Cabinet Meeting: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in Parliament. According to the government, the approved bill will pave the way for setting up of the NRF which will promote research and development (R&D), develop and promote a culture of research and innovation in India’s universities, colleges, research institutes and R&D laboratories. Will give
The Bill, after approval in Parliament, will set up the NRF, an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), with a total estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 crores over the course of five years (2023-28).
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative arm of the NRF which will be governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals from various disciplines. Since the scope of the NRF is wide-ranging – affecting all ministries – the Prime Minister will be the ex-officio chairman of the board and the Union Minister of Science and Technology and the Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio vice-chairmen. , The functioning of the NRF will be governed by an Executive Council headed by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
The NRF will establish collaboration between industry, academia and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for the participation and contribution of industries and state governments, in addition to scientific and related ministries. It will focus on creating a policy framework and setting regulatory processes that can encourage collaboration and increased spending by industry on R&D.
The Bill will also repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), set up by an Act of Parliament in 2008, and subsume it into the NRF, which has an expanded mandate and covers activities other than those of the SERB.
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