The government of India is likely to set up a National Science and Engineering Research Board on the lines of National Science Foundation in the US. While announcing this proposal the Prime Minster of India, Dr Manmohan Singh stated that the autonomous body will focus on promoting basic research in science and engineering. Manmohan Singh revealed all those information while he was inaugurating the International Centre for Materials Science (ICMS) and CNR Rao Hall of Science at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research at Bangalore earlier today.

 

Talking about the proposed plan, the PM said that after establishment, the National Science and Engineering Research Board will provide immense financial assistance to researchers, academic institutions, research laboratories and industrial concerns. Apart from it, the PM has informed about the plan of setting up 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology and ten new National Institutes of Technology in India. Manmohan Sigh stressed the need of creating conducive environment in India to bring back the native scientists and engineers from the West.

 

PM also said that unless the universities and research institutions of the country are revitalized, there will be decline in the quality of research carried out by these institutes. He also said that India possesses world class Institutes of Technology and efforts should be made to attain high degree of excellence. In Bangalore, the PM witnessed the centenary celebrations of the country's premier scientific research organisation, the Indian Institute of Science.