Gatekeeping Mechanism Stifles Innovation

This provision requires public institutions to obtain "no objection" approval from the Centre before applying for any ICT research funding, creating a mandatory bureaucratic layer that could significantly slow innovation. The Centre assesses whether projects are "aligned with national development goals" using undefined standards that will be prescribed later by regulations, creating uncertainty about what types of innovation will be approved. The severe penalties (criminal fines and up to 3-year disqualification) for information issues create risk aversion that may discourage experimental or cutting-edge research. Since the Centre itself conducts research, this gatekeeping power creates a competitive conflict where the Centre controls funding access for its competitors, potentially favoring Centre-aligned projects over innovative institutional research.