NEW DELHI, Apr 13 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today reviewed the progress and future roadmap of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), setting the direction for the next phase of India’s research ecosystem with a focus on mission-mode programmes, societal innovation and wider public access to scientific knowledge.
Emphasising the need to connect science with society, the Minister stressed that research outcomes must be presented in simple, easy-to-understand formats so that citizens can clearly see their relevance and impact. In this direction, ANRF is developing AI-based platform ‘SARAL AI’ to convert complex technology and research work into simple language social media content, including podcasts and short videos in 18 Indian languages, enabling wider dissemination of scientific knowledge across the country.
The review meeting was attended by DST Secretary Dr Abhay Karandikar, ANRF CEO Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, along with senior officials and representatives from leading research and academic institutions.
It was informed that ANRF will soon launch the ‘MAHA’ (Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Hubs for Action) programmes, designed as large-scale, mission-driven initiatives to deliver high-impact outcomes in priority sectors. These programmes will bring together academia, industry and government in a structured manner to accelerate research with clear national relevance.
Alongside, ANRF is set to introduce a dedicated vertical on “Innovation for Society”, which will focus on developing scalable and technology-led solutions to key challenges such as pollution, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, infrastructure development, energy efficiency, and economic inclusion.
The Foundation has witnessed strong national participation, receiving nearly 20,000 research applications in the last four months, including flagship schemes like the Advanced Research Grant (ARG) and the Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant (PM-ECRG), reflecting the growing strength and depth of India’s research ecosystem.
Emphasising the need to connect science with society, the Minister stressed that research outcomes must be presented in simple, easy-to-understand formats so that citizens can clearly see their relevance and impact. In this direction, ANRF is developing ‘SARAL AI’, an AI-based platform that will convert complex research work into podcasts, short videos, and social media content in 18 Indian languages, enabling wider dissemination of scientific knowledge across the country.
To further expand outreach and visibility of Indian research, ANRF has launched the Lightning Talk Series, providing a platform for researchers to share their work in concise and engaging formats. The Foundation is also actively promoting early-career and young researchers through digital platforms, generating significant public engagement.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve the ease of doing research, ANRF has introduced several measures to simplify processes and reduce administrative burden. This includes the appointment of nodal officers in around 250 institutions to support Principal Investigators and ensure smoother execution of research projects.
In addition, an ANRF WhatsApp Channel has been launched to strengthen communication and provide real-time updates to the research community, improving accessibility to information and opportunities.
The meeting reaffirmed ANRF’s approach of focusing on fewer, high-impact programmes with strong national relevance, while ensuring faster translation of research into real-world applications and wider dissemination of knowledge for public benefit.
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