On July 23, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of operationalising the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), a move that was five years in the making since its first mention, was a pivotal moment for India’s research ecosystem.

Established under the ANRF Act, 2023, the foundation aims to fund, coordinate, and promote research across India’s universities and colleges, which have long suffered from a lack of infrastructure, particularly in state-run institutions. This initiative is a crucial step in pushing India towards becoming a knowledge-driven society, following the model of research powerhouses like the US, Germany, South Korea, and Israel.

One of the primary goals of ANRF is to address the infrastructure gap in state and central universities, where 95 per cent of students are enrolled but research capabilities are often non-existent. The foundation aims to facilitate timely disbursal of funds, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and foster industry-academia collaboration. With a total budget of Rs 50,000 crore over five years, the government’s contribution is Rs 14,000 crore, while the rest must be raised from........

© Indian Express