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Published online 9 January 2008 | Nature 451, 112 (2008) | doi:10.1038/451112b
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India aims for 'quantum jump' in science
Government plans multiple universities and hikes science spending.
BANGALORE India's prime minister Manmohan Singh has announced unprecedented funding for science education and research, saying it is a top priority for his government. He has announced a range of schemes to attract students and replenish government agencies' shrinking pool of scientific personnel.
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This is a great development. I sincerely hope that at least a portion of these ambitious plans go through - I can't imagine what kind of breakthroughs we'll begin to see in a decade or so as these students mature. As a science student in the United States, I wish that my government was responsible enough to follow through with plans like this. How can the U.S. expect to help our global society progress if we can't even foster the things that truly matter?
This is a great welcome move. Is our honourable Prime Minister really going to deliver, what he has promised or is just going to be just another never-accomplished promise? Only time can tell this. But anyways, even if a fraction of this is achieved, it would inculcate a great confidence in young researchers and Indian researchers abroad like myself would look forward to come back to India. Is Indian government also thinking of taking some lucrative initiatives to bring the Indian researchers abroad back to their motherland?
As an alumnus of the Indian education system, I am thrilled to see this endeavor by the Indian Government to invigorate the educational and scientific enterprises and their pursuits to excellence. Although critiques could be skeptical about this grand scheme, it can be accomplished, at least, to great extent only if the academic, scientific and social leaders are able to energize and motivate the base constituting students, scholars, scientists, engineers, parents and others from all walks of life. Policies should be separated from politics, bureaucratic burdens should be minimized and decision making powers should be empowered to educators and scientists, and not to the politicians. The role of politicians should be minimized and primarily should be to oversee that funds are appropriately spent. It is extremely important that educators and academic leaders with scholarly records are placed in charge of make decisions and executing them through fruition. S. K. Dey
This is a great move and, perhaps, unparallelled in the history of the post-independent Indian Government. Of course, the present time with the kind of economic growth India is witnessing is very right to take such decisions. I would have been surprised if such decisions were not taken. Nevertheless, the move and the promise of the Indian Government to do the much needed in the field of science education is praiseworthy. But this is just the first half of the coin -- the real challenge lies in converting these words into ACTIONS. And, of course, sustaining such momentum in the long run is absolute necessary if anyone wants to see India emerging as a world leader in science education and innovations.
Indian scientists are doing good research in all over the world. It is quite natural for our beloved Hon'able Prime Minister, who himself is a researcher in Economics and a vastly learned man, to think over it and use it for the benefit of our own country. It is always a very difficult job to arrange for extra fund in any endevour in this global situation especially in our country. This must show its result in near future. Everybody knows what are the problems. But these are the solutions. We congratulate with our full heart and soul.
This is a great initiative for the development of India. I wish that the Nepalese government should take initiative for mutual cooperation that benefit of this scheme should go to Nepalese people also. I sincerely hope that neighboring countries, particularly Nepal where border is open will get benefits by this scheme.
This is indeed a welcome move. But as with many policies in India, implementation has always been a major problem. The department heads should come up with suitable proposals for spending this money based on which the money should be distributed. And most importantly, petty state-central political spats should not be allowed. A team of qualified scientits should be chosen to guide the implementation procedures at every phase.
It's a wonderful news for Indian science. But one needs to remember that the term of the present government is about to end and a lot depends on whether these policies are adopted by the next government too, if there were to be a change. Also, I hope that the allocation of upcoming IITs and IISERs' is not done on the political basis. But otherwise, when and if implemented, this will be a huge uplift for Indian science and a very good news for Indian researchers abroad who are craving to go home.
The initiative is great and as rightly understood, needed immediate attention. I can forsee that at least some young students might get now a better attraction towards the basic science and research. Of late their was a clear trend that young students do not even look at this option. Only very average and mediocre were coming to this profession. I understand, the general public appreciates the research and scientific advancements going on all around the world, as witnessed by the overwhelming general public and student,s response to the latest Indo-German Science train (DST, N delhi), but does not encourage their children to join science. I also think that along with new initiatives to attract coming generation,we should also figure out the REASONS for ending up in such situations.
It is good to hear that atlast government of India has decided to fund the basic science education and research. However, there is a need to change the scenario not only by funding but also by creating the favourable ambience for basic science education. There is lot of talent in teachers/lecturers which has not been explored due to one reason or the another. Such talent should be identified and exploited for the benefit of students. The students trained under such teachers/lecturers would certainly be more skilled than the others.
Great! The people at the helm must also devise a plan to recruit more Indian scientists working abroad. The benefit of their research is not coming to India. Moreover, the government must also take initiatives to make clinical and industrial trials more smooth. Often many things are being discovered or invented by Indian scientists who can not or do not go for clinical or industrial trials or applications. Instead they publish it relinquishing their rights on the matter. The scientists must also get a feedback or training about patenting laws and rules regulating clinical or industrial trials. Ananda Mookerjee, INSERM
It is definitely exciting to witness such a progressive initiative from our government. If meticulously implemented, this can indeed be a quantum leap in Indian science. I only urge the decision makers in India to isolate science from politics. I have observed excellent institutions and universities getting entangled in the web of politics and losing their quality and charm. I hope this money is invested and channeled cautiously. It is also encouraging for Indian scientists working abroad to seriously consider returning to the home turf. N Govindarajan, European Neuroscience Institute, Germany.
It is indeed a great news. Time to go one step further. If Indian PM can turn his attention on primary education, this would compliment the effort. Well done PM. There should be a committe overseeing these expenditure and should make sure that politicians will not interfere in implementing these schemes. I am going home with happy thoughts.
The announcement by our honorable prime minister will encourage, not only the present science students, but also will motivate the new generation to do something in science. Everybody should welcome this effort and help the government to fulfill the motive, and of course, forgetting oppositional political views. Hope India will diminish the brain-drain by the 'quantum jump' in science.
This is good initiative by Government of India but we should not forget the universal nature of science. We must also offer some scholarships to foreign nationals and introduce strong foreign education policies in our research institutes. We have to synchronize our local efforts with global efforts.
It is a great news. The standard of IITs and IISC if maintained in the new opening institutes then really indian science will bear the fruit in future.
This is an excellent news for Indian science and technology.It will help to prevent the brain drain especially for Indian prospect.
This is an excellent news for Indian science and technology.It will help to prevent the brain drain especially for Indian prospect.
Excellent move. But its not just the money that improves science.....I hope the hierarchial mentality and bureaucracy within the individual research groups and institutes also changes.....On an average I had to wait for at least 4 months to get an antibody for doing my experiments in India....Now, in UK, its a matter of 24hrs before the antibody is there on my bench.....Bureaucratic hurdles have to go
This move will lead to increase in the quantity of science research but not the quality. The PhDs in India are paid a meager 8000-10000 INR/month which is hardly sufficient for survival in a metro city and can be earned by a simple graduate working in a BPO! Is this the value of researchers and scientists in India? This results in a large majority of the good talent to go abroad for higher studies. India should learn to value its talent pool and make good use of it, and not just open institutes, if it aims to be involved in path-breaking research.
No doubt this a great step by the Indian Govt. The focus should be more on quality as lot of institutions are coming up and quality of research is going down. The major problem is lack of incentive and opportunity for research scholars. Young talents are neither rewarded nor paid as per their intellectual contribution in completing a project. Generally their contribution is not recognized even. Our young talents too need recognition and reward in this era of IPR.
No doubt this a great step by the Indian Govt. The focus should be more on quality as lot of institutions are coming up and quality of research is going down. The major problem is lack of incentive and opportunity for research scholars. Young talents are neither rewarded nor paid as per their intellectual contribution in completing a project. Generally their contribution is not recognized even. Our young talents too need recognition and reward in this era of IPR.
I agree that the first step has to be taken early, but a plan about "what next" has to follow. The oppurtunites that follow the research,is the motivating force for a lot of students. There is no point in increasing the number of institutions if there are not going to be a corresponding increase in the application of the knowledge. Also, more than quantity, it is the quality that counts. Adequate facilities have to be provided at each of these institutes, if at all these institutes want to lure the young minds. I hope that the move has a positive impact, but it would take a lot of planning to implement it, in first place.
This is the step towards developed India. India is known as village country. Most of the talents are live in small town. But due to limited facilities and availabilities, they are not able to grow in a proper direction. I personally feel that this point should be consider for the development of science and technology in India and open new institutes near to town place. Moreover some states like Madhya Preadesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar should be taken as priority because of limited number of science and technology related institutes.
This is welcome step from PM. I recently post my views on nature network http://network.nature.com/forums/india/870 . As I express in my views its not only grant but freedom of spending grant is equally important. There is need to increase salary of scientific force in order to attract more and more talent for science. We hope our govt. will take necessary steps towards this.
PM's commitment to increase spending on science is a great step but I had to like to ask one simple question to the Indian scientific fraternity- Whom are we targeting to be scientists' for the future? Creating 30 new central universities means creating 30 new more entrance examinations to various courses, all 5 new IISER’s will want five new scholarship exams to screen and get the creamy best students, the 20 new Indian Institutes would add few more seats in the IIT-JEE exam! What about the students who are apparently not intelligent enough to make into these big and great institutes but equally hardworking and want to make a difference in the field of science? Where do they go? Will this increased spending prevent their jump into more lucrative professions like IT and management? Not really..we are still shiny best for the creamy few but not for the majority...
Interesting.