On 16 June 2026, the Union Minister for Science and Technology launched the ANRF digital portal to bolster India’s research and innovation ecosystem. The platform serves as a capacity-building tool, providing researchers and students with structured guidance on intellectual property (IP) protection, patent filing, and high-quality scientific writing to bridge the gap between research and commercialization.
Objectives and Functional Scope
- IP Facilitation: End-to-end support for navigating complex patent procedures and legal frameworks.
- Scientific Publishing: Modules designed to enhance the quality of research proposals and technical manuscripts for international peer-reviewed journals.
- Institutional Synergy: Eliminates operational silos between departments (DST, DBT, DSIR, MoES) by facilitating data and infrastructure sharing.
- Science Governance: Integrates Mission Karmayogi principles to train scientists in institutional leadership, financial management, and risk assessment.
Overview of the ANRF
- Statutory Status: Established under the ANRF Act, 2023, replacing the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
- Financial Corpus: Targets ₹50,000 crore over five years, with >70% expected from private/corporate sources.
- Model: Inspired by the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the USA; aligns with NEP 2020.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Governance: PM serves as ex-officio President of the ANRF Governing Board; Science and Education Ministers are ex-officio Vice Presidents.
- Global Standing: India ranked 38th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.
- R&D Expenditure: India’s GERD is ~0.64% of GDP; aims to bridge the gap between patent filings (6th globally) and research investment.
- Human Capital: India is the 2nd largest producer of STEM graduates globally.
- IP Legislation: Governed by the Patents Act, 1970 (amended 2005) under the CGPDTM.