ANRF: Aimed at Enhancing Research in India’s Universities

Source: The post ANRF: Aimed at Enhancing Research in India’s Universities has been created, based on the article “The Anusandhan National Research Foundation aims to make India a knowledge-driven economy” published in “Indian Express” on 10th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper3- Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.

Context: The article discusses the launch of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to boost research in India’s universities. It aims to bridge gaps in infrastructure, promote collaboration with industry, and streamline funding for research, following global models like the US National Science Foundation.

For detailed information on Issues with Anusandhan National Research Foundation read this article here

What is the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)?

1. The ANRF was established under the ANRF Act, 2023 to improve research across India’s universities and colleges.
2. It aims to fund, coordinate, and promote research, focusing on underfunded state universities, where 95% of students study but research capabilities are often lacking.
3. With a budget of Rs 50,000 crore over five years, the government will contribute Rs 14,000 crore, and the rest will come from industry and philanthropists.
4. The foundation follows the model of the US National Science Foundation, promoting industry-academia collaboration.
5. The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and complements India’s goal of becoming a knowledge-driven society.

What challenges does the ANRF address?

Bureaucratic Delays: ANRF will reduce delays in fund disbursal by cutting down bureaucratic hurdles, often caused by General Financial Rules (GFR).

Duplication in R&D: By coordinating research across sectors such as defence, agriculture, and health, ANRF will eliminate inefficiencies and duplication of efforts.

Industry-Academia Collaboration: Following the US model, ANRF will promote industry partnerships to drive research that aligns with market needs and fosters innovation.

What additional support does ANRF provide?

1. ANRF focuses on supporting lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), where capital needs are lower, failure rates higher, and students contribute to long-term projects.
2. The government’s Rs 1 lakh-crore corpus for higher TRL research in Focused Research Organisations (FROs) and deep-tech startups complements ANRF’s efforts, covering the entire research spectrum from basic to advanced development.

What is the long-term goal of ANRF?

ANRF aims to transform India into a knowledge-driven economy. By improving research infrastructure and collaboration, it hopes to promote sustainable development and innovation across sectors.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the impact of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) on improving research infrastructure in underfunded state universities in India.