Lok Sabha Question No. 2367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: National Research Foundation
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2367 ANSWERED ON-04/08/2025

## National Research Foundation

†2367. Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane: Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure: Smt. Bharti Pardhi:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the progress of setting up and operationalizing the National Research Foundation (NRF);
- (b) the specific steps being undertaken to achieve the targeted funding of Rs. 50,000 crores during the last five years and the current year, with particular focus on attracting the projected 72% contribution from the Private Sector;
- (c) the manner by which NRF is likely to promote research culture across all the disciplines and types of institutions including State Universities; and
- (d) the initiatives being taken to promote the internationalization of Indian Higher Education and attracting  the  foreign  students  by  facilitating  international  collaborations  and  encouraging Indian Institutions to achieve higher global rankings?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a)  to  (d):    The  Anusandhan  National  Research  Foundation  (ANRF)  has  been  established  by  the ANRF Act 2023 in February, 2024. The Executive Council (EC) and Governing Board of the ANRF have been established to oversee the implementation of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

ANRF  has  initiated  effective  strategy  to  achieve  the  targeted  funding  which  includes Partnership  with  philanthropic  organizations,  Industry  contributions  to  mission-mode  programs (cash/kind)  under  the  Mission  for  Advancement  in  High-impact  Areas  (MAHA).  Public-private funding  model  in  the  Prime  Minister's  Fellowship  for  Doctoral  Research  wherein 50%  of  the fellowship support is provided by the participating industry.

ANRF has launched PAIR (Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research) program, which is designed to boost the research capability of those institutions including State Universities, in a mentorship mode by pairing them with well-established top-tier research institutions in a hub and spoke framework.

ANRF has also launched several broad-based programs/schemes such as Advanced Research Grant  (ARG),  Prime  Minister  Early  Career  Research  Grant  (PMECRG)  etc.  providing  financial assistance to young researchers and scientists in academic institutions in order to create supportive environment for doing research in frontier areas of science and engineering all across the country.

Further,  ANRF has also  launched  National  Post  Doctoral  Fellowship  (NPDF)  program  to support  young  researchers  after  finishing  Ph.D.  which  is  effective  to  retain  them  in  the  country, National Science Chair, J. C. Bose Grant and Prime Minister Professorship programs to recognise eminent senior scientists for their outstanding contributions at both national and international levels. These initiatives also aim to leverage the expertise of scientists and faculty from reputed academic institutions, research laboratories and industry.

In alignment with the vision of NEP 2020, University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued 'UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations 2023 ' to facilitate the establishment of branch campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India. Under this regulation, till date, 12 foreign universities have been issued letter of Intent (LoI) by the UGC for establishing their campuses in India. University of Southampton has  started  its  Gurugram  campus.  University  Grants  Commission  has  also  issued  Regulations  on Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign HEIs to offer Twinning, Joint Degree, and Dual Degree Programmes.

Moreover, the 'Study in India' program promotes Indian education globally to attract more international  students.  Additionally,  the  Scheme  for  Promotion  of  Academic  and  Research Collaboration  (SPARC) scheme has been realigned to strengthen research by fostering  academic collaborations between top Indian institutions and leading universities from 28 selected countries, enhancing India's global academic presence and research capacity.

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