ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Prime Minister Narendra of India chaired the first governing board meeting of the newly formed Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

• About: 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.
• Established under: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) 2023 Act.
• Inspired by: US National Science Foundation (NSF),
• Objective: 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.

oOne of ANRF's key goals is to bridge the infrastructure gap in state and central universities, which enroll 95% of students but often lack research capabilities.

• Focus: Supporting lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) is also vital. Academic institutions are better suited for this stage of research, where capital requirements are lower, failure rates are higher, and students can contribute significantly to long-term projects.
• Financial Framework: The total budget for the initiative is Rs 50,000 crore over five years, with Rs 14,000 crore provided by the government. The remaining funds are to be sourced from non-governmental entities such as industry and philanthropists.