Patna: In a significant development, Patna University (PU) has been included in the list of Category-I institutions for the ‘Partnership for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR)' programme launched recently by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the president of the ANRF's governing board.
According to the department of science and technology (DST) sources, the ANRF signals a new beginning for boosting research and development (R&D) ecosystem of the country. And, in line with this, the PAIR programme is likely to bring major transformation in Indian universities, sources said.
Two other institutions of higher education located in the state – Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University-Pusa and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT)-Bhagalpur, also figure on the list of Category-I institutions eligible for the PAIR programme.
PU vice-chancellor Ajay Kumar Singh said this scheme would be implemented through a mentorship-driven hub. Hubs (32 top-ranking institutions) will guide emerging institutions (spokes) in research activities, provide access to harness their resources and expertise, nurturing a robust research ecosystem in the country.
The details of implementing this scheme at the university level were being discussed among the academics and a final line of action would be decided in consultation with the other partner universities. PU may partner with any one of the hubs – Banaras Hindu University, JNU, Delhi University or IIT Kharagpur, depending upon the nature of the research project chosen under the programme, Singh said.
He added that PU has also applied recently for a grant of Rs 100 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) programme for its development as multi-disciplinary education and research university (MERU). The university has also sanctioned individual research grants to as many as 35 teachers and researchers this year with a view to promoting quality research on the campus. Besides, it has also applied for the next NIRF ranking recently, he said.
PU's internal quality assurance cell (IQAC) director Birendra Prasad said the funding support under PAIR programme would depend on the research theme, number of spokes, number of departments and faculty members. "A maximum of Rs 100 crore per PAIR network would be considered. The budget distribution for Hub and Spoke shall be in a 30:70 ratio. Research proposals can be in both basic as well as applied sciences or quantitative social sciences," he said.