The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development(HRD) has asked the universities and other higher educational institutions to provide information about the research facilities that exist in their institutions. The HRD has made an online platform to help legitimate users get information about the equipment and facilities that exist across universities and higher education institutes all around India.
“The government has planned to establish an online national network that lists all the scientific, technical, analytical, research equipment and facilities procured with funds provided by its agencies and installed in academic research and development organizations across the country,” read the directive to the universities and higher education institutes by the University Grants Commission.
This is not only going to help researchers looking for proper equipment and facilities to conduct their research but also help people in doing development work or non- academic research work by letting the legitimate users make an online reservation to conduct such activities in prior, with the institution they want to work with.
Researchers in India in various places need better equipment and facilities and this is certainly a step in the right direction. Finding good research facilities is essential to conducting research.
What is more interesting is that the government is willing to open reservations to use the chosen facility to users, conducting non-academic or developmental work. This is something that our nation really needs and is probably a step in the right direction to add more pistons to the engine of innovation in India.
Research and Development are precursors and thus, are a much-needed force that drives innovation. If applied correctly and updated with fact-checking, this is also going to make sure that the universities and higher education institutes use the funds granted to them by the government to keep the equipment and facilities up to date and filled up, as they compete for reservations online.
