New Delhi: Looking to improve research at the higher education level across disciplines, the Modi government is considering a proposal to create a separate body for its promotion and funding, ThePrint has learnt.
The draft National Education Policy (NEP), which has been in focus over the last week due to the ‘Hindi vs Tamil’ debate, has proposed the establishment of a National Research Foundation (NRF).
The proposed NRF is likely to play the same role in research and innovation that the University Grants Commission (UGC) plays in higher education — an umbrella regulatory body.
Currently, there is no institution that looks after research and innovation in educational institutions across the country.
What NEP proposes
According to the draft NEP proposal, the NRF will “enable a culture of research to permeate through all universities”.
It will be a body set up under an act of Parliament and will consist of four major divisions — sciences, technology, social sciences and arts and humanities — with the provision to add additional divisions like health, agriculture and environmental issues.
The NRF will competitively fund research in all disciplines across the academic landscape — in subjects such as medicine, physics, agriculture, artificial intelligence, nanoscience, education, sociology, archaeology, art history and literature, says the NEP proposal.
“The NEP is only at the draft stage so far and we are still studying the complete report. One of the suggestions that we are serious about implementing from the report is the National Research Foundation for promotion of research in the country,” said a senior HRD ministry official in the know of the developments.
“Currently, various research projects are being funded by Department of Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy, Indian Council of Medical Research, UGC and others. Once NRF is established it will be a single body to manage all the funding for research,” added the official.
Funding and mentors
The NEP proposes an annual allocation of Rs 20,000 crore for the NRF’s management and spending.
The proposal also says that research facilities at state universities will be improved under the NRF through the appointment of research mentors.
“Serving or retired/close to retirement faculty at research universities and institutions who are still active in research may choose to serve as Research Mentors at State Universities,” the draft proposes.
These mentors would work not only on proposed research projects, but also teach at least one relevant course a year to connect to the university community, and advise the university and its departments on growing a culture of research to transform the institution, proposes the NEP.
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