Lok Sabha Question No. 472 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Operationalisation of Anusandhan National Research Foundation
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION No. *472 ANSWERED ON 25/03/2026

## OPERATIONALISATION OF ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

## *472. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  operationalized  the  Anusandhan National  Research  Foundation  aimed  at  strengthening  research  and innovation ecosystem in the country;
- (b) the details of funds allocated and released under the Foundation so far;
- (c) whether mechanisms have been put in place to promote collaboration between academic institutions, research organisations and industry under the Foundation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure wider participation of universities and research institutions across States in research programmes supported by the Foundation ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (d):

A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 472 FOR 25.03.2026 REGARDING 'OPERATIONALISATION OF ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION'

- (a) The  Anusandhan  National  Research  Foundation  (ANRF)  has  been operationalized.

The  ANRF  Act,  2023  was  passed  by  both  Houses  of  Parliament  and received the assent of the Hon'ble President on 12th August 2023. The Act was notified in the Gazette of India on 14th August 2023 and came into force with effect from 5th February 2024.

Subsequently, the first meeting of the ANRF Governing Board, chaired by the  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  was  held  in  September  2024,  wherein  the Executive Council was authorised to develop and implement programmes aligned with the objectives of the Act.

ANRF has since initiated programmes to support both fundamental and mission-oriented  research.  Support  for  investigator-driven  research  is being provided through schemes such as Prime Minister's Early Career Research  Grant  (PMECRG),  Advance  Research  Grant  (ARG),  Inclusivity Research Grant (IRG)  and  Partnerships  for  Accelerated  Innovation  and Research  (PAIR).  In  addition,  mission-mode  programmes  under  the Mission for Advancement  in High-Impact Areas (MAHA), including initiatives  in  areas  such  as  electric  mobility,  artificial  intelligence, MedTech  and  critical  raw  materials,  have  been  taken  up  to  address national priorities.

- (b)     In FY 2025-26, as on 23.03.2026, financial assignments amounting to ₹961.35 crore have been completed under the budget head of ANRF. The details are as follows:

(Rupees in crore)

| F Y     |      |   BE |   RE |   RECEIVED |   ASSIGNED |
|---------|------|------|------|------------|------------|
| 2025-26 | ANRF | 2000 | 1948 |       1506 |     961.35 |

- (c)       The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has put in place multiple mechanisms to promote collaboration between academic institutions, research organisations and industry. The ANRF Act provides enabling provisions for co-funding and joint programmes with participation from industry and philanthropic partners.

ANRF  brings  together  government,  academia,  industry,  start-ups  and international  partners  under  a  unified  framework  and  is  designing programmes to facilitate both top-down partnerships with nongovernment contributors and bottom-up participation through academialed consortia.

Further, collaboration is being actively promoted through mission-mode programmes under  the  Mission  for  Advancement  in  High-Impact  Areas (MAHA), where projects are supported in consortium mode with industry participation, including co-funding. For example: in the Electric Vehicle (EV)  Mission,  a  network  of  industry  partners  has  been  engaged  as  cocreators  across  the  project  lifecycle.  Similar  partnership  models  have been extended to other mission-mode programmes and initiatives such as the ANRF Translational Research and Innovation (ATRI) programme.

In addition, ANRF is undertaking structured engagements with industry, Corporate R&D, and philanthropic organisations to scale up private sector participation in research and innovation.

- (d) The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has undertaken several initiatives to ensure wider participation of universities and research institutions across States.

Under the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) programme, a mentorship-driven hub-and-spoke model has been adopted to strengthen research capacity in relatively less-endowed institutions by linking them with leading institutions. Seven PAIR networks, comprising 7 hub and 42 spoke institutions, have been approved with funding support of up to ₹100 crore each over five years. In addition, 11 networks (11 hubs and 62 spoke institutions) have been provided one-year bridge support to deepen collaborative engagement.

Further, the Prime Minister Professorship programme has been launched to place eminent scientists in less-endowed institutions for mentoring and capacity building. So far, 20 Professorships have been approved across 19 States and one Union Territory.

These  initiatives  are  aimed  at  promoting  inclusive,  collaborative  and geographically distributed research participation across the country.

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