Not ordered any directive to restrict choice of subjects and research, says HRD ministry

Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry on Monday said not to have issued any directive to restrict the choice of subjects for research, as was reported by several media outlets. The Ministry also pointed out that it believes in the principle of freedom in research and has always given impetus to improve and expand research facilities.

"The Government has provided Rs 480 crore for Social Science Research Project under Impactful Policy Research in Social Sciences (IMPRESS); Rs 225 Crore for research in basic sciences; Rs 1000 crore under Impacting Research, Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) for technology-related research; Rs 450 crore under STRIDE for research in Humanities; and Rs 480 crore under Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) for joint research with foreign universities in any discipline," an official release by the HRD Ministry stated. It further stated that there was a meeting last year of Vice Chancellors of 11 Central universities, which were lacking in research.