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP). It is estimated to come up at a cost of Rs 50,000 crore during five years, that is, 2023 to 2028.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative Department of NRF which will be governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals across disciplines. Since the scope of the NRF is wide-ranging – impacting all ministries - the Prime Minister will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of Science & Technology & Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio Vice-Presidents. NRF’s functioning will be governed by an Executive Council chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
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.
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.
Taking to Twitter, Union home minister Amit Shah said, "Gratitude to PM @narendramodi Ji for approving the National Research Foundation Bill in the Union Cabinet today, promoting the culture of research and development in New India."
"With a total outlay of ₹50,000 Cr. it will pave the way for India to pioneer scientific research," he added.
