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Context:

The Union Government launched "Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR)" to support research in universities.

What is the PAIR initiative?

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) announced the PAIR initiative to strengthen the research capabilities of universities where research is still in its early stages but shows great promise. 

It pairs the universities with well-established top-tier institutions in a hub-and-spoke model, offering major support for their development.

Objectives of the PAIR initiative

Encourage scientific innovation through mentorship by employing expertise from top-tier institutions.

Support internationally competitive research with significant results. Encourage collaborative networks among various institutions.

Establishing advanced research infrastructure and capabilities to improve the quality of research.

Its objectives align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

What is the hub-and-spoke model in PAIR?

In this model, top-tier institutions (hubs) mentor emerging institutions (spokes) by providing guidance, resources, and expertise to bridge research capability gaps and promote a strong ecosystem.

Who qualifies as hubs and spokes in the PAIR initiative? Hubs: Top 25 institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) overall rankings. Institutions of National Importance within the top 50 NIRF overall rankings. Spokes: Central and State Public Universities, selected NITs, and IITs.

Role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) 

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) launched the PAIR initiative to promote scientific innovation and research excellence in institutions with limited research capacity.

It was established under the ANRF Act 2023 to promote research and innovation across the country. 

It works under the Department of Science & Technology.

It establishes the governance framework for initiatives such as PAIR and aims to promote a research culture in universities.

Must Read Articles: 

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY (NEP) 2020

NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL RANKING FRAMEWORK (NIRF)

Source: 

New Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements in the context of the PAIR initiative: 1. It is the initiative of the Ministry of Education. 2. It works on a hub-and-spoke model. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A) 1 only B) 2 only C) Both 1 and 2 D) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: B Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) initiative to improve the research capabilities of universities. Statement 2 is correct: The program aims to assist universities where research is still in its early stages but has significant potential for expansion. PAIR's hub-and-spoke model aims to connect emerging institutions with well-established, top-tier institutions, promoting mentorship and collaboration to accelerate research output.