Will the Union Budget 2024-2025 by Modi 3.0 help in fulfilling the dream of the National Research Foundation (NRF) into a reality? In Lok Sabha on August 4, 2023, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023 was introduced. It not only repealed the Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008 but also dissolved the Science and Engineering Research Board set up under it. The Bill provided for establishing the NRF.

Modi government approved the Bill to boost scientific advancement in the country. However, the Union government, in the interim budget for 2024-25, was silent on allocation for the institution or progress made so far.

In 2020, reportedly, it was proposed for the first time under the National Education Policy (NEP). In the country, the NRF aims to centralise scientific research funding.

Reportedly, it would replace the currently established governmental funding agencies such as the Department of Atomic Energy, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Biotechnology, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, the University Grants Commission, and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

In the Union budget for 2021-22, the Modi government announced that it would set aside Rs 50,000 crore for the National Research Foundation over five years.

In 2023-24, the Union budget allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the NRF. However, it was then revised to Rs 258.60 crore.

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Functions of the National Research Foundation:

In India, NRF will be the apex body to provide strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the fields of –

a) Natural sciences including mathematics

b) Engineering and technology

c) Environmental and earth sciences,

d) Health and Agriculture

e) Scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences

‘India at par with the rest of the world’

On June 21, Union Minister Jitendra Singh in a conversation with Dr. Sethuraman Panchnathan, Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, said that India will have a robust National Research Foundation (Anusadhan NRF). Once fully functional, it will help in huge transformation in research, and development and also act as a bridge for the integration of public and private sectors including industry and academia.

Also, the Union Minister highlighted the country’s progress in next-generation technologies such as AI/ML, and quantum technologies and said “India on par with the rest of the world in next-generation technologies.”

All said and done, the future of the National Research Foundation will depend on how much allocation it will get in the Union Budget 2024-2025!