India
11 Secrets Indian Political Parties Must Adopt in Manifestos for a better future in Science and Research

Photo by flickr/iavi_flickr
While political apathy to many pressing problems of India is glaring, one key area of national concern, generates some hope. Looking at the successive government’s actions across the partisan divide, as well as the last federal election manifestos of the two largest parties, the future of science and technology in India looks promising.
Last election cycle, the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) documented the formation of several new research institutions and promised their continued support. The main opposition party: (BJP) Bhartiya Janta Party’s manifesto, drafted by an ex-physicist, in addition to institutional support, touched on the improvements needed in the IPR regime and evolution of new funding mechanisms.
Given that in the near future Indian government would only be formed with coalition partners, several smaller parties that traditionally never had any science and technology section to their manifestos need to start clarifying their vision on this pressing issue. The third emerging force in the Indian politics, Aam Aadmi Party that recently displaced INC and BJP in the local elections of Delhi, also needs to clarify its position, as it prepares to play an increasing role at the national stage. I hope this election cycle, which starts in few weeks, witnesses a detailed science and technology manifesto released by all groups. I also hope that all prominent candidates discuss their science policy positions on the national television, just as they discuss other prominent issues.
As a young investigator contemplating return to Indian science, I have few suggestions. I am sure there will be many more suggestions by other scientists at various stages of their career. Hopefully the following small list would catalyze further discussion in the form of elaboration and extension, as well as constructive criticism and deletions.
1. Despite recent efforts, India has yet to register internationally mentionable significant strides in scientific research and education. Instead of general statement of intent, political formations need to provide specifics of preventing brain drain and encouraging reverse brain drain. Financial support for research needs to increase several fold to match the other Asian competitors of the same and even smaller population and economic sizes.
2. In India, akin to China, too much emphasis is put on proxy metrics of success, especially on the number of publications and short-term citations. In addition to funding few safe and reliable projects, government needs to start funding individuals who are willing to tread the off the beaten path. Special rewards and funding should be reserved for individuals who are successful in high-risk high-reward projects.
3. Smarter resource allocation that goes against populist sentiments is direly needed. Funding large number of institutions with suboptimal support is far inefficient than adequately supporting and promoting much smaller number of fully capable institutions. Until the persistence of resource limitation, this prioritization also needs to be extended to research areas. Indian government has recognized few focus areas but has hardly done much to promote them. Less than adequate support to the Department of Biotechnology, inadequate initiative in the key areas of Neuroscience, Supercomputing and Nanomaterials, spreading defence research budget to proven unproductive projects such as engine for LCA Tejas, are all errors that need immediate remediation.
4. In non-sensitive areas, senior positions should also be open to researchers from all nationalities, as there is an urgent need to seed novel research directions with the right starter culture. Approvals needed in some institutions for international collaborations need to be completely removed. Novel funding mechanisms needs to be established for encouraging international collaborations.
5. Modern science requires extensive cross collaboration. Indian science funding, hiring and promotions needs to break out of the traditional mold that strictly define a researcher belonging to one field only. Separate funding mechanisms need to be established for researchers crossing the conventional boundaries.
6. In addition to supporting science and technology institutions, government of India needs to step up its existing incentives to R& D companies, especially startups, beyond initial subsidies and loans, so that talent developed in scientific institutions can be best absorbed and utilized domestically.
7. The boundaries in basic science and applied science are disappearing with every passing day. A good IPR regime is a must to incentivize innovation and entrepreneurship in applied work. More encouragement should be given to researchers, who want to establish their own startup R&D companies in addition to conducting basic research, as long as their academic performance faces no negative consequence and conflict of interests.
8. Equally importantly, there is need of systematic research opportunities for students in high schools and undergraduate studies. This exposure would enable students to explore exciting careers in research streams in addition to the well-publicized engineering and medical jobs. Increasing research exposure in high schools should not be confused with sham lab and practical courses, where the same syllabus is repeated every year and students repeat or just watch demonstration experiments.
9. Barring few notable exceptions, scientists with ongoing mentionable research careers are largely absent from the policy settings. This needs immediate correction.
10. Central ethics and regulation agencies that deal with violations of proper conduct are much needed. Currently such organizations are nearly non-existent and in the rare cases of an official existence, they are practically toothless.
11. Central bodies that exist to regulate the quality of materials, tools, high-tech instruments, food and drugs, need a serious restructuring, as India attempts to provide better end products to its citizens and have an impact in the global markets. Recent controversies of Indian pharmaceuticals with the US FDA could have been prevented with better domestic inspection and certification.
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