Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

Syllabus: GS 3/Science and Tech

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the inaugural meeting of the Governing Board of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

The meeting focussed on discussion about India’s Science and Technology landscape and redesigning of research and development programmes.

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was established under the ANRF Act 2023, with the goal of fostering a culture of research and innovation across India.
The ANRF aims to seed, grow, and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout the country, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP).
The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which previously handled many of the country’s research funding activities, has been subsumed into ANRF.
The ANRF has a funding target of ₹50,000 crore for the period 2023-2028.

India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) increased from ₹6,01,968 million in 2010-11 to ₹12,73,810 million in 2020-21.
R&D investment as a percentage of GDP is 0.64%, lower compared to major economies like China (2.4%), Germany (3.1%), South Korea (4.8%), and the U.S. (3.5%).
India produces approximately 40,813 PhDs annually, ranking third globally.
In 2022, India ranked third in research publications with over 3,00,000 outputs.
India secured the sixth position in patent grants with 30,490 patents in 2022.

Economic Growth: R&D is instrumental in driving economic growth by fostering innovation and enhancing productivity.
- Innovations stemming from R&D efforts can create new markets, generate employment opportunities, and increase the country’s GDP.
Technological Advancement: Investments in R&D lead to the development of new technologies and processes that can improve efficiency across industries.
Tackle National Challenges :R&D is vital for addressing pressing national challenges, including those related to health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
Global Competitiveness : a strong R&D sector enhances a country’s competitiveness. India’s progress in research and development has led to significant improvements in its global rankings, such as advancements in the Global Innovation Index and Nature Index.
Education and Skill Development :R&D activities also play a crucial role in promoting education and skill development.

India’s R&D expenditure is at 0.64% of GDP, down from 0.8% in 2008-09 and 0.7% in 2017-18.
- This is significantly lower compared to developed countries, which typically spend 2% to 4% of GDP on R&D.
Current spending is heavily reliant on public funds, with private sector contributions only at 36.4%.
- Developed nations typically have over 70% of R&D funded by the private sector.
Private sector funding is limited due to issues like unclear regulatory frameworks, lack of intellectual property protection, and poor evaluation capacity.
The Economic Survey highlights the slow transition of technologies from lab to societal use, noting low ‘Land to Lab’ time as a key issue.
Concerns have been raised about the adequacy of funding and the effective utilization of allocated resources.

The ₹50,000-crore National Research Foundation (NRF) fund was established in 2021 to promote interdisciplinary research.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) :It has been established with Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act 2023.

Private Sector-Driven Research and Innovation : The Indian government is providing substantial funding and creating a conducive environment to encourage private sector participation in R&D.
Space Program Expansion: India’s space program has achieved significant milestones such as the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) and Chandrayaan missions.
- The government is now focusing on expanding the commercial potential of the space sector.
Nuclear Energy Development: To meet growing energy demands and reduce carbon emissions, India is investing in small and modular nuclear reactors.

Research and Development (R&D) serves as a crucial pillar for national growth and innovation, driving advancements in technology, industry, and science.
India has made notable progress in R&D output, it needs to address funding gaps, increase private sector participation, and leverage recent policies to enhance its research and innovation ecosystem.
Efforts must focus on equitable fund distribution, interdisciplinary collaborations, and maintaining global standards to advance India’s R&D capabilities.

Source:PIB

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