On June 28, the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill is passed by the Union cabinet in Parliament. As per the bill The NRF will provide high-level strategic direction to scientific research in India, keeping alignment with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2023. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), will be working under the NRF, incentive mechanisms are to be ensured for smooth supply of funds from the private sector, or the institution might not run smooth .
The administrative department of the NRF will be the Department of Science and Technology (DST) . It will consist of Governing Board, presided over by the Prime Minister, and comprising the Union Ministers of Science and Technology and of Education as Vice-Presidents, and eminent scientists . An Executive Council, with the Principal Scientific Adviser will look after the NRF’s functioning.
The principal reason of forming the NRF is to speed up cooperation and collaboration among academic and research institutions as well as industry and government departments.
The bill passed by the parliament is actually needed to be introduced as the current laws and orders do not easily permit a private organisation to contribute funds for research such as the NRF , in a country where science is often neglected the decision of the NIRF is believed to transform Indian science .