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Events & Issues
New Delhi, 25 November 2013
Rao’s Bharat Ratna
INDIA’S POTENTIAL GREATER
By Dr S Saraswathi
(Former Director, ICSSR, New
Delhi)
It may have come as an unpleasant surprise to the Government
to hear the first reaction of the latest nominee for the Bharat Ratna, Scientist
C N R Rao, to the award. He was not overwhelmed by the announcement or
immensely flattered by this late recognition. However, his immediate reaction
was a well thought out and profound statement on the prospects of scientific
research in India.
Hence, his focus was on supporting scientific research and not on expression of
joy over the award.
He stated that funding for science was “marginal” at an
average of just 20% of the amount required for any project. That too, was not
coming on time. Rao noted that this made
it difficult for research institutions to invest fully in any project. He also
pointed out that China and South Korea were competing with each other to go
ahead of the US
by investing heavily in science, technology, and innovation.
India is recognized as scientifically
proficient country (SPC), but it does not figure among top 10 in global ranking
for science performance in innovations and publications. Its rank in innovations is too low to be
mentioned openly – 66th place among 144 countries. This is certainly
a cause for worry. It is a reminder that drastic corrections are required in
our educational system and research programmes.
Budget allocations for Science Ministries and Departments
generally fall short of requirements. The Prime Minister himself had raised this
in his address at the Indian Science Congress held early last year. He had lamented
that the expenditure on Research & Development was “too low and stagnant”
at about 1% of the GDP. A target of increasing it to at least 2% was set to be
achieved before the end of the 12th Plan.
In the Centenary Session of the Indian Science Congress
celebrated this January, the problem of low investments came up in a big way. It
was repeatedly mentioned that the absolute quantum of investments since 2000
had increased but the target of reaching 2% of the GDP still remained a target.
Within science & technology, there is a general
grievance that certain fields like atomic energy, space and earth sciences, polar
and ocean related research are given
substantial hike in budgetary allocations, but basic scientific and industrial
research and bio-technology receive little hike.
The importance of promoting science and technology for the
growth and development of the country was recognized and publicly declared by
the Government of India soon after independence. The Scientific Policy
Resolution was adopted by Parliament in 1958. A chain of national laboratories
to promote fundamental and applied research and special centres for atomic
energy and space research were also established. Centres of excellence for
education and research in science, engineering, and other professional fields
came up.
The Kothari Commission (1964-66) recommended that Indian
education should be “science based” and should also be “in coherence with
Indian values and culture”.
The Department of Science and Technology was established in
1971 by the Union Government to promote new areas in this field and to play a
nodal role for organizing and promoting activities in these areas. The number
of scientific bodies, science centres, and research institutions/laboratories
has increased. However, facilities for research have not grown correspondingly
and most institutions remain teaching departments. Their budget is small, and
qualified guides are not many. Research is a costly activity beyond the
financial capacity of individual scholars.
Conditions have continued like this until the country was
forced to wake up to the call of the knowledge society progressing day-by-day
under the information and communication technology. The 11th Plan
(2007-12) put the emphasis on evolving an integrated S&T plan, enlarging
scientific manpower and strengthening infrastructure, and creating an empowered
National Science and Technology Commission.
Global competition became a crucial factor in the past two
decades. The Central Government
announced a new Science and Technology Policy in 2003 reorienting S&T
governance so as to expand scientific network and earn a place in the world of
science.
A decade later, in 2013 Science, Technology, and Innovation
Policy was adopted by the Government. It reminds the scientific community that
the trio - science, technology, and innovation (STI) - should focus on faster,
sustainable, and inclusive development of the people. The policy aims at
positioning India
among top five global scientific powers by 2020. One of the key features of
this policy is to set up a world class infrastructure for research and
development.
To improve our rank in global science performance,
scientists need to bring out more publications and research papers. Undeniably,
over the years there has been a decline in the quality and quantum of science
research in the country. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of research papers
came down from about 16,000 to 12,000 – a fall that prompted then Union
Minister for Science and Technology to hold an urgent meeting with scientists
and academicians for detailed discussions. At that time also, the scientific performance
of China and South Korea was
improving fast.
Presently, India
contributes about 3.5 % of science publications and it is said that this has to
grow to at least 7% to move upward in global ranking. Assessments in terms of
such achievements and consequent global ranking system do not take into account
relative resource position and working conditions.
Universities and other institutions of higher learning in India are often
denigrated for low research output. Comparisons with universities in western
countries to show us in poor light seem awfully unfair to scholars. The
teaching load and examination-related work in our institutions gives little
time for teachers to engage in research, which in fact is a full time
occupation.
It is because of this that there has developed a clear
demarcation between teaching and research in India. Universities have become
teaching shops leaving research to a few science institutes in the country. The
distinction is reinforced by separate policies and programmes for the two. Research
in India
is resource-starved and researchers, like old time poets and writers, live a
frugal life.
While science and technology are mentioned generally
together, between them, the status of pure science is a cause for real worry. For
over a decade, the declining trend in enrolment in pure science courses in
higher education is noticeable. The fact that basic sciences form the roots of
technological innovations is totally ignored. Choice of courses by students is
governed by job openings and salary levels which are governed by commercial
market needs. Advanced countries have more than 60% of doctorates in science
and engineering, India
has less than 50%.
To establish India
as a knowledge super power, the nation needs to build science and technology
base by promoting research. Global ranking is only a stimulus and not the
ultimate goal of progress.
India’s potential for scientific
achievements is far greater than its actual performance. For
sustained and all inclusive progress, we have to address all impediments in the
way. These are not only confined to the availability
of funds, but include their proper utilization, creation of infrastructure for
basic research, removal of administrative hurdles if any, and above all the freedom
to pursue research. ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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