Prime Minister calls for greater academic freedom

Prime Minister Narendra Modi batted for giving universities more academic freedom and autonomy and promised to cut excessive regulation and cumbersome procedures to encourage research, reports the Press Trust of India.

"We want our scientists to explore the mysteries of science and not of government procedure," Modi said, while inaugurating the 102nd Indian Science Congress in Mumbai. "Our institutions of research must become more broad-based. Our universities must have a higher degree of academic freedom and autonomy," Modi said. In turn the universities must also subscribe to the highest standards of academic excellence and accountability, he said.

Against the backdrop of complaints of red tape by the scientific community in the country, including delays in funding for research and approval processes, the prime minister stressed that ease of doing research is as important as ease of doing business.
Full report on The Economic Times site