Govt announces policy reforms to enhance ease of innovation, research

In a major policy shift aimed at streamlining the research environment, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Sunday announced reforms to enhance the “Ease of Innovation" and “Ease of Doing Research”.

Heads of the scientific institutions and Vice-Chancellors of universities have been empowered to carry out non-GeM (Government e-Marketplace) purchases for specialised research equipment and materials — a departure from the existing rules which mandated GeM procurement even when suitable items were unavailable.

The announcement follows extensive consultations led by the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office, drawing insights from 13 IITs and multiple research bodies across India.

“We have tried to do away with red-tapism. This is a move that places trust in the science leaders of this country. In fact, the government has also done away with as many as 1,600 rules in the past. And as India moves from a service-driven economy to an innovation-driven economy, we have no other option, but to focus on innovation,” Singh said.

The government has also revised key financial thresholds under the General Financial Rules (GFR). The ceiling for direct purchases has been doubled from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, while the range for purchases through departmental committees has been raised from Rs 1-10 lakh to Rs 2-25 lakh. Similarly, the limits for limited tender enquiries and advertised tenders have been increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Additionally, heads of institutions can now approve Global Tender Enquiries (GTEs) up to Rs 200 crore — previously a power reserved for central authorities.

The GTE is a procurement process where the implementing institutes seek competitive offers from abroad when goods of the required quality are not available domestically.

The heads of the Department of Science and Technology, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Council of Medical Research and educational and medical research institutes can purchase scientific equipment and consumables for research purposes costing up to Rs 2 lakh.

Singh pointed out that similar liberalisation in the space and nuclear sectors had yielded strong results. “We opened up the space sector, and today we’re looking at an $8 billion economy poised to grow fivefold. These reforms are meant to replicate that success across the R&D ecosystem,” he said.

India