22-October-2024-Editorial

INDIA’S NOBEL PRIZE PERFORMANCE IN SCIENCES

India has not seen a Nobel Prize winner in the sciences—Physics, Chemistry, or Medicine—while working in the country for 94 years. The last Indian to receive this honor was C.V. Raman in 1930 for his work on the scattering of light.

The low number of Indian laureates is often considered a reflection of the current state of scientific research in India.

Reasons for India’s Poor Performance in Science Nobel Prizes

Insufficient Public Funding for Research

• The Indian government allocates limited funds for scientific research, which restricts the ability to conduct groundbreaking studies.
• Basic research funding has remained at around 0.6-0.8% of GDP over the last decade, significantly lower than other BRICS nations.
• Between 2005 and 2023, India’s overall expenditure on research and development (R&D) fell from 0.82% to 0.64% of GDP.

Bureaucratic Challenges

• Excessive red tape in research institutions hinders innovation and slows down scientific progress.
• For instance, ordering equipment at IIT Delhi can take up to 11 months due to bureaucratic processes.
• Financial strain is further exacerbated by policies like the Rs 150 crore GST notice served to IIT Delhi.

Limited Researcher Pool

• India has a disproportionately small number of researchers compared to its population.
• The number of researchers is five times lower than the global average, limiting the potential for Nobel-worthy discoveries.

Dependence on Individual Talent

• The lack of a robust research ecosystem means that chances of winning Nobel Prizes often rely on the individual brilliance of scientists rather than institutional support.

Discretion in Research Management

• Heads of research institutions may prioritize personal career advancement over breakthrough research, focusing on awards or extending tenures instead.

Unclear Research Focus

• Many scientists in India often pursue outdated or irrelevant topics, ignoring practical applications that could benefit the country.
• For example, some focus on high-energy particle physics instead of addressing local challenges like water technology and agricultural innovation.

Emphasis on Quantity over Quality

• Much research in government-funded institutions is geared toward generating numerous publications rather than meaningful innovations.

Dependence on Foreign Technologies

• Indian researchers often adapt technologies developed abroad instead of creating original solutions, leading to a lack of deep scientific innovation.

Private Sector Successes

• Significant scientific breakthroughs, such as vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic, were largely achieved by private sector labs, highlighting a disconnect with government-funded research.

Legacy of Mediocrity

• Even when foreign-trained scientists return to India, they may not reach their potential due to an unhealthy institutional environment, often focusing on irrelevant research to gain promotions.

Missed Historical Opportunities

• Several Indian scientists who made groundbreaking contributions, like Jagadish Chandra Bose and K.S. Krishnan, were overlooked for Nobel nominations.

Nominations Without Wins

• Notable scientists like Meghnad Saha and Homi Bhabha were nominated for the Nobel Prize multiple times but did not win.

Western Dominance

• Nobel Prizes are often awarded to scientists from the US and Europe, which have stronger research infrastructures, overshadowing contributions from other regions.

Indian-Origin Scientists Who Won Nobel Prizes in Sciences

• Hargovind Khorana (Medicine, 1968): For decoding the genetic code and its role in protein synthesis.
• Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (Physics, 1983): For theoretical studies on the structure and evolution of stars.
• Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Chemistry, 2009): For research on the structure and function of ribosomes.

Government Initiatives to Promote Research

• National Research Foundation for Anusandhan (NRFA)
• Entrepreneurship Development and Technology Incubation (EDTI 2.0)
• Fellowship for VAIBHAV
• Research Innovation and Technology Impact Information (RITI – II)
• Science and Technology Award for Research by SERB (STAR)
• Significant Policy Research in Social Sciences (SPRSS)
• Program for Enhancing Academic and Research Collaboration (PEARC)

Strategies for Improving India’s Performance in Nobel Prizes

• Increase Public Funding: The government should aim to boost research funding to at least 1.5% of GDP.
• Encourage High-Impact Research: Support high-risk, high-reward initiatives that could lead to innovative breakthroughs.
• Revise Evaluation Processes: Implement diverse panels of experts for research proposal evaluations to reduce biases.
• Expand the Researcher Pool: Invest in STEM education and higher education to cultivate a skilled workforce.
• Reform Research Institutions: Allocate funding based on merit and societal impact, not personal ambitions.
• Promote Public-Private Partnerships: Facilitate collaborations between government institutions and the private sector to enhance research capabilities.
• Recognize Scientific Contributions: Establish national awards to honor significant scientific achievements.
• Strengthen Global Collaborations: Encourage partnerships with international research communities to elevate the profile of Indian research globally.