Editorial of the Day: Weighing in on the National Research Foundation Bill (The Hindu)

Context: The article is discussing the recent approval of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023 by the Union Cabinet in India. It states that the purpose of this bill is to create an apex body that will lead and support research and development efforts in the country. Alongside discussing the significance of NRF, the article highlights the importance of maintaining or even increasing the budgetary allocation for the NRF to facilitate robust research and innovation in the country.

Background

About the National Research Foundation (NRF):

• NRF is a new central entity aimed at funding, promoting, and mentoring scientific research in higher educational institutions across the country.
• The primary goal of the NRF: To foster a vibrant research culture within universities and colleges, marking a new era in Indian academia.
• Modelled on the highly successful U.S. National Science Foundation, the NRF seeks to integrate the funding of scientific projects, breaking away from the siloed approach of the past.
• Origin: The concept of the NRF was first introduced by Prime Minister in 2019 at the Indian Science Congress. Later, the establishment of NRF was included as a significant recommendation in the National Education Policy 2020.
• The bill will also repeal the SERB and subsume it into NRF.
  • The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) is a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament in 2008.
  • Supporting basic research in emerging areas of Science & Engineering are the primary and distinctive mandate of the Board.
• Budget and Funding Model:
  • The NRF is expected to have an initial budget of Rs 50,000 crore over a five-year period from 2023 to 2028.
  • Interestingly, a significant portion of this funding – Rs 36,000 crore – is expected to come from industry contributions, establishing a novel 50:50 funding model between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and industry.
  • This unique funding structure will further bolster the foundation’s financial sustainability, ensuring continuous support for deserving research projects.
• Aims and Scope:
  • The NRF’s primary objective is to bridge the gap between research and higher education in India, a dichotomy that has limited the development of the nation’s scientific capabilities.
  • The foundation aims to build research capacities within Indian universities, bringing together the realms of education and research.
  • In addition to promoting research in natural sciences and engineering, the NRF will also fund research in social sciences, arts, and humanities.
• Governance and Structure:
  • The NRF will be administratively housed under the DST and will be governed by a 16-member board, comprising two members from DST, five from industry, one from humanities, and six experts selected based on the project under review.
  • Signifying the foundation’s wide-ranging influence, the Prime Minister will serve as the ex-officio president of the board, with the Minister of Science and Technology and the Minister of Education as ex-officio vice presidents.
  • The executive council, overseeing the NRF’s functioning, will be chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the government of India.

Decoding the Editorial

National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023:

The scientific community in India is eagerly awaiting the passage of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, as it holds the potential to boost research and development efforts and propel the nation’s scientific progress.

• The NRF aims to strengthen the research ecosystem across all universities and colleges in India, foster a culture of innovation, and promote the growth of research.
• In essence, the NRF will replace the existing Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which was established in 2008 as a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• The functions and goals of the NRF are expected to be similar to those of the SERB, but with an emphasis on further enhancing the research ecosystem in India.
• Once it becomes law, the NRF will play a crucial role in coordinating and supporting research activities, ensuring ample financial support for research and knowledge creation.

Establishment of NRF:

• Establishment of NRF:
  • The idea of creating the National Research Foundation (NRF) was proposed by the Kasturirangan Committee in 2019 and later incorporated into the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
  • The NRF is intended to be an independent foundation that promotes and funds research in India.
• Complementary to Existing Institutions:
• • The NRF’s establishment does not mean the existing institutions funding research, such as the DST, DAE, DBT, ICAR, ICMR, ICHR, UGC, and others, would cease their funding activities.
  • Instead, these institutions will continue to fund research independently based on their respective priorities and needs.
• Status of SERB:
• • The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) is not explicitly mentioned in the list of existing institutions funding research, but it was not indicated in the policy documents that it would be abolished or merged into the NRF.
  • Therefore, the scientific community assumed that SERB would continue to function as a statutory body under the DST and support research as before.
• Multiple Funding Agencies:
• • The policy documents highlight that leading research-producing nations have multiple public and private funding agencies.
  • The idea is to reinforce the belief that having multiple research funding agencies in India could be beneficial, and there is no reason why India cannot adopt this practice to its advantage.
• Coordination and Synergy:
• • The NRF’s role is to coordinate with other funding agencies and collaborate with science, engineering, and other academies to ensure synergy of purpose and prevent duplication of efforts.
  • This implies that the NRF will work in conjunction with existing funding bodies to maximise the impact and efficiency of research funding in the country.

Financial Outlay for NRF:

• Financial Outlay of the NRF:
• • The Kasturirangan Committee had recommended an annual grant of Rs. 20,000 Crores for the National Research Foundation (NRF), which would have been 0.1% of GDP.
  • However, the NEP 2020, which adopted the idea of NRF, did not provide a specific financial commitment.
  • The Press Information Bureau release indicates that the NRF will have a total of ₹50,000 crore for five years, out of which ₹14,000 crore will be provided as government grant or budgetary support, and the remaining ₹36,000 crore is expected to be mobilized through industry and other private philanthropic sources.
• Funding Comparison:
• • The recommended funding for the NRF falls significantly short of what the Kasturirangan Committee had proposed, which was 0.1% of GDP.
  • Instead, the proposed funding amounts to a maximum annual grant of ₹2,800 crore over the next five years.
  • This amount is only 14% of the original recommendation.
• Transition of SERB into NRF:
• • The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) will be subsumed into the NRF after the repeal of its Act.
  • The SERB’s budgetary allocation has experienced fluctuations over the years, but it has been instrumental in funding research and building a sustainable research ecosystem.
• Potential Impact on Budgetary Allocation:
• • There is a concern that when schemes like SERB are merged or subsumed into a new scheme like the NRF, the budgetary allocation for the new scheme may be lower than the total combined allocation for the discontinued schemes.
  • This indicates the possibility that the NRF’s budget may not be equal to the total of the previously allocated funds for both the NRF and SERB.
• Decline in Research Spending:
• • The excerpt also highlights the decline in research spending in India compared to other countries like the United States, China, Israel, and South Korea.
  • The research spending as a percentage of GDP in India has been lower than the recommended levels, and there is a need to increase investment in research and development to promote a conducive research ecosystem.

Research and Knowledge Creation:

• Importance of Research and Knowledge Creation: The New Education Policy (NEP) emphasizes the criticality of research and knowledge creation in driving economic prosperity and development. It highlights that many developed countries have achieved their current and historical economic success through their intellectual capital and significant contributions to new knowledge in various fields, such as science, arts, and culture.
• Historical Traditions of Research in India: The NEP acknowledges India’s long tradition of research and knowledge creation in diverse areas, including science, mathematics, art, literature, phonetics, language, medicine, and agriculture. It suggests that these rich traditions can be further strengthened to position India as a leader in research and innovation.
• Importance of Robust Research Ecosystem: The NEP recognizes that in the face of growing global challenges and opportunities arising from technological advancements, a robust research ecosystem becomes even more crucial. Such an ecosystem is essential for fostering innovation, addressing societal needs, and ensuring India’s competitiveness on the global stage.
• Financial Support for Research: While the NEP outlines commendable ideas and intentions to bolster research and knowledge creation, these aspirations need to be supported by ample financial backing. It indicates that the financial support should be significant, at least to the extent recommended by the Kasturirangan Committee, which proposed an annual grant of ₹20,000 Crores (0.1% of GDP) for the National Research Foundation (NRF).

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