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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Procurement rules for scientific research eased
Mumbai: In a resounding shift, the ministry of finance eased a long-standing bottleneck in procurement rules that once tethered researchers to the govt e-Marketplace (GeM), now allowing them to source scientific equipment and consumables from outside it. The revision in monetary ceilings and procurement channels, officials say, required the direct intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For the scientific community, this isn't just administrative reform—it's an acknowledgment and a huge relief. "Science cannot be caged in platforms and progress cannot always be L1," said a frustrated scientist, who said procurement was running into long delays because of cost and quality issues. The spirit behind GeM portal is, in principle, noble, said most scientists—designed to uplift Indian suppliers and foster a self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem. "But behind the digital veneer of transparency and procurement lies a troubling reality." "As a scientist, I ask—what truly serves the nation? If I want to order a computer that serves my requirements today, I cannot buy one unless it is L1," said professor at the School of Biotechnology at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Binay Panda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile" TradeWise Learn More Undo Five amendments have been made to existing procurement rules. Vice-Chancellors and directors of India's top scientific and academic institutions no longer have to wait for clearances to procure scientific equipment and consumables for research. Under the newly eased rules, they now hold the power to approve Global Tender Enquiries—up to a staggering Rs 200 crore—if they believe the need is justified. No central nod, no extra scrutiny. Just their judgment. Similarly, the ceiling for direct purchases—those made without quotations—has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. And what once required a drawn-out trail of tenders—purchases from Rs 1 to 10 lakh—can now be cleared by a purchase committee for anything up to Rs 25 lakh. Additionally, the limits on limited tender enquiry have been lifted—from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. And perhaps, most telling of all, said scientists—the need for open tenders—earlier triggered at Rs 50 lakh—will now apply only to purchases above Rs 1 crore. Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, took to social media and termed this as "a landmark step" for enabling #EaseOfDoingResearch. "This will reduce delays, also enhance autonomy and flexibility for research institutions—empowering them to innovate faster," he added. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Prof Abhay Karandikar, said, "It was made possible by the collective efforts of everyone, including other scientific secretaries, PSA, Department of Expenditure and Cabinet Secretariat. " Another scientist explained that in this "algorithm-driven marketplace, the lowest bidder always wins, never mind if the product fails the test of quality. What use is cost-efficiency if it sacrifices precision and most importantly, the requirements of a scientific experiment? What use is patriotism if it's only glued on?" "They don't really make these products here," added Prof Panda. "They import many parts, assemble them locally, and slap on a Make in India sticker—as if that alone sanctifies the machine." He quickly added, "If there is a good Indian product, we do not think twice. We prefer make-in-India by default—it's more affordable, support is better, and it's close by." Most scientists echoed this. However, "We don't want to buy an Indian product if science suffers. "
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
MKU prof to receive TN scientist award in biological sciences
Madurai: An associate professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at the School of Biotechnology at Madurai Kamaraj University, Varalakshmi Perumal, has been selected for the Tamil Nadu Scientist Award (TANSA) 2023 by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology in the discipline of Biological Sciences. According to a statement, Varalakshmi's primary research interests focus on exploring algal metabolites for therapeutic and bioenergy applications. For the past decade, her major research thrust at MKU was on 'Unveiling bioactive metabolites of underexplored algae and their associated bacteria from the coastal regions of South India', particularly investigating their potential against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While current treatments for NCDs largely rely on bioactive molecules derived from terrestrial plants, marine sources remain largely untapped. This has driven her search for multimodal-acting compounds from marine macroalgae, especially brown algae, which are rich in complex bioactive metabolites such as phlorotannins with strong pharmacological potential. So far, Varalakshmi characterised more than 10 novel compounds from marine algae with therapeutic potential against diabetes, obesity, epilepsy, and cervical cancer. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
