**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the strategic interventions of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and key mission-mode initiatives launched by the Ministry of Science & Technology. The ANRF Governing Board met on September 10, 2024, to discuss enhancing India's R&D landscape and promoting innovation. Key programs aim to foster research in high-impact areas, with several grants awarded and specific mission-mode initiatives established to advance technology and address societal challenges.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Initiatives:**
* **Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA):** Drives priority-driven, solution-focused research through multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary collaborations. Priority areas include Electric Vehicle (EV) Mission, 2D Innovation Hub, MedTech Mission, AI for Science and Engineering, and CRM Research Program.
* **Broad-based Programs:** Includes Advanced Research Grant (ARG), Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG), and Inclusivity Research Grant (IRG) to provide financial assistance and foster a supportive research environment.
* **Convergence Research Centres of Excellence (CoE):** Established to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of Science, Technology, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Society, addressing complex societal challenges.
* **Centre of Excellence for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators and Analytics (COE-STIIA):** Aims to strengthen the institutional mechanism for STI indicators, enhance their quality and relevance, and improve India's positioning in international indices.
* **Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR):** Designed to boost research capabilities in institutions with nascent research stages through mentorship by well-established institutions.
* **Translational Research and Innovation (ATRI):** To establish ATRI centres supporting technology advancement from TRL 4 to TRL 7, strengthening the innovation pipeline from lab to market.
* **Fellowship Programs:** National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (NPDF) to support young researchers and Ramanujan Fellowship to attract Indian scientists working abroad.
* **Recognition Programs:** National Science Chair, JC Bose Grant, and Prime Minister Professorship programs to recognize eminent senior scientists and leverage their expertise.
**Ministry of Science & Technology Mission-Mode Initiatives:**
* **National Quantum Mission (NQM):** Approved with an outlay of ₹6003.65 crore over eight years to support R&D in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and materials.
* **Thematic Hubs (Established September 2024):** Quantum Computing (IISc Bengaluru), Quantum Communication (IIT Madras with C-DOT), Quantum Sensing & Metrology (IIT Bombay), and Quantum Materials & Devices (IIT Delhi).
* **National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS):** Supports development of Cyber-Physical Systems technologies through a network of Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) focusing on AI, robotics, autonomous systems, smart manufacturing, and advanced communication technologies.
* **Other ANRF Mission-Mode Programmes:** Including Drones, Water, 6G, and Leapfrog Demonstrators, to promote solution-oriented and translational research.
**Grants Awarded in High-Impact Areas:**
* **Development and Demonstration of Materials and Fabrication Technologies for Tropical Batteries:** ₹68.38 Crore to International Advanced Research Centre For Powder Metallurgy And New Materials (Arci), Hyderabad.
* **Te-MobiX: Safe and Degradation-controlled Batteries with Efficient Charging for Tropical e-Mobility Excellence:** ₹47.77 Crore to Indian Institute Of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi.
* **Grid Readiness for EV: Enablers and Technological developments (GREET):** ₹47.45 Crore to Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur.
* **Empowering Research in Indigenous Development of EV Sub-systems (E-RIDES):** ₹56.56 Crore to Indian Institute Of Technology Bombay.
* **Development of high-power Grid-friendly Conductive and Static Wireless Chargers for Electric Vehicles:** ₹18.37 Crore to Indian Institute Of Technology Kharagpur.
* **Rare Earth Magnet-Free Axial Flux Synchronous, Radial Flux Switched Reluctance Motor and their Controllers for EV Applications:** ₹7.76 Crore to National Institute Of Technology Surathkal.
* **Development of wide-bandgap semiconductors based highly efficient power electronics systems for Electric Vehicle:** ₹18.41 Crore to Csir-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (Csir-Ceeri), Pilani.
**Impact Analysis**
**Researchers and Scientists:**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunities for funding, mentorship, and collaboration through various ANRF programs (MAHA, ARG, PMECRG, IRG, PAIR, NPDF, Ramanujan Fellowship). Access to resources and support for cutting-edge research in high-impact areas. Recognition for outstanding contributions.
* **Action Required:** Explore eligibility criteria and application procedures for ANRF grants and fellowships. Engage with established institutions for PAIR program mentorship.
**Academic and Research Institutions:**
* **Impact:** Enhanced capacity for conducting high-impact research, development of new technologies, and participation in mission-mode initiatives. Opportunity to host ANRF centres and contribute to national R&D priorities.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in ANRF programs, apply for grants, and contribute to the establishment and functioning of ANRF initiatives like CoEs and ATRI centres.
**Industry:**
* **Impact:** Access to innovative technologies and research outcomes from academic institutions. Opportunities for collaboration in developing and commercializing technologies through programs like ATRI and various mission-mode initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with research institutions on ANRF-supported projects, particularly in areas like EV technology and quantum computing.
**Policy Makers:**
* **Impact:** Improved data and insights on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) through COE-STIIA, aiding in evidence-based policy and program planning. Strengthened national innovation ecosystem.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the outputs and analyses from COE-STIIA for informed decision-making. Align national priorities with ANRF and mission-mode initiatives.
**Students and Young Professionals:**
* **Impact:** Enhanced opportunities for doctoral and post-doctoral research through NPDF and other fellowships. Exposure to advanced research and innovation ecosystems.
* **Action Required:** Pursue higher education and research, and apply for relevant fellowships and research positions.
Key Entities Referenced
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): The primary entity responsible for initiating and overseeing the various programs and initiatives discussed in the document, focused on advancing research and development in India.
National Quantum Mission (NQM): A significant mission-mode initiative launched by the Department to strengthen research and development in quantum technologies.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS): A mission focused on developing Cyber-Physical Systems technologies through a network of innovation hubs.
Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA) program: A key program of ANRF that addresses priority-driven, solution-focused research in mission-mode.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The governmental ministry under which the initiatives and programs are being driven.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: HIGH-IMPACT
RESEARCH AREAS
Posted On: 11 MAR 2026 5:18PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the first meeting of the Governing Board of Anusandhan
National Research Foundation (ANRF) on 10th September, 2024. The meeting focussed on discussion
about India’s Science and Technology landscape and redesigning of research and development
programmes. The board discussed several areas of strategic interventions of ANRF which include India’s
international status in important sectors, aligning R&D with national priorities, promoting inclusive
growth, capacity building, driving scientific advances and innovation ecosystem, as well as bridging the
gap between academic research and industrial applications. The major programs initiated by ANRF since
its inceptions are given below:-
Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA) program of ANRF addresses priority-
driven, solution-focused research in mission-mode that would catalyse multi-institutional, multi-
disciplinary and multi-investigator collaboration to address scientific challenges and advance the
frontiers of technology in key scientific areas. So far, ANRF has identified and launched Electric
Vehicle (EV) Mission, 2D Innovation Hub, MedTech Mission, AI for Science and Engineering and
CRM Research Program as the priority areas of focus under MAHA program.
Several broad-based programs like Advanced Research Grant (ARG), Prime Minister Early Career
Research Grant (PMECRG), Inclusivity Research Grant (IRG) launched by ANRF to providing
financial assistance to researchers and scientists in academic institutions in order to create
supportive environment for doing research in frontier areas of science and engineering all across the
country.
Convergence Research Centres of Excellence (CoE) to establish "convergence" research Centres of
Excellence (CoEs) launched by ANRF to undertake cutting edge, innovative and impactful research
at the interface of Science, Technology, Humanities, Social Sciences and Society. These Centres will
address complex societal challenges that require integrated perspectives from both technical and
social sciences/humanities domains.
ANRF launched Centre of Excellence for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators and
Analytics (COE-STIIA) with the aim to strengthen the institutional mechanism for STI indicators
with an end-to-end system. The key objective is to enhance the quality, contextual relevance and
applicability of India’s STI indicators, their analysis, interpretations and dissemination of
information and insights at various levels of policy and program planning, as well as foster
alignment with the global indicator frameworks to position India effectively in international indices.
ANRF launched PAIR (Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research) program which is
designed to boost the research capability of those institutions including State Universities where
research is at a nascent stage but which have the potential to perform well, in a mentorship mode by
pairing them with well-established top-tier research institutions in a hub and spoke framework.The ANRF Translational Research and Innovation (ATRI) initiative will bring together all key
stakeholders to channelise the expertise and resources for unlocking the tremendous innovation
potential. Under this initiative, ANRF will establish ATRI centres to provide targeted support for
advancing potential technologies from TRL 4 to TRL 7, thereby strengthening the innovation
pipeline from lab to market.
ANRF has launched National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (NPDF) program to support young
researchers after finishing Ph.D. which is effective to retain them in the country. ANRF launched
Ramanujan Fellowship to attract brilliant scientists and engineers of Indian origin working abroad to
return and take up scientific research positions in India.
The ANRF has launched programs such as the National Science Chair, JC Bose Grant and Prime
Minister Professorship programs to recognise eminent senior scientists for their outstanding
contributions at both national and international levels. These initiatives also aim to leverage the
expertise of scientists and faculty from reputed academic institutions, research laboratories and
industry.
The details of the grants awarded in high-impact areas are given below:
Sr. Project Title Institute Name Total Cost
No. (₹ in Crore)
1 Development and Demonstration of International Advanced 68.38
Materials and Fabrication Technologies Research Centre For Powder
for Tropical Batteries Metallurgy And New Materials
(Arci), Hyderabad
2 Te-MobiX: Safe and Degradation- Indian Institute Of Technology 47.77
controlled Batteries with Efficient (Banaras Hindu University),
Charging for Tropical e-Mobility Varanasi
Excellence
3 Grid Readiness for EV: Enablers and Indian Institute Of Technology 47.45
Technological developments (GREET) Kanpur
4 Empowering Research in Indigenous Indian Institute Of Technology 56.56
Development of EV Sub-systems (E- Bombay
RIDES)
5 Development of high-power Grid- Indian Institute Of Technology 18.37
friendly Conductive and Static Wireless Kharagpur
Chargers for Electric Vehicles
6 Rare Earth Magnet-Free Axial Flux National Institute Of 7.76
Synchronous, Radial Flux Switched Technology Karnataka,
Reluctance Motor and their Controllers Surathkal
for EV Applications7 Development of wide-bandgap Csir-Central Electronics 18.41
semiconductors based highly efficient Engineering Research
power electronics systems for Electric Institute(Csir-Ceeri), Pilani
Vehicle
The Department has launched several mission-mode initiatives to strengthen the innovation ecosystem and
promote high-impact research in emerging technology areas. The National Quantum Mission (NQM),
approved by the Union Cabinet with an outlay of ₹6003.65 crore for a period of eight years, aims to
support research and development in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and
quantum materials.
Under the Mission, four Thematic Hubs have been established in September 2024: Quantum Computing at
the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru; Quantum Communication at the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Madras in association with C-DOT; Quantum Sensing & Metrology at IIT Bombay; and
Quantum Materials & Devices at IIT Delhi. These Hubs are undertaking activities in technology
development, human resource development, entrepreneurship development and industry collaboration, as
well as international collaborations, to strengthen the quantum innovation ecosystem in the country.
The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) supports the development
of Cyber-Physical Systems technologies through a network of Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) across
academic institutions, focusing on areas such as AI, robotics, autonomous systems, smart manufacturing
and advanced communication technologies.
In addition, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has initiated several mission-mode
programmes, including Drones, Water, 6G and Leapfrog Demonstrators, to promote solution-oriented and
translational research in priority technology areas.Bottom of Form
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent charge) for the Ministry of Science and
Technology & Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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