National Research Foundation (NRF)

In July, 2021, Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education announced that the government of India is planning to set up a National Research Foundation (NRF) with the  aim to strengthen the country’s research ecosystem.

What will be National Research Foundation (NRF)

-The National Research Foundation (NRF) will be a body that will connect the industry, academia and the R&D of the country.

-The primary aims of setting up the NRF is the facilitation and growth of research capabilities and outcomes in those institutions (colleges, universities, etc) where research capacity is currently developing.

-The National Research Foundation (NRF) will also support and fund multi-institutional, large scale, multi-investigator, high impact, multi-nation or interdisciplinary projects which will be dine in association or collaboration with the relevant departments or ministries as well as governmental and non-governmental industries of the country.

-The foundation will also fund and support high-impact, large-scale multi-investigators and multi-institutions. 

-It will fund interdisciplinary or multi-nation projects in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and other Governmental and non-Governmental entities, especially industry.

-It will  fund / grants and establish high-intensity thematic research labs in the varied areas of science including nanotechnology, oceanography and information and communication technology.

Who will be the head of NRF?

The National Research Foundation will be formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

What is the Budget for NRF?

A budget of Rs 50,000 crore has been announced as total proposed outlay for the NRF over a 5 year period.

What is Ministry of Education

Formerly known as the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, and this ministry is responsible for the countrywide implementation of the National Education Policy.

The Ministry is further divided into two departments:

-The Department of School Education and Literacy, which deals with primary, secondary and higher secondary education, adult education and literacy.

-The Department of Higher Education, which deals with university level education, technical education, scholarships, etc.