09/01/2023, 22:58 Catalysing Quality Academic Research through a new (NRF) National Research Foundation NEP 2020 in India

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National Education Policy NEP 2020 Research through

NRF in India

Chapter 17. Catalysing Quality Academic Research in

All Fields through a new National Research Foundation
(NRF)
17.1. Knowledge creation and research are critical in growing and sustaining a large
and vibrant economy, uplifting society, and continuously inspiring a nation to achieve
even greater heights. Indeed, some of the most prosperous civilizations (such as India,
Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece) to the modern era (such as the United States,
Germany, Israel, South Korea, and Japan), were/are strong knowledge societies that
attained intellectual and material wealth in large part through celebrated and
fundamental contributions to new knowledge in the realm of science as well as art,
language, and culture that enhanced and uplifted not only their own civilizations but
others around the globe.

17.2. A robust ecosystem of research is perhaps more important than ever with the
rapid changes occurring in the world today, e.g., in the realm of climate change,
population dynamics and management, biotechnology, an expanding digital
marketplace, and the rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence. If India is to
become a leader in these disparate areas, and truly achieve the potential of its vast
talent pool to again become a leading knowledge society in the coming years and
decades, the nation will require a significant expansion of its research capabilities and
output across disciplines. Today, the criticality of research is more than ever before, for
the economic, intellectual, societal, environmental, and technological health and
progress of a nation.

17.3. Despite this critical importance of research, the research and innovation
investment in India is, at the current time, only 0.69% of GDP as compared to 2.8% in

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the United States of America, 4.3% in Israel and 4.2% in South Korea.

17.4. The societal challenges that India needs to address today, such as access for all
its citizens to clean drinking water and sanitation, quality education and healthcare,
improved transportation, air quality, energy, and infrastructure, will require the
implementation of approaches and solutions that are not only informed by top-notch
science and technology but are also rooted in a deep understanding of the social
sciences and humanities and the various socio-cultural and environmental dimensions
of the nation. Facing and addressing these challenges will require high-quality
interdisciplinary research across fields that must be done in India and cannot simply be
imported; the ability to conduct one's own research also enables a country to much
more easily import and adapt relevant research from abroad.

17.5. Furthermore, in addition to their value in solutions to societal problems, any

country's identity, upliftment, spiritual/intellectual satisfaction and creativity is also
attained in a major way through its history, art, language, and culture. Research in the
arts and humanities, along with innovations in the sciences and social sciences, are,
therefore, extremely important for the progress and enlightened nature of a nation.

17.6. Research and innovation at education institutions in India, particularly those that
are engaged in higher education, is critical. Evidence from the world’s best universities
throughout history shows that the best teaching and learning processes at the higher
education level occur in environments where there is also a strong culture of research
and knowledge creation; conversely, much of the very best research in the world has
occurred in multidisciplinary university settings.

17.7. India has a long historical tradition of research and knowledge creation, in
disciplines ranging from science and mathematics to art and literature to phonetics and
languages to medicine and agriculture. This needs to be further strengthened to make
India lead research and innovation in the 21st century, as a strong and enlightened
knowledge society and one of the three largest economies in the world.

17.8. Thus, this Policy envisions a comprehensive approach to transforming the quality
and quantity of research in India. This includes definitive shifts in school education to a
more play and discoverybased style of learning with emphasis on the scientific method
and critical thinking. This includes career counselling in schools towards identifying
student interests and talents, promoting research in universities, the multidisciplinary
nature of all HEIs and the emphasis on holistic education, the inclusion of research and
internships in the undergraduate curriculum, faculty career management systems that
give due weightage to research, and the governance and regulatory changes that

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encourage an environment of research and innovation. All of these aspects are

extremely critical for developing a research mindset in the country.

17.9. To build on these various elements in a synergistic manner, and to thereby truly
grow and catalyze quality research in the nation, this policy envisions the
establishment of a National Research Foundation (NRF). The overarching goal of the
NRF will be to enable a culture of research to permeate through our universities. In
particular, the NRF will provide a reliable base of merit-based but equitable peer-
reviewed research funding, helping to develop a culture of research in the country
through suitable incentives for and recognition of outstanding research, and by
undertaking major initiatives to seed and grow research at State Universities and other
public institutions where research capability is currently limited. The NRF will
competitively fund research in all disciplines. Successful research will be recognized,
and where relevant, implemented through close linkages with governmental agencies
as well as with industry and private/philanthropic organizations.

17.10. Institutions that currently fund research at some level, such as the Department
of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of
Bio-Technology (DBT), Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), Indian Council
of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), and
University Grants Commission (UGC), as well as various private and philanthropic
organizations, will continue to independently fund research according to their priorities
and needs. However, NRF will carefully coordinate with other funding agencies and will
work with science, engineering, and other academies to ensure synergy of purpose
and avoid duplication of efforts. The NRF will be governed, independently of the
government, by a rotating Board of Governors consisting of the very best researchers
and innovators across fields.

17.11. The primary activities of the NRF will be to:

(a) Fund competitive, peer-reviewed grant proposals of all types and across all
disciplines;
(b) Seed, grow, and facilitate research at academic institutions, particularly at
universities and colleges where research is currently in a nascent stage, through
mentoring of such institutions;
(c) Act as a liaison between researchers and relevant branches of government as well
as industry, so that research scholars are constantly made aware of the most urgent
national research issues, and so that policymakers are constantly made aware of the
latest research breakthroughs; so as to allow breakthroughs to be optimally brought
into policy and/or implementation; and
(d) Recognise outstanding research and progress

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09/01/2023, 22:58 Catalysing Quality Academic Research through a new (NRF) National Research Foundation NEP 2020 in India

( Source : PDF of NEP 2020 online of National Education Policy 2020 in Ministry of
Education India website.)

< 16. Reimagining Vocational Education   |   17. National Research Foundation   |   18.
Transforming the Regulatory System of Higher Education >

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NEP 2020 Introduction

Part II. HIGHER EDUCATION in
Part I. SCHOOL EDUCATION in NEP 2020
NEP 2020
9. Quality Universities and Colleges: A
1. ECCE Early Childhood Care and New and Forward-looking Vision for
Education : The Foundation of Learning India’s Higher Education System
2. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: An 10. Institutional Restructuring and
Urgent & Necessary Prerequisite to Consolidation
Learning 11. Towards a More Holistic and
3. Curtailing Dropout Rates and Ensuring Multidisciplinary Education
Universal Access to Education at All Levels 12. Optimal Learning Environments and
4. Curriculum and Pedagogy in Schools: Support for Students
Learning Should be Holistic, Integrated, 13. Motivated, Energized and Capable
Enjoyable, and Engaging Faculty
5. Teachers in NEP 2020 14. Equity and Inclusion in Higher
6. Equitable and Inclusive Education: Education
Learning for All 15. Teacher Education
7. Efficient Resourcing and Effective 16. Reimagining Vocational Education
Governance through School 17. Catalysing Quality Academic
Complexes/Clusters Research in All Fields through a new
8. Standard-setting and Accreditation for National Research Foundation
School Education 18. Transforming the Regulatory System
of Higher Education
19. Effective Governance and
Leadership for Higher Education
Institutions

Part III. OTHER KEY AREAS OF Part IV. MAKING IT HAPPEN

FOCUS of NEP-2020 (NEP2020)
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09/01/2023, 22:58 Catalysing Quality Academic Research through a new (NRF) National Research Foundation NEP 2020 in India

20. Professional Education 25. Strengthening the Central Advisory

21. Adult Education and Lifelong Learning Board of Education
22. Promotion of Indian Languages, Arts 26. Financing: Affordable and Quality
and Culture Education for All
23. Technology Use and Integration 27. Implementation of NEP 2020
24. Online and Digital Education: Ensuring Full Form of Abbreviations Related to
Equitable Use of Technology Education in NEP 2020
List of Educational Short form
Abbreviation in Education Stands for
What

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