**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Education addresses the establishment and operationalization of the National Research Foundation (NRF) in response to parliamentary questions. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was established in February 2024. The ANRF is implementing strategies to achieve targeted funding, promote research across institutions, and internationalize Indian Higher Education, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Establishment and Governance of ANRF:**
* The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was established by the ANRF Act 2023 in February 2024.
* The Executive Council (EC) and Governing Board of the ANRF have been established to oversee implementation.
* **Funding Strategies:**
* Strategies include partnerships with philanthropic organizations.
* Industry contributions to mission-mode programs (cash/kind) under the Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA).
* Public-private funding model in the Prime Minister's Fellowship for Doctoral Research (50% industry support).
* **Promotion of Research Culture:**
* PAIR (Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research) program boosts research capability in institutions, including State Universities, through mentorship by top-tier institutions.
* Launch of programs such as Advanced Research Grant (ARG) and Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) to support young researchers and scientists.
* National Post Doctoral Fellowship (NPDF) program supports young researchers after Ph.D.
* National Science Chair, J. C. Bose Grant and Prime Minister Professorship programs recognise eminent senior scientists.
* **Internationalization of Higher Education:**
* UGC regulations facilitate the establishment of branch campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India.
* 12 foreign universities have been issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) by the UGC.
* University of Southampton has started its Gurugram campus.
* Regulations on Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign HEIs to offer Twinning, Joint Degree, and Dual Degree Programs.
* The Study in India program promotes Indian education globally to attract more international students.
* The SPARC scheme has been realigned to foster academic collaborations between top Indian institutions and leading universities.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Researchers and Scientists:**
* *Impact:* Increased funding opportunities through ARG, PMECRG, and NPDF programs; recognition through National Science Chair, J. C. Bose Grant, and Prime Minister Professorship programs.
* *Action Required:* Apply for available grants and fellowships; participate in collaborative research programs.
* **Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):**
* *Impact:* Opportunity to enhance research capabilities through the PAIR program; potential for academic collaborations with foreign HEIs.
* *Action Required:* Partner with top-tier institutions through the PAIR program; establish collaborations with foreign HEIs; explore establishing branch campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India.
* **State Universities:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from boosted research capabilities through the PAIR program's mentorship model.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the PAIR program to enhance research capabilities.
* **Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs):**
* *Impact:* Facilitated establishment of branch campuses in India through UGC regulations.
* *Action Required:* Follow UGC regulations for establishing campuses in India; explore academic collaborations with Indian HEIs.
* **Industry:**
* *Impact:* Opportunities to contribute to research through mission-mode programs and the Prime Minister's Fellowship for Doctoral Research.
* *Action Required:* Partner with ANRF and academic institutions; provide funding and support for research programs.
Key Entities Referenced
National Research Foundation: A proposed organization in India to promote research and development across various disciplines.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation ANRF: An organization established by the ANRF Act 2023 to oversee the implementation of the National Research Foundation (NRF).
ANRF Act 2023: A law that established the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas MAHA: A mission-mode program under ANRF that focuses on attracting industry contributions through cash/kind collaborations.
PAIR Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research program: A program launched by ANRF to boost research capability of institutions, including State Universities, by pairing them with established research institutions.
NEP 2020: National Education Policy 2020, a comprehensive framework for education in India.
University Grants Commission UGC: A statutory body in India responsible for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education.
University of Southampton, Gurugram campus, Haryana: A foreign university that has established a campus in Gurugram, Haryana, India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2367
ANSWERED ON-04/08/2025
National Research Foundation
†2367. Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane:
Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:
Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure:
Smt. Bharti Pardhi:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the progress of setting up and operationalizing the National Research Foundation (NRF);
(b) the specific steps being undertaken to achieve the targeted funding of Rs. 50,000 crores during
the last five years and the current year, with particular focus on attracting the projected 72%
contribution from the Private Sector;
(c) the manner by which NRF is likely to promote research culture across all the disciplines and
types of institutions including State Universities; and
(d) the initiatives being taken to promote the internationalization of Indian Higher Education and
attracting the foreign students by facilitating international collaborations and encouraging
Indian Institutions to achieve higher global rankings?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (d): The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been established by the
ANRF Act 2023 in February, 2024. The Executive Council (EC) and Governing Board of the ANRF
have been established to oversee the implementation of the National Research Foundation (NRF).
ANRF has initiated effective strategy to achieve the targeted funding which includes
Partnership with philanthropic organizations, Industry contributions to mission-mode programs
(cash/kind) under the Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA). Public-private
funding model in the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research wherein 50% of the
fellowship support is provided by the participating industry.
ANRF has launched PAIR (Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research) program,
which is designed to boost the research capability of those institutions including State Universities,
in a mentorship mode by pairing them with well-established top-tier research institutions in a hub and
spoke framework.
ANRF has also launched several broad-based programs/schemes such as Advanced Research
Grant (ARG), Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) etc. providing financial
assistance to young 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.Further, ANRF has also launched National Post Doctoral Fellowship (NPDF) program to
support young researchers after finishing Ph.D. which is effective to retain them in the country,
National Science Chair, J. C. 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.
In alignment with the vision of NEP 2020, University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued
“UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India)
Regulations 2023” to facilitate the establishment of branch campuses of Foreign Higher Educational
Institutions (FHEIs) in India. Under this regulation, till date, 12 foreign universities have been issued
letter of Intent (LoI) by the UGC for establishing their campuses in India. University of Southampton
has started its Gurugram campus. University Grants Commission has also issued Regulations on
Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign HEIs to offer Twinning, Joint Degree, and Dual
Degree Programmes.
Moreover, the ‘Study in India’ program promotes Indian education globally to attract more
international students. Additionally, the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research
Collaboration (SPARC) scheme has been realigned to strengthen research by fostering academic
collaborations between top Indian institutions and leading universities from 28 selected countries,
enhancing India's global academic presence and research capacity.
*****