HRD Ministry preparing a detailed plan for National Research Foundation, proposal to be presented before cabinet soon

The Union HRD Ministry has started the preparation for the National Research Foundation, a  proposal for which is to be put up soon before the Union Cabinet. As per media reports, senior officials have stated that a details project report for the NRF which will provide a boost to research in the country has been prepared and will be circulated among the different ministries related for their valuable inputs.

The proposal will be presented before the cabinet possibly this month itself.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has earlier announced in the budget regarding the centres plan for setting up the NRF to increase research possibilities in the country.

According to officials, a panel of nearly 80 experts which will include NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, NITI Aayog principal scientific advisor to the PM, K Vijay Raghavan, former revenue secretary Hasmukh Adiha, former ISRO chief Kasturirangan, former Infosys CEO Kris Gopalakrishnan and top HRD officials who had provided a detailed plan  to set up NRF.

As per the reports submitted by the experts under the Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP), NRF will be commissioned by an Act of Parliament and will also aim to achieve excellence in knowledge creation and research and innovation infrastructure.

The NRF will also fund research projects through grants and will establish high-intensity thematic research labs in the areas of science including oceanography, nanotechnology and information and communication technology.

As per the panel formed on the direction of the PM and whose report was submitted to the HRD Minister, NRF will establish and support research centres in the existing higher education institutions and also support and fund postdoctoral students.

The National Research Foundation will be the apex body which will be formed under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister and will aim at excelling in knowledge, people and infrastructure. The body will focus on promoting research and development activities in science and technology, humanities and social sciences which will be identified through national and state missions.