Cabinet approved the introduction of the National Research Foundation Bill, 2023
Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the Parliament on 28 June 2023.
National Research Foundation (NRF)
- The bill will pave the way for setting up of the National Research Foundation (NRF). This foundation will sow the seed of research and development, develop and encourage it. It will promote a culture of research and innovation in universities, colleges, research institutes and research and development laboratories across the country.
- The Bill will set up an apex body called the NRF to provide high-level strategic direction to scientific research in the country in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy.
- The total estimated cost of this apex body would be Rs 50,000 crore over a period of five years (2023-28).
- The Department of Science and Technology 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.
- The Prime Minister will be the ex-officio Chairman of this Board and the Union Minister of Science and Technology and the Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio Vice-Chairman.
- The functioning of the NRF will be administered by an Executive Council under the chairmanship of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
- NRF will establish collaboration between industry and academia and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for the participation and contribution of various industries and state governments, apart from scientific and related ministries.
- It will focus on creating a policy framework and regulatory processes that 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 a wider scope and covers activities other than those of the SERB.
Source – PIB
