On Friday, a bill to set up a national agency to fund research across universities in the country was introduced in the Lok Sabha with the government eyeing at least 10% of CSR monies for research and development.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh introduced the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill-2023 which seeks to set up a Rs 50,000-crore fund, with a sizeable contribution from the private sector by tapping into the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, 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.

“This bill intends to enhance India’s national research infrastructure, knowledge enterprise, and innovation potential, for scientific pursuit,” Singh said while introducing the bill.

The bill seeks to set right the R&D funding which, presently, is skewed in favour of IIT and other elite institutes, while state universities get barely 11% of the funds allocated for research. “The NRF is meant to ensure that scientific research is funded equitably and greater participation from the private sector was forthcoming,” the Minister said.

The total CSR fund kitty in 2021 was Rs 24,860 crore with the largest chunk spent on social sector projects such as schools, healthcare, and sanitation, PTI has quoted a senior official as saying. “Research and Development get a very minuscule part of the CSR fund. Through the National Research Foundation, we will encourage the corporate sector to contribute at least 10% for R&D,” the official said.