Govt Unveils Administrative Reforms To Boost Research & Innovation In India

New Delhi, Jun 16 (KNN) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Sunday announced administrative reforms designed to enhance the “Ease of Innovation” and “Ease of Doing Research” across the country.

Addressing a press conference at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, Dr. Singh outlined key changes that aim to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and empower scientific institutions with greater operational flexibility. 

The reforms, he said, are the result of extensive stakeholder consultations led by the Principal Scientific Adviser’s Office, involving 13 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and several national research organisations.

One of the most significant changes includes the delegation of procurement powers to institutional heads. 

Directors of scientific institutions and Vice Chancellors of universities will now be authorised to make non-GeM (Government e-Marketplace) purchases for specialised research equipment and materials. 

This marks a notable shift from existing mandates, which required exclusive procurement through GeM, even in cases where appropriate equipment was not available.

The government has also revised financial ceilings under the General Financial Rules (GFR). 

The threshold for direct purchases has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. Departmental committee purchase limits have increased from Rs 1–10 lakh to Rs 2–25 lakh. 

Similarly, limits for limited tenders and advertised tenders have doubled from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. 

Heads of institutions are now permitted to authorise Global Tender Enquiries (GTEs) for procurements up to Rs 200 crore—a power earlier confined to central authorities.

These reforms directly address long-standing concerns from researchers and academic leaders, who have pointed to procurement delays and rigid financial thresholds as major impediments to timely scientific progress. 

A report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, alongside recommendations from the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office, had highlighted how procedural strictures were adversely affecting the research environment.

(KNN Bureau)