Savitribai Phule Pune University slash research funds
Pune, 27 March 2021: In a surprising move, Savitribai Phule Pune University has slashed the research funds in the recently announced budget of the varsity. When the pandemic stressed the need of the research in every field and sector, here the SP Pune university known in the academic circle for research and paper publications in prestigious national and international journals, slashed the funds.
The varsity ranks ninth in the country.
This year the allotted funds for ASPIRE and Avishkar have been reduced down of which former will have Rs5 crores while later will have only Rs30 lakh. Similarly, for research coordination scheme only Rs15 lakh funds have been allotted.
Pro-vice-chancellor N S Umrani said, “varsity has always encouraged research. This year varsity received less funds owing to the pandemic. Although, there has been reduction in the funds for Aspire, it is not going to affect the research.
IQC director Supriya Patil said, “last year due to Corona pandemic, students were unable to go fields and even laboratories. Under IQC, the students get 50% funds in first year and 50% funds in the second term. So we have last year’s funds pending.
Meanwhile, senate member Prof. Sanjay Kharat said, “the funds for ASPIRE has been slashed by Rs2 crores, instead of Rs7 crores only Rs5 crores are made available. University has funds for other projects, but slashed only the research funds.
