The Union Cabinet’s approval for setting up the National Research Foundation (NRF) with a Rs 50,000-crore fund to promote research is an important initiative in a crucial area of knowledge and development. The decision has actually come late. The NRF is conceived as an apex body to “promote, fund and mentor scientific research in higher education institutions across the country”. India’s research capabilities in all areas, especially in science and technology, are poor and too inadequate for a country of our size, talent, economic status and ambitions. While the overall standards are low compared to the world in most of...