Lok Sabha Question No. 529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: National Research Foundation (NRF)
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Basavaraj Bommai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 529 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2025

## NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NRF)

## 529.  SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI:

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

- (a) the progress made so far in setting up of a National Research Foundation (NRF) to increase the expenditure on R&D and to provide increasing role to private sector;
- (b) the  details  of  the  steps  that  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to increase R&D outlook in the country to create a competitive R&D ecosystem;
- and
- (c) the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase participation of private sector in the research field?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) ANRF has been established through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 (25 of 2023). The provisions of the Act came into force on 5th February 2024. It aims to provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation  and  entrepreneurship  in  the  field  of  natural  sciences  including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture, and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences, to promote, monitor and provide support as required for such research and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The overarching goal of the ANRF will be to seed, grow and promote research  and  development  (R&D)  and  foster  a  culture  of  research  and innovation throughout India's universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

The programmes and initiatives under the ANRF have been formulated to align national  research  efforts  with  strategic  priorities.  These  include  supporting research  across  disciplinary  and  interdisciplinary  areas  of  science  and technology  through  competitive  funding;  strengthening  R&D  capabilities  in state  universities;  implementing  mission-mode  programmes  in  domains  of national  importance;  encouraging  private-sector  participation  in  R&D;  and providing limited support through fellowships, seminars, and workshop grants.

A major initiative under ANRF is the Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas  (MAHA),  which  promotes  priority-driven,  solution-oriented  research

through multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary, and multi-investigator collaborations. Under the MAHA programme, ANRF has so far identified and launched four missions: the Electric Vehicle (EV) Mission, the 2D Innovation Hub, the MedTech Mission, and the AI for Science and Engineering initiative. ANRF's programmes focus on strengthening industry-academia collaboration and  promoting  translational,  mission-driven  research  with  active  industry involvement. To ensure effective engagement, the MAHA-EV Mission mandates participation  from  relevant  industries,  PSUs,  and  start-ups,  and  includes  a requirement for industry partners to contribute 10% of the total project cost.

- (b) To  strengthen  the  country's  R&D  outlook  and  create  a  competitive national  research  ecosystem,  the  Government  is  undertaking  a  series  of strategic measures. These include building indigenous capabilities in critical technologies such as semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, 5G/6G, quantum computing,  biotechnology,  clean  energy,  space  technologies,  and  cyberphysical  systems;  establishing  national  mission  programmes  such  as  the National Quantum Mission, the India Semiconductor Mission, and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical  Systems  (NM-ICPS)  to drive coordinated, mission-mode research. Further steps include operationalising the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to support high-impact and translational research; enhancing industry-academia collaboration; promoting private-sector participation in R&D; and establishing a ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund to  catalyse  research  and  innovation  in  sunrise  and  strategic  sectors.  The Government is also strengthening human capital for R&D through fellowship schemes such as the Prime Minister's Early Career Research Grant and other research support programmes.

(c) One of the key initiatives to increase participation of private sector is launching of Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. On July 1, 2025 the Union Cabinet approved the RDI Scheme with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over 6 years to incentivize private sector participation in research and development (R&D).

RDI Scheme aims to provide long-term financing at low interest rates to spur private sector investment in RDI. The scheme has been designed to overcome the constraints and challenges in funding of private sector and seeks to provide growth & risk capital to sunrise and strategic sectors to facilitate innovation, promote  adoption  of  technology  and  enhance  competitiveness.  The  main objectives of the RDI scheme are to 1) encourage the private sector to scale up research, development and innovation (RDI) in sunrise domains and in other sectors relevant for economic security, strategic purpose, and self-reliance, 2) finance transformative projects at higher levels of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 and above, 3) support acquisition of technologies which are critical or of high strategic importance, and 4) facilitate setting up of Deep-Tech of Funds.

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