"Centralisation is a concern"
C PRAJENDRAN
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES, BENGALURU
The Union Cabinet's approval for the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill has been received with mixed feelings. Mostly modelled after the US' National Science Foundation, NRF has been discussed and developed since the time of the Manmohan Singh government. It has now been approved with an outlay of 50,000 crore for the next five years, more than half of which is expected to be contributed by the private sector. This is a meagre amount, given that India's funding for scientific research is already much less than other BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa).
Besides, according to the Bill, the proposed entity will be administered by a governing body of "eminent" researchers and professionals, presided by the prime minister, and with an executive council chaired by the principal scientific advisor. This top-heavy management setup will likely lead to over-centralisation-as against the proclaimed intention of having a decentralised mechanism for science funding.
This cannot be overlooked in terms of the suspicion that a part of the fund is likely to be spent on belief-based traditional knowledge systems. There are also concerns about the criteria that would be used to select experts in the governing and executive bodies.
To unleash the full potential of Indian science and to improve the science-technology-innovation ecosystem, we require a vibrant and responsive financial system, which is autonomous, more participatory and less bureaucratic.
"First, close gaps in education"
ARINDAM GHOSH
PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, BENGALURU
Denne historien er fra August 01, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 01, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Trade On Emissions
EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a tariff on imports, is designed to protect European industries in the guise of climate action.
'The project will facilitate physical and cultural decimation of indigenous people'
The Great Nicobar Project has all the hallmarks of a disaster-seismic, ecological, human. Why did it get the go-ahead?
TASTE IT RED
Popularity of Karnataka's red jackfruit shows how biodiversity can be conserved by ensuring that communities benefit from it
MANY MYTHS OF CHIPKO
Misconceptions about the Chipko movement have overshadowed its true objectives.
The politics and economics of mpox
Africa's mpox epidemic stems from delayed responses, neglect of its health risks and the stark vaccine apartheid
Emerging risks
Even as the world gets set to eliminate substances threatening the ozone layer, climate change and space advancement pose new challenges.
JOINING THE CARBON CLUB
India's carbon market will soon be a reality, but will it fulfil its aim of reducing emissions? A report by PARTH KUMAR and MANAS AGRAWAL
Turn a new leaf
Scientists join hands to predict climate future of India's tropical forests
Festering troubles
The Democratic Republic of Congo struggles to contain mpox amid vaccine delays, conflict and fragile healthcare.
India sees unusual monsoon patterns
THE 2024 southwest monsoon has, between June 1 and September 1, led to excess rainfall in western and southern states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while others like Nagaland, Manipur and Punjab recorded a deficit.