India’s research and development ecosystem received a policy push with the release of two NITI Aayog reports on 9 April 2026 in New Delhi. The reports, titled Ease of Doing Research & Development in India and Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India, assess barriers faced by researchers and suggest reforms to make the system more efficient, facilitative, and innovation-driven.
Report Release and Purpose
The reports were formally released by Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science & Technology. The event also included Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, along with senior officials, science academy leaders, academics, and industry representatives. The reports aim to improve the ease of doing research in India through evidence-based recommendations.
Methodology and Scope
The exercise was conducted over nearly nine months and drew on:
- Outreach to more than 400 institutional leaders.
- Inputs from 850+ scientists and researchers.
- Nationwide surveys and stakeholder consultations.
- Regional consultative meetings across the country.
The reports identify challenges across multiple thematic areas and propose more than actionable recommendations for reform.
Key Issues in the Research System
The reports show structural and operational constraints in India’s R&D ecosystem. These include funding architecture, policy frameworks, regulatory systems, and internal institutional processes. The findings stress that researchers need a more trust-based and outcome-oriented environment. The reports also underline the need to support early-stage scientists and strengthen mechanisms that enable innovation.
Major Recommendations and Policy Focus
The reports call for:
- Improved funding mechanisms for research institutions.
- Greater flexibility in financial norms.
- Stronger private sector participation, including CSR support.
- Better institutional governance and regulatory ease.
- Stronger pathways for research translation into practical applications.
The reports also support mission-mode R&D structures and more adaptive systems for interdisciplinary research. They are being shared with relevant ministries and departments as a guidance document for reforming India’s R&D ecosystem.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026