Chapter II ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint, there shall be established for the purposes of this Act, a Foundation to be known as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. (2) The Foundation, referred to in sub-section (1), shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Foundation shall serve as the apex body to provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture, and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences. (2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the Foundation shall undertake suitable initiatives including the following, namely:— (a) preparing the roadmap for short, medium and long term research and development; (b) seeding, growing and facilitating research at academic and research institutions, particularly at universities and colleges where research capacity is at a nascent stage, through programmes such as research and development projects, fellowships, academic chairs, and creation of centres of excellence; (c) funding competitive peer-reviewed grant proposals to eligible persons; (d) assisting in setting up research infrastructure and environment that is conducive for scientific pursuit with specific focus on matters of national priorities, emerging frontiers and strategic research; (e) increasing India's role and participation in key areas of national and global importance; (f) supporting translation of research undertaken into capital intensive technologies; (g) evolving nationally coordinated programmes to identify scientific and practical solutions for societal, developmental, financial and techno-economic challenges; (h) coordinating across the Central Government, State Governments, public authorities, industries, and research institutions, to document and analyse the expenditure on scientific research and their outcomes during each financial year, and report the same to the Central Government; (i) evolving participation in international collaborative projects and fostering exchange of scientific information; (j) encouraging collaboration with scientists from within and outside India, including scientists of Indian origin, with a view to enrich the Indian scientific ecosystem; and (k) encouraging the Public Sector Enterprises as well as the private sector entities to invest in the activities of the Foundation. (3) In addition to the objectives referred to in sub-section (2), the Foundation shall also, to the extent practicable, either by itself, or through a suitable agency identified in this behalf, undertake an annual survey of outcomes of scientific research in India, with a view to create a central repository, for the collection, interpretation and analysis of information and data surrounding such research, and the aim of such a repository would include providing information for policy formulation and advising the Central Government and State Governments as well as the private sector: Provided that the survey referred to in this sub-section shall exclude any strategic areas of research as determined by the Governing Board. (4) The Foundation shall perform the aforesaid objectives through a Governing Board constituted under section 5.

(1) There shall be constituted a Governing Board, which shall provide high level strategic direction, perform and monitor the implementation of the objectives of the Foundation. (2) The Governing Board referred to in sub-section (1) shall consist of the following, namely:— (a) the Prime Minister of India, ex officio—President; (b) the Union Minister of Science and Technology, ex officio—Vice-President; (c) the Union Minister of Education, ex officio—Vice-President; (d) a Member from the NITI Aayog dealing with science and technology, ex officio—Member; (e) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Science and Technology, ex officio—Member; (f) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, ex officio—Member; (g) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Biotechnology, ex officio—Member; (h) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Higher Education, ex officio—Member; and (i) the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, ex officio—Member-Secretary (3) The President of the Governing Board may nominate or appoint the following Members to the Governing Board, namely:— (a) not exceeding two Members from the Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Council; (b) not exceeding five Members from business organisation or industry; (c) one Member from the field of humanities and social sciences; (d) not exceeding two Members from institutions engaged in scientific and technological research and development; and (e) not exceeding six experts who have specialised knowledge in the areas of health, mathematical and physical sciences, biological sciences, engineering and technology, innovation and partnership, computer and information sciences, and engineering. (4) The qualifications, experience, honorarium and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of service of the Members and experts of the Governing Board referred to in sub-section (3) shall be such as may be prescribed.

(1) The Governing Board shall meet at such times and places, and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings including quorum at such meetings, as may be specified by the regulations. (2) If the President for any reason is unable to attend a meeting of the Governing Board, any of the Vice-Presidents shall preside over the meeting.

(1) The President of the Governing Board shall constitute an Executive Council to implement the provisions of this Act. (2) The Executive Council referred to in sub-section (1) shall consist of the following, nominated by the President of the Governing Board, namely:— (a) the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, ex officio— Chairperson; (b) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Science and Technology, ex officio—Member; (c) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Biotechnology, ex officio—Member; (d) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of scientific and Industrial Research, ex officio—Member; (e) Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, ex officio—Member; (f) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Higher Education, ex officio—Member; (g) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Health Research, ex officio—Member; (h) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Defence Research and Development, ex officio—Member; (i) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Atomic Energy, ex officio—Member; (j) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, ex officio—Member; (k) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, ex officio—Member; and (l) the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation appointed under section 11 ex officio—Member-Secretary. (3) The President of the Governing Board may also nominate or appoint the following Members to the Executive Council, namely:— (a) not exceeding two ex officio Members amongst Secretaries of such other Departments or Ministries of the Government of India, not referred to in sub-section (2), as may be notified by the Central Government; and (b) not exceeding three Members amongst distinguished experts who have specialised knowledge in the areas of science and technology in academia, philanthropic sector, research laboratories and industries. (4) The qualifications, experience, honorarium and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of service of the Members of the Executive Council referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (3) shall be such as may be prescribed.

(1) The Executive Council shall meet at such times and places, and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings including quorum at such meetings, as may be specified by the regulations. (2) If the Chairperson for any reason is unable to attend a meeting of the Executive Council, the Member chosen by other Members shall preside over the meeting. (3) The Chairperson shall, in addition to presiding over the meetings of the Executive Council, exercise and discharge such powers and duties, as may be delegated by the Governing Board.

No act or proceeding of the Governing Board or the Executive Council shall be invalidated merely by reason of— (a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of the Governing Board or the Executive Council; (b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a Member of the Governing Board or the Executive Council; and (c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Governing Board or the Executive Council not affecting the merits of the case.

The Executive Council shall implement the objectives of the Foundation based on the policy direction and guidance provided by the Governing Board, including the following functions, namely:— (a) to consider applications for the grant of financial assistance in accordance with the eligibility criteria as determined necessary for such grants; (b) to determine through regulations,— (i) the requirements for registration, the form and manner for making of applications for financial assistance; (ii) reports and certification to be furnished pursuant to availing the financial assistance; (iii) the requirements of extension of financial assistance; and (iv) the grounds for revocation of financial assistance; (c) to facilitate and provide any assistance as may be required to ensure filing of applications for intellectual property rights pursuant to the research undertaken through financial assistance under this Act; and (d) any other function as may be delegated to it from time to time by the Governing Board.

(1) The President of the Governing Board may appoint a Chief Executive Officer, not below the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, for efficient administration of the Foundation. (2) The qualifications, experience, salary and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of service of the Chief Executive Officer shall be such as may be prescribed. (3) The Executive Council may appoint such other officers and employees as it considers necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act. (4) The qualifications, experience, salary and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of service of the other officers and employees of the Foundation shall be such as may be prescribed. (5) The Executive Council may engage the services of such persons, both from within and outside India, as consultants and visiting scientists to the Foundation. (6) The eligibility criteria and honorarium payable to the consultants and visiting scientists, referred to in sub-section (5), shall be such as may be specified by the regulations.

(1) The Executive Council may constitute such Committees as it may deem necessary for the efficient discharge of its duties and performance of its functions under this Act. (2) The Executive Council may also co-opt persons, other than Members of the Governing Board or the Executive Council, as members of any Committees constituted under sub-section (1). (3) The co-opted members shall have the right to attend the meetings of the Committees and take part in the proceedings of the Committees, but shall not have right to participate in decision making.