PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Aims of Anusandhan National Research Foundation
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Aims of Anusandhan National Research Foundation
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims to receive funds amounting to Rs. 50,000 crore during 2023-28 in the form of ANRF Fund, Innovation Fund, Science and Engineering Research Fund, Special Purpose Funds. A budgetary provision of Rs. 14,000 crore is made from the Central Government and remaining amount will be sourced through donations from any other source, including from public sector enterprises, the private sector, philanthropist organizations, foundations or international bodies.
A Governing Board (GB) of ANRF has been constituted and the Central Government notified the GB of the following composition in the Gazette of India:
1
The Prime Minister of India
President (ex-officio)
2
The Union Minister of Science and Technology
Vice-President (ex-officio)
3
The Union Minister of Education
Vice-President (ex-officio)
4
A Member from the NITI Aayog dealing with science and technology
Member (ex-officio)
5
Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Science and Technology
Member (ex-officio)
6
Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Member (ex-officio)
7
Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Biotechnology
Member (ex-officio)
8
Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Higher Education
Member (ex-officio)
9
Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
Member-Secretary (ex-officio)
10
Dr.Manjul Bhargava
Professor, Princeton University, USA
Member
11
Dr.Romesh T Wadhwani
Chairperson, Symphony Technology GroupCalifornia and New York, USA
Member
12
Dr.RaghuvendraTanwar
Chair, Indian Council of Historical Research
Member
13
Dr.Jayaram N. Chengalur
Director, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Member
14
Prof. G Rangarajan
Director, Indian Institute of Science
Member
15
Dr. Subra Suresh
Professor at Large, Brown University, USA
Member
The first meeting of the GB was held on 10th September 2024 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister as the President of the GB. The GB discussed strategic interventions of ANRF which are required to accelerate and strengthen the S&T landscape of the country. The deliberations included global positioning of India in key sectors, aligning R&D with national priorities, promoting inclusive growth, capacity building, driving scientific advances and innovation ecosystem, stimulating the latent potential of universities and colleges, bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications through industry-aligned translational research and implementing programs to boost the country’s research ecosystem and accelerate scientific and technological advancements. R&D programs which were aligned with the discussions, namely, Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG), the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas -Electric Vehicle (MAHA- EV), Inclusivity Research Grant (IRG), Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) have been launched.
This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.