Approach:

Introduction: Introduce by linking research and the knowledge-based society.

Body: Explain the challenges in higher educational institutions. Briefly write about NRF and then explain its role in improving research quality.

Conclusion: Show NRF fulfilling the fundamental duty of promoting scientific temper, humanism and pursuit of excellence.

Answer:

The quality of research in India plays a vital role in shaping the nation's intellectual, social, and economic progress. It is a key factor in driving innovation, addressing societal challenges, and contributing to the development of a knowledge-based society.

But India faces several challenges in improving the quality of research in higher educational institutions. These challenges include:

1. Limited Research Funding: The allocation for research and development in the education sector is relatively low, resulting in inadequate resources for research projects, equipment, and infrastructure.
   1. For example, in 2019-2020, the total expenditure on research and development (R&D) in India was around 0.7% of GDP, significantly lower than the global average of around 2.2%.
   2. About 65 % of funds from the Science and Engineering Research Board went to the IITs, and only 11% to state universities. This limited funding constrains the ability of researchers to undertake large-scale and impactful research studies.
   3. About 56% of R&D spending comes from the government and 35% from the private sector.
2. Publication Pressure and Quality Metrics: Researchers often face pressure to publish in high-impact factor journals, which can lead to a focus on quantity over the depth and originality of research.
   1. For example, the "publish or perish" culture can result in a race for publications, sometimes compromising the quality and rigour of research. This pressure may discourage researchers from pursuing long-term, interdisciplinary, or high-risk research projects.
   2. Yet India lags behind in terms of patent applications and publications compared to other countries. For instance, China filed 1.538 million patent applications (with only 10% from non-resident Chinese), the US filed 605,571 applications, whereas India filed only 45,057, with over 70% of them coming from non-resident Indians (according to data from WIPO).
3. Lack of Industry-Academia Collaboration: The disconnect between research institutions and industries leads to a gap between the skills and knowledge produced by academic research and the practical needs of the industry. Also, many academic research projects in India remain disconnected from real-world problems and industry requirements. This gap undermines the relevance and impact of research outcomes and restricts the potential for technology transfer and commercialization.
4. Research Ethics and Plagiarism: Ensuring research integrity and addressing issues of plagiarism and unethical practices is a challenge in India. The lack of awareness and enforcement mechanisms can undermine the credibility and reliability of research outputs, tarnish the reputation of the institutions and impact the trustworthiness of research findings.
5. Inadequate Research Infrastructure: Many higher educational institutions in India lack state-of-the-art research infrastructure, advanced laboratories, and research facilities. This hinders the conduct of high-quality research, ability to undertake cutting-edge research and attract top-notch researchers.
6. Quality of Faculty: India faces challenges related to faculty shortages, skill gaps, and the need for continuous professional development. The shortage of qualified and experienced faculty members in certain disciplines and research areas affects the guidance and mentorship provided to students.

Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from various stakeholders. Establishing NRF is a step towards the same. The establishment of NRF was a key recommendation of the Draft National Education Policy 2019 commissioned by the Ministry of Education.

The primary objectives of NRF include funding competitive peer-reviewed grant proposals, facilitating research at academic institutions, funding research infrastructure, increasing India's role in key national and global areas, supporting the next generation of researchers, promoting diversity in research participation, analyzing information and data, recognizing outstanding research, and serving as a think tank for research coordination and policy recommendations.

Role of NRF in improving research quality:

1. Increased Funding: The NRF will be granted an annual budget aiming to reach at least 0.1% of GDP (approximately INR 20,000 crores) and will have autonomy in finance, governance, and statutes. It will fund National Mission Projects (NMPs) to establish or expand research facilities and Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in strategic research areas.
2. Multi-disciplinary research: The National Research Foundation (NRF) will create a platform for multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional collaborative research. The platform will be able to address complex challenges that require solutions from different sectors and disciplines.
3. Prioritize research area: The NRF will prioritize research in areas of India's development and support both commissioned task force and investigator-initiated collaborative research.
4. Promoting young talent: Young researchers from different knowledge domains will be encouraged to collaborate on problem-solving research.
5. Private sector participation: The NRF will foster collaboration among the private sector, state governments, state-level institutions, and civil society organizations. The private sector will be a key partner for funding and innovation, while state governments and institutions will enhance the capacity for locally relevant research.
6. Community participation: The NRF aims for the scientific enterprise to become a "Jan Andolon" or people's movement. Community participation will be essential for identifying research priorities, engaging in participatory research, and supporting implementation through mobilization.

Thus, the creation of NRF also fulfils the duty under Article 51A which promotes the spirit of scientific temper, humanism, and the pursuit of excellence. By investing in and prioritizing the quality of research, India can further strengthen its position as a global leader in knowledge creation, innovation, and sustainable development.