CSIR Chief Applauds NITI Aayog’s Efforts to Boost R&D Ease

Speedy Summary:

• N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, praised NITI Aayog’s initiative for revamping scientific research through consultations aimed at improving funding structures and increasing fellowships in all categories.
• She emphasized trust-based funding,performance-driven evaluation,accountability with openness,and accommodating diverse scientific disciplines for advancing national scientific goals.
• The sixth regional consultative meeting on ‘Ease of Doing R&D,’ hosted by CSIR-IICT Hyderabad, began with over 90 participants including institutional heads, academics, and researchers discussing reforms to foster innovation and remove procedural barriers.
• Key speakers included D. Srinivasa Reddy (Director of host institute), Prof. vivek Kumar Singh (senior adviser to NITI Aayog), and Prof. Ashutosh Sharma (president of INSA).
• Topics centered around building trust in research systems, translating basic research into applied developments, and nurturing young minds.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The consultative meeting hosted by CSIR-IICT represents important progress in India’s efforts to streamline the country’s R&D environment. By bringing together policymakers and leading figures from the scientific community under frameworks proposed by NITI Aayog-such as enhancing transparency in funding-it sets a foundation for reimagining how indigenous science is approached structurally.

Focusing on trust-based funding models alongside robust accountability is a balanced path forward that could mitigate systemic challenges hindering rapid innovation. Moreover, expanding fellowships across demographic categories reflects an inclusive approach needed to develop a thriving ecosystem for young researchers-a crucial factor if India wishes to compete globally.

engaging diverse expertise at this scale highlights India’s commitment towards advancing technological self-reliance while addressing obstacles like bureaucratic inefficiencies or fragmented support networks. However impactful these discussions prove will largely hinge on effective implementation strategies post-consultations.

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