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Published online 8 July 2009 |
Nature
| doi:10.1038/news.2009.652
Corrected online: 13 July 2009
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India hikes science budget despite slowdown
Boosts for human space flight and atomic energy.
Despite the economic slowdown India's government will spend 284 billion rupees (US$5.8 billion) on research and development this year, 17% more than last year, according to the budget for 2009–2010 announced on 6 July.
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It's an indication that India is now a developed nation. As global economic slowdown has not affected Indian will to do research. It will help in bringing back Indian talent suffering in foreign countries. It's an opportunity for those who wish to do good science in India. Now foreign talent too will be attracted toward India for doing good science. Only drawback is that Agriculture too should have been given as importance as Space,earth,oceonographic & atomic research. Anurag chaurasia, NBAIM, ICAR, India
India is on the right track. I agree with the article that India's corporate sector has to do more in R&D area and be more innovative.
While the indications are good, I hope they are able to back it up with results. Spending Money is not all, useful science has to be derived from it. Unfortunately corruption will slow things down , as it has for so many decades. The talent pool in India is immense, wish we knew how to better manage it. We also need to change our collective mindset. I met an ISRO scientist at a conference recently who says that threat from asteroids were a mere hype so that the private companies could generate business !! We have to be open to all possibilities, we can grow only by being flexible. A lot also depends what our novelists and film-makers do in the next decade...
Professor Ramasami is absolutely right. It is not possible to progress in research and development without contribution by businesses. Philanthropism is another sector yet to make a significant contribution in research and development. I think people like Professor Ramasami and other Governmnet officials may want to take the advantage of rich community and popular politicians in promoting philanthropism in India.
Investment in science is a good start but the whole Indian system has to be seriously overhauled to make any real improvement in scientific/medical/technical productivity. To make any headway, start with the education system- invest in better facilities at all schools/colleges/universities and not just the few elite institutions - for education and research, admissions based on merit and qualified and committed teachers. Strict regulations and follow up on acreditation of schools. Jobs should go to qualified candidates and everyone should be made accountable (as well as rewarded) for their work. No more promotions based upon length of service and seniority or political, social, religious and regional basis. No more quota system in jobs and schools but provide necessary financial aid to poor and deserving students so that good students from any background do not miss out on education due to lack of money. Anil Shukla