Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday announced the government will set up a National Research Foundation (NRF) to fund, coordinate and promote research in the country.
The NRF will assimilate the research grants being given byvarious ministries independent of each other, Sitharaman said in her maidenBudget speech.
“The NRF will ensure that the overall researchecosystem in the country is strengthened with focus on identified thrust areasrelevant to our national priorities and towards basic science withoutduplication of effort and expenditure,” she added.
Sitharaman said “a very progressive andresearch-oriented structure for the NRF” should be worked out.”The funds available with all ministrieswill be integrated in the NRF. This would be adequately supplemented withadditional funds,” the minister said.