Cabinet nod for setting up Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research

The Union Cabinet today approved a proposal from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for setting up an Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) for imparting instruction and awarding degrees in frontier areas of science and technology.

The Bill to set up the Academy will be introduced in the ensuing session of Parliament, an official press release said.

It said the academy would primarily focus on research and imparting training in areas that are not ordinarily provided by the existing universities in India. The curricula, pedagogy and evaluation will be innovative and directed towards creating highest quality personnel in cross-disciplinary areas.

The release said the academy would operate on the hub and spokes model with campuses spread across the country in the 37 CSIR laboratories linked through the National Knowledge Network already approved by the Cabinet.

While utilising the existing resources and facilities of CSIR, the academy will operate on a self-sustaining mode. The recurring expenses will be Rs.19.10 crore in the 11th Plan and Rs.61.79 crore in the 12th Plan. There will be no requirement for capital expenditure.

The Government is of the view that there is a shortage of institutions in the country that offer Ph.D. and other advanced courses in integrated and inter-disciplinary areas of science and engineering.

The new academy is expected to fill this gap by taking advantage of the existing state-of-art infrastructure and scientific manpower of CSIR. The academy will be a world-class institution of national importance, the release added.

NNN