ANRF: India's Research Funding at Risk

The Union Cabinet's approval of the Anusandhan National Research Funding (ANRF) Bill in June 2023 marked a significant moment for the nation's research landscape. Following its passage in Parliament in August 2023, the ANRF replaced the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which had been in place since 2008. The NRF aims to bolster the research ecosystem and enhance the country's Research and Development (R&D) capabilities.

However, the scientific community has expressed dissatisfaction with the ANRF. Instead of resolving existing issues, the NRF seems to have only increased the challenges facing researchers and scientists.

Corporate Control Over Indian Research Funding

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation's mandate to centralise scientific research funding in India is a double-edged sword. In the Union budget for 2021-22, the Centre ambitiously pledged Rs 50,000 crore for ANRF over a five-year span. Of this substantial sum, a staggering 72 percent—amounting to Rs 36,000 crore—was expected to be sourced from the private sector. This left the government to contribute around Rs 14,000 crore over five years, translating to an annual expenditure of Rs 2,800 crore.

However, the reality has fallen short of these promises. To date, neither the government nor the private sector has delivered the committed funds. This shortfall not only casts doubt on the feasibility of the NRF's objectives but also highlights the precarious dependency on corporate contributions for sustaining the nation's scientific research initiatives.

The reliance on private sector funding for research means placing our scientific endeavours at the whims of corporate interests, a concern voiced by many researchers and scientists. Dr. Dinesh Abrol from the All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) elaborates, "The spectrum of R&D objectives that needs to be covered is vast. When there are multiple objectives, it is crucial to clearly delineate how funding is allocated to each sector. Until now, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has primarily funded science grants. Now, this funding must extend to numerous other areas where innovations occur. How will the government be able to get sureshot funding from corporates and philanthropists?” asks Abrol. 

Dr. Abrol adds: “Historical evidence suggests the private players often view these mechanisms as ways to push their 'silver bullet' solutions. For example, consider the fortification of rice or biofortified crops. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation might see these as solutions to our nutrition problems. However, the scientific community feels that malnutrition cannot be addressed by a singular, magic bullet approach that treats food as medicine. These corporates will favour solutions that promise profits, but those may not align with the real needs of the country. This dynamic threatens to undermine the academic freedom of institutions."

India’s R&D Investment Lags Behind Emerging Economies, Experts Call for Equitable Funding

In terms of GDP percentage, India’s expenditure on Research and Development (R&D) remains among the lowest globally. In 2022, India allocated just 0.65% of its GDP to R&D. This marks a decline from the 0.8% invested at the start of the 2000s. Additionally, the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers in the higher education sector has dropped from 39.96% in 2015 to 36.48% in 2018.

This downward trend in both funding and researcher numbers reveals a growing crisis in India's R&D sector. Despite the critical need for innovation and scientific advancement, the nation's commitment to supporting its researchers and institutions appears to be waning. This reduction in public funding and the corresponding decline in researcher engagement signal a troubling disconnect between the country's stated goals for technological and scientific progress and the actual investment being made to achieve those goals. Despite repeated promises by successive governments to increase this investment, such commitments have yet to materialise. 

Dr. Abrol highlights the grim reality, stating, "Our expenditure on R&D is the lowest among the emerging economies. Many nations allocate 2 to 3 percent of their GDP to R&D, whereas our figures are abysmally low and have declined over time and now we want the private sector to take over this also. It is ridiculous. We had a target of 2 percent, but we have not come anywhere close to achieving it."

Dr. Abrol further criticises the inequitable distribution of the limited R&D funds, noting, "Another flashpoint is the allocation of this money. The funding has not been distributed equitably among institutions. For example, institutes like the IITs and other institutions of national importance are the primary recipients. Only one percent of our higher education institutions receive any public funding for R&D. This glaring disparity exposes the urgent need for a mechanism to transform, change, and upgrade India’s research funding landscape."

The original intent behind the Anusandhan National Research Foundation was to channel funds towards state universities to bolster them as academic institutions. However, researchers emphasise that for the NRF to succeed, it must integrate the efforts of state governments, line ministries, the public sector, and the private sector through a collaborative mechanism. Without such joint planning and coordination among these key stakeholders, the ANRF risks failing just as the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) did.

Prof. Soumitro Banerjee from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, underscores the shift from multiple funding opportunities to a singular, centralised system. "Previously, researchers had various funding agencies to approach with their ideas. If one agency rejected a proposal, there were other avenues to explore. But now, we have only one funding agency, eliminating that flexibility. This move from a decentralised to a centralised funding system restricts opportunities and stifles innovation and research."

Dr. S. Krishnaswamy, Vice President of the All India People's Science Network (AIPSN) criticises the privatisation of research funding, warning that it allows the government to shirk responsibility by claiming they provided money while blaming private organisations for not stepping in. He emphasises that structural issues must be addressed first, which requires the greater involvement of researchers, scientists, organisations, and all stakeholders.

"There is no accountability from the government for this type of funding system. Our scientific manpower is dwindling," Dr. Krishnaswamy notes. "The issue is not just about securing funds but also about how these funds are distributed once approved. You often hear horror stories about sanctioned money that never reaches its intended beneficiaries."

Transparency Issues and Potential Bias

Another major criticism of the ANRF is its lack of transparency. To date, there is no clear information about the sources of funding from private players and philanthropists. Details such as who has already contributed, their names, or the amounts donated are not available in the public domain. This opacity raises concerns about potential hidden agendas and whether these contributors are profiting from their investments.

Dr. Abrol articulates this concern, stating, "The National Research Funding Bill 2023 aims to replace a public funding mechanism, where the amount available from budgetary sources is certain, with a mechanism shrouded in uncertainty. The government claims it will mobilise money from the private sector and philanthropists, but there is no concrete plan detailing the commitments or how these commitments will be met. I believe that this particular mechanism, with its heavy reliance on corporates, private funders, and philanthropists, will significantly influence our research directions and policies."

The shift from a transparent public funding model to one dominated by private interests introduces a lot of unpredictability and potential bias. The lack of accountability and clarity regarding the origins and intentions behind the funding undermines trust in the system. This dependence on corporate and philanthropic funds risks skewing research priorities towards the interests of the funders, rather than the broader public good, raising serious concerns about the future direction of Indian research.

Concerns Grow Over Political Influence

Many scientists and researchers express concern that the new funding model will allow politics and political affiliations to influence research funding. They fear that the ruling party may manipulate allocations based on where the funding proposal is coming from and which government is in power in the respective state, potentially rejecting project proposals not on merit but on political grounds.

Prof. Dhrubajyoti Mukherjee, President of the Breakthrough Science Society, voices these apprehensions: "We are worried that if there is so much centralisation in funding, there will be political interference. Corporate funders will play a big role in ANRF, which is not conducive to the health of scientific research in the country. Previously, researchers had the option to apply to several government departments that supported research work. Even if many rejected a proposal, at least one would offer support. Now, we fear the scope of government funding will be severely restricted, and politics in funding allocation will further exacerbate the problem."

Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government, recently announced the composition of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer of the NRF. However, this announcement has sparked criticism, as many feel that the entire project has deviated from the original project proposal developed by former Principal Scientific Advisor, Prof. K. VijayRaghavan.

The research community has voiced severe concerns over the provisions of NRF, emphasising the need for greater transparency regarding funding sources and allocations. The deviation from the initial proposal and the lack of clear information about funding have heightened tensions within the scientific community. Researchers are calling for the government to address these issues promptly to restore trust and ensure that the Anusandhan National Research Funding can effectively support India's scientific and research endeavours.

As the NRF begins its operations, it remains to be seen whether the government will take steps to provide transparent funding details and alleviate the concerns of the scientific and research community. The future success of the ANRF will depend on its ability to foster a collaborative, transparent, and equitable research environment, free from political and corporate influences.

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