**Executive Summary**
The document outlines the establishment and objectives of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), established through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, which came into force on February 5, 2024. ANRF aims to strategically direct research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across various scientific fields in India. A key initiative under ANRF is the RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) scheme, which was approved on July 1, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ANRF Establishment and Purpose:**
* Established through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 (Act 25 of 2023).
* Act came into force on February 5, 2024.
* Aims to provide strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in natural sciences (including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture, and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences).
* Overarching goal: to seed, grow, and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India.
* **ANRF Initiatives:**
* Programmes align national research efforts with strategic priorities.
* Includes competitive funding, strengthening R&D in state universities, mission-mode programs, and encouraging private-sector participation.
* Provides limited support through fellowships, seminars, and workshop grants.
* **Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA):**
* Promotes priority-driven, solution-oriented research through collaborations.
* Launched four missions: Electric Vehicle (EV) Mission, 2D Innovation Hub, MedTech Mission, and AI for Science and Engineering.
* **Industry Involvement:**
* Focus on strengthening industry-academia collaboration and promoting translational research.
* MAHA-EV Mission mandates participation from relevant industries, PSUs, and start-ups.
* Requires industry partners to contribute 10% of the total project cost.
* **Strategic Measures:**
* Building indigenous capabilities in critical technologies (semiconductors, AI, 5G/6G, quantum computing, biotechnology, clean energy, space technologies, cyber-physical systems).
* Establishing national mission programmes (National Quantum Mission, India Semiconductor Mission, NM-ICPS).
* Operationalising ANRF to support high-impact and translational research.
* Establishing a ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund.
* **Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme:**
* Approved on July 1, 2025.
* Total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over 6 years.
* Aims to incentivise private sector participation in R&D.
* Provides long-term financing at low interest rates.
* Objectives: Encourage private sector RDI in sunrise domains and sectors relevant for economic security, strategic purpose, and self-reliance; finance transformative projects at higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL); support acquisition of critical technologies; facilitate setting up of Deep-Tech of Funds.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing strategic measures to strengthen the R&D ecosystem, aligning research efforts with national priorities, and providing financial support through schemes like the RDI Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Operationalize the ANRF, establish national mission programs, and allocate funds for the RDI scheme.
**Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, and R&D Laboratories:**
* **Impact:** Will benefit from the ANRF's support in terms of funding, infrastructure development, and opportunities for collaboration.
* **Action Required:** Align research programs with national priorities, participate in ANRF initiatives, and foster a culture of research and innovation.
**Industry Partners (including PSUs and Start-ups):**
* **Impact:** Have the opportunity to collaborate with academia, access funding, and contribute to mission-driven research.
* **Action Required:** Participate in ANRF programmes, contribute financially to projects (10% in MAHA-EV Mission), and leverage research outcomes for commercialization.
**Private Sector Investors:**
* **Impact:** The RDI scheme aims to provide long-term financing at low interest rates to spur private sector investment in RDI, incentivizing participation through a substantial outlay.
* **Action Required:** Consider investments in R&D projects, leverage the RDI scheme for financial support, and contribute to technology advancement.
**Researchers:**
* **Impact:** Benefit from increased funding opportunities, fellowship schemes, and platforms for collaboration, promoting career advancement in R&D.
* **Action Required:** Apply for grants and fellowships, participate in research projects, and contribute to national research priorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023: The Act establishing the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to provide strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): A foundation created to seed, grow, and promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India.
Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: A scheme designed to provide long-term financing at low interest rates to spur private sector investment in RDI.
Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA): A major initiative under ANRF that promotes priority-driven, solution-oriented research through multi-institutional collaborations.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The ministry overseeing the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NATIONAL
RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NRF)
प्रव तथ: 03 DEC 2025 6:10PM by PIB Delhi
ANRF has been established through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 (25 of
2023). The provisions of the Act came into force on 5th February 2024. It aims to provide high level
strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of natural sciences including
mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and
agriculture, and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences, to promote,
monitor and provide support as required for such research and for matters connected therewith or
incidental thereto. The overarching goal of the ANRF will be to seed, grow and promote research and
development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities,
colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
The programmes and initiatives under the ANRF have been formulated to align national research efforts
with strategic priorities. These include supporting research across disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas
of science and technology through competitive funding; strengthening R&D capabilities in state
universities; implementing mission-mode programmes in domains of national importance; encouraging
private-sector participation in R&D; and providing limited support through fellowships, seminars, and
workshop grants.
A major initiative under ANRF is the Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA), which
promotes priority-driven, solution-oriented research through multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary, and
multi-investigator collaborations. Under the MAHA programme, ANRF has so far identified and launched
four missions: the Electric Vehicle (EV) Mission, the 2D Innovation Hub, the MedTech Mission, and the
AI for Science and Engineering initiative.
ANRF’s programmes focus on strengthening industry-academia collaboration and promoting translational,
mission-driven research with active industry involvement. To ensure effective engagement, the MAHA–
EV Mission mandates participation from relevant industries, PSUs, and start-ups, and includes a
requirement for industry partners to contribute 10% of the total project cost.
To strengthen the country’s R&D outlook and create a competitive national research ecosystem, the
Government is undertaking a series of strategic measures. These include building indigenous capabilities
in critical technologies such as semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, 5G/6G, quantum computing,
biotechnology, clean energy, space technologies, and cyber-physical systems; establishing national
mission programmes such as the National Quantum Mission, the India Semiconductor Mission, and the
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to drive coordinated, mission-
mode research. Further steps include operationalising the Anusandhan National Research Foundation
(ANRF) to support high-impact and translational research; enhancing industry-academia collaboration;
promoting private-sector participation in R&D; and establishing a ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund to catalyseresearch and innovation in sunrise and strategic sectors. The Government is also strengthening human
capital for R&D through fellowship schemes such as the Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant
and other research support programmes.
One of the key initiatives to increase participation of private sector is launching of Research,
Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. On July 1, 2025 the Union Cabinet approved the RDI
Scheme with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over 6 years to incentivize private sector participation in
research and development (R&D).
RDI Scheme aims to provide long-term financing at low interest rates to spur private sector investment in
RDI. The scheme has been designed to overcome the constraints and challenges in funding of private
sector and seeks to provide growth & risk capital to sunrise and strategic sectors to facilitate innovation,
promote adoption of technology and enhance competitiveness. The main objectives of the RDI scheme are
to 1) encourage the private sector to scale up research, development and innovation (RDI) in sunrise
domains and in other sectors relevant for economic security, strategic purpose, and self-reliance, 2)
finance transformative projects at higher levels of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 and above, 3)
support acquisition of technologies which are critical or of high strategic importance, and 4) facilitate
setting up of Deep-Tech of Funds.
*****
NKR/AK
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2198309) आगंतुक पटल : 563
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही