PUNE: Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani on Friday said good research was possible even with less funding , countering the accusation that funds for research in basic science had been slashed heavily by the BJP-led government at the Centre.Addressing students at the inaugural function organized by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) to celebrate 10 years of its existence in Pune, Irani talked about two myths that need to be broken. First, no Indian institute is achieving a high position in the world ranking list. Second, huge amount of money is required for good research.Irani said, "Bigger money does not mean better science. Millions of dollars are being spent on a fusion experiment in Orange county but the same experiment is being carried out in Bengaluru with just Rs 2 lakh. Youngsters should concentrate on better science with less money."CNR Rao was one of the many scientists who had openly criticized the government's alleged funds cut for fundamental research during the 81st annual meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences at IISER last year. On the global ranking of Indian institutes, Irani said, "The myth that Indian institutes do not measure up needs to be broken. The world ranking only takes into account research in English and not in Indian languages."She said an Indian ranking system was being evolved to counter the bias and already 3500 higher education institutes had participated in the Indian ranking framework. Irani launched a common website for all six IISERs in the country."This will be a single window point for all information in all six IISERs, including subjects available, the faculty and research projects going on," said KN Ganesh, director, IISER.Irani in her speech remembered Kaustubh Deshpande - an alumnus of IISER-Pune. "Kaustubh had started remedial teaching for underprivileged children in the nearby areas and now one of them is a student of IISER-Pune. Those who come from disadvantaged categories are often left behind because of language barrier. So, I appeal to students to take along one child with them who can live the life you are living now," said Irani, requesting students to teach children English.Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) launched by the Union ministry of human resource development to increase the presence of foreign professors in Indian universities has now 22 state universities as a part of it with 400 foreign teachers. "This year, 1,000 foreign academics will teach in government institutions," Irani said.