Niti Aayog Proposes Over 50 Reforms to Boost India's R&D Funding and Talent
As India's R&D faces funding & talent crunch, Niti panel suggests 50+ fixes
Image: The Economic Times
India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) lags at 0.6% of GDP, far below global leaders like the US and China. A Niti Aayog panel has recommended over 50 measures to enhance R&D funding, streamline processes, and improve talent retention, including raising GERD to 2% and increasing post-doctoral fellowships.
- 01The Niti Aayog report identifies seven categories of challenges in India's R&D landscape, including funding, human resources, and institutional structures.
- 02Currently, 80% of funding from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is allocated to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), limiting support for state institutions.
- 03The report highlights significant delays in fund release, with grants often taking 3-6 months after approval.
- 04The panel recommends increasing the number of post-doctoral fellowships by 20% annually and creating a streamlined funding architecture called 'Vigyan Nidhi'.
- 05To attract private investment, the panel suggests allowing tax deductions of up to 125% for corporate social responsibility (CSR) support.
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India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) remains stagnant at 0.6% of its GDP, significantly lower than countries like China (2.6%), the US (3.4%), and South Korea (5.3%). A high-level panel from Niti Aayog has released a report highlighting the inefficacy of current funding mechanisms due to inflation, an increase in institutions, and reduced funding for R&D. The report indicates that the application-to-grant ratio has dropped to under 10%, reflecting the intense competition for limited resources. It identifies seven critical challenges, including funding disparities, inadequate human resources, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. Among its 50+ recommendations, the panel urges raising GERD to 2% of GDP over five years, restoring a 5% GST slab for R&D procurement, and enhancing post-doctoral fellowships by 20% annually. The report also emphasizes the need for a streamlined funding architecture, dubbed 'Vigyan Nidhi', to improve manpower retention and address delays in fellowship disbursement. With the number of Full-Time Equivalent researchers in India at just 262 per million, compared to global leaders, the need for reform is urgent.
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The proposed reforms aim to enhance India's R&D capabilities, which could lead to increased innovation and economic growth, benefiting researchers and institutions across the country.
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