Policy-makers must take bold measures to improve the standing of Indian science (Nature 484, 159–160; 2012), but it is important that the country's scientists own up to their responsibility for the current state of affairs.

Take India's science academies. Because they wield little apparent influence on science, policy or society, they are largely invisible to scientists and to the public. Their relevance seems to be limited to making annual awards to a few scientists who publish their work in journals with high impact factors. It is time for these academies to wake up to the challenge and become scientifically and socially important.