In a recent written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Government of India outlined a significant funding package of ₹13,340 crore across multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening the research ecosystem, accelerating Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation, and reforming technical education infrastructure nationwide.
These measures are designed to improve research capacity, industry-academia collaboration, global academic engagement, and institutional quality — aligning with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 goals and India’s Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
📊 1. Major Funding Allocations — Overview
The total ₹13,340 crore allocation spans several key areas:
🧠 Research and Innovation
- Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF): ₹1,650 crore
Supports doctoral research excellence and attracts top talent into research careers.
🤖 AI Centres of Excellence
- ₹990 crore for Centres of Excellence in AI across priority sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, sustainable cities, and education.
- Includes ₹500 crore for an AI Centre of Excellence focused on education innovation at IIT Madras.
These Centres are expected to foster interdisciplinary AI research and innovation, scaling solutions that address societal needs and strengthen India’s global research footprint.
🛠️ Technical Education Reforms
- ₹4,200 crore for the Multidisciplinary Education & Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) scheme (2025–26 to 2029–30), covering 275 technical institutions.
The initiative aims to enhance quality, governance, and equity in engineering colleges and polytechnics.
📚 One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) — ₹6,000 Crore
This flagship scheme provides unified digital access to approximately 13,000 international research journals for government universities, colleges, and research institutions.
- Over 6,300 institutions are expected to benefit.
- Access will be coordinated by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) under the University Grants Commission (UGC).
ONOS is anticipated to significantly reduce the cost of research, democratize access to global knowledge resources, and promote high-quality academic outputs across disciplines.
🎯 2. Aligning with National Education Priorities
The funding reflects a strategic effort to:
📍 Strengthen Research Culture
By boosting doctoral fellowships, expanding AI research hubs, and improving journal access, the government aims to cultivate a culture of research and innovation across higher education institutions.
📍 Enhance Global Competitiveness
Access to international journals and collaboration platforms is expected to elevate India’s research output and participation in global academic ecosystems.
📍 Support Technical Education Transformation
The MERITE scheme aligns technical institutions with evolving industry needs and NEP 2020’s vision for quality-driven, multidisciplinary education.
