The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has made it mandatory for researchers to disclose any paper retractions from the past five years when applying for government research grants under the Advanced Research Grant (ARG) program.
Key points:
- Researchers must provide reasons for any retracted publications.
- Past retractions will be considered during funding decisions.
- A strict zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism has been introduced.
- AI-based tools and third-party checks may be used to detect misconduct.
- Plagiarized or AI-generated content without proper citation can lead to rejection.
Context:
- India published about 6.4 million research papers in 2025.
- Around 20% of nearly 4,000 global retractions were linked to India.
Other changes:
- Up to ₹35 crore funding for a maximum of five years.
- Removal of mandatory 50% cost-sharing requirement for industry partners.
- Relaxation in collaboration rules.
Objective:
To improve research integrity, increase transparency, and enhance the credibility of Indian scientific research.