 in India, NITI Aayog organized a two-day consultative meeting){kind=link}
May 28: In a significant push to enhance the Ease of Doing Research and Development (R&D) in India, NITI Aayog organized a two-day consultative meeting on 27th–28th May 2025 at Raj Bhawan, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The meeting was co-chaired by Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Anandiben Patel, and Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog.
This high-level dialogue brought together Vice Chancellors, Directors of research labs, and Heads of institutions from major Central Government scientific ministries and departments. Over 50 research institutions and universities participated, reflecting a strong and inclusive representation from India’s scientific and academic community.
The inaugural address by Smt. Anandiben Patel underscored the importance of collaboration among academia, government, and industry to unlock India’s full scientific potential. Dr. Saraswat emphasized NITI Aayog’s resolve to drive structural reforms that create a more agile and innovation-friendly policy ecosystem.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG of CSIR & Secretary, DSIR; Dr. Sudhir M. Bobde, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor; and Prof. Vinod Kumar Singh, President of The National Academy of Sciences, India, were among the distinguished dignitaries present. Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, presented an overview of the ongoing exercise to streamline the R&D environment across the country.
Discussions zeroed in on persistent challenges:
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Bureaucratic hurdles in R&D approvals
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Delayed fund disbursal mechanisms
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Procurement delays in scientific equipment
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Low R&D expenditure
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Limited private sector participation
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Cumbersome regulatory and ethical clearance processes
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Brain drain due to lack of opportunities and infrastructure
Stakeholders unanimously voiced the need for urgent reforms to address these bottlenecks. To tackle these, NITI Aayog is conducting a detailed review of government-funded R&D institutions, aiming to streamline processes, accelerate fund flows, reduce red tape, and foster collaboration between sectors.
The event concluded with a consensus to fast-track reforms and develop actionable strategies to make Indian R&D globally competitive. The insights gathered will be compiled for policy formulation and concrete corrective measures.