Cabinet nod for science and innovative research academy

The cabinet today cleared a proposal to set up a national academy which will focus on research and impart training in frontier areas of science and technology.

The cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal to set up a national academy which will focus on research and impart training in frontier areas of science and technology.

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A bill to set up the "Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research" will be introduced in the ensuing monsoon session of parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The academy will focus on research and teaching and utilising existing resources for awarding degrees that will be internationally recognised," said Soni.

She said the curricula, pedagogy and evaluation of the academy will be innovative and directed towards creating highest quality personnel in inter-disciplinary areas.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has mooted the idea of setting up the academy as there is a shortage of such institutions in the country.

The academy will have campuses spread across the country in the 37 CSIR laboratories linked through the National Knowledge Network.

Soni said the academy will operate on a self-sustaining mode while utilising the existing resources and facilities of CSIR. 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 of capital expenditure, she added.