Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan proposed to set up a National Research Foundation (NRF) for strengthening the research ecosystem in India. The total proposed outlay of NRF is INR 50,000 crores over a period of 5 years.
- Objective – To seed, grow and facilitate research at academic institutions, where research capacities are in the initial stage.
- It will act as an umbrella body and will help in improving the links between Research & Development, academia and industry.
- It will fund research projects across 4 major disciplines –Sciences, Technology, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities.
- The setting up of NRF is envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). During the Budget session of 2021-22, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated INR 50,000 Crores for setting up NRF.
National Research Foundation (NRF)
NRF has been proposed to be set up as an autonomous body, it will be represented by all major research and education bodies.
- It will also fund and support high-impact, large-scale, multi-investigator, multi-institution, interdisciplinary or multi-nation projects in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, and other Governmental/non-Governmental entities.
- In India, the funds allocated to research have declined from 0.84 percent of GDP in 2008 to 0.69 percent in 2014.
Steps taken by Government to promote Regional Languages
One of the main agendas in NEP 2020 is the promotion of regional languages in education. In this regard, the Dharmendra Pradhan listed the steps taken by the Government to promote regional languages.
- The number of regional languages in which exams like NEET, JEE (Main) are being conducted have been increased to 13.
- Approval for Technical Education in 8 Regional languages in AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) approved institutions starting from academic session 2021-22
- ‘AICTE Translation Automation Artificial Intelligence Tool’ to translate English language online courses into 11 regional languages.
National CoE for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur stated that the Government will set up a National Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics. It will be set up in collaboration with IIT Bombay.
- The CoE will help in realizing the needs of Indian as well as Global industry.
i.Anurag Thakur stated that the Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector is one of the largest growing sectors in India. Its value is expected to reach USD 34.8 billion by 2022.
- Every year, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) organizes a Film Bazaar at the International Film Festival of India in Goa to attract foreign investment in the film industry. It is the largest South Asian Film Market and attracts investors from across the globe.
- India also has audio-visual co-production treaties with 15 countries.
Recent Related News:
i.On April 8, 2021, Former Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched a National Education Policy (NEP) Implementation Plan for School Education called ‘Students’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement through Quality Education (SARTHAQ)’.
ii.On December 2, 2020, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ constituted a Task Force for preparing a blueprint on imparting Technical Education in Mother Tongue. It will be headed by Secretary of Higher Education (Amit Khare).
About Ministry of Education (MoE)
Union Minister – Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha – Madhya Pradesh)
MoS – Annpurna Devi (Koderma, Jharkhand), Dr. Subhas Sarkar (Bankura, West Bengal), Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (Inner Manipur, Manipur)
