Indian Research Can Shape the World

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 3- Science and Technology

Introduction

India has often depended on technologies developed elsewhere, leading to delayed entry, foreign licences and dependence on external know-how. However, the growing integration of fundamental science and technology has shortened the path from discovery to application. This creates an opportunity for India to move beyond catching up and shape emerging technologies. A strong research ecosystem, therefore, can help India convert its scientific talent into global technological leadership, economic strength and self-reliance.

Changing Science–Technology Landscape: From Discovery to Innovation

1. From separation to integration: Science and technology were once largely separate, but fundamental research and practical applications now increasingly develop together.
2. Shorter research-to-technology cycle: The gap between scientific discovery and technological application has shortened, making fundamental research a direct source of innovation.
3. CRISPR as an example: Research on bacterial defence mechanisms led to CRISPR within a few years, showing how basic research can produce transformative technologies.
4. First-mover opportunity: India must invest in fundamental research to create the next technological wave, rather than repeatedly adopting technologies developed elsewhere.

India’s Emerging Research and Innovation Ecosystem

1. Growing innovation performance: India has recorded five consecutive years of double-digit growth in innovation indicators, while research output increased by 7.6%, showing stronger domestic research momentum.
2. Improving global position: India improved its Global Innovation Index ranking from 40th in 2023 to 38th in 2025 and ranks first among lower-middle-income economies and Central and South Asia.
3. NEP 2020 focus: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 places research, inquiry-based learning, critical thinking and innovation at the centre of educational reform to build future research capacity.
4. Interdisciplinary research: NEP seeks to reduce rigid disciplinary boundaries and promote problem-based learning across STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), social sciences and humanities, strengthening wider innovation capabilities.
5. ANRF institutional support: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims to bridge funding gaps, build research capacity and promote collaboration among academia, industry and government.
6. Research funding initiatives: ANRF received ₹966 crore in revised estimates for 2024–25 and supports programmes covering early-career researchers, partnerships, inclusivity and distinguished researchers.

Research Deficit: Persistent Gaps in India’s Innovation Ecosystem

1. Low R&D intensity: Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) more than doubled between 2010–11 and 2020–21, but remained only 0.6–0.8% of GDP, below the global average.
2. Weak performance against peers: India still trails China, South Korea and Singapore in infrastructure, human capital, research and business sophistication despite strong potential in knowledge creation.
3. Uneven innovation pillars: Infrastructure improved from 84th in 2023 to 61st in 2025, but human capital and research fell from 48th to 54th, showing uneven progress.
4. Weak market ecosystem: Market sophistication declined from 20th in 2023 to 38th in 2025, indicating weaknesses in credit, investment, trade and market diversification needed for innovation.
5. Institutional constraints: India’s institutional ranking declined from 54th in 2024 to 58th in 2025, reflecting continuing problems in the regulatory and policy environment.
6. Limited research impact: Publications have increased, but many are in lower-impact journals, while patent filings remain modest, limiting research visibility and application.
7. Concentration and regional inequality: The top 19 IITs and IISc account for 28.70% of publications and 30.84% of citations, while several eastern and northeastern states continue to record low R&D investment.
8. Weak industry–academia linkage: Private-sector R&D was only about 36% of total R&D spending in 2020–21, while dependence on imported technologies weakens domestic R&D and technology commercialisation.

From Research to Global Impact: Four Strategic Priorities

1. Quality Education at Scale

• Research-based learning: Expand quality education and create experimental research foundries where students work with real instruments and real problems.
• AI-enabled access: Use AI to reach students poorly served by existing institutions and widen access to learning.

2. Open National Laboratories

• Break institutional isolation: Make national laboratories accessible to researchers, students and companies outside their walls.
• Three-zone model: Use green zones for open interaction, amber for collaboration and red for strategic work, with most activities in the first two.

3. Flexible Research Governance

• Reduce compliance burden: High-quality institutions should receive greater freedom from excessive General Financial Rules compliance.
• Outcome-based accountability: Evaluate institutions through research outcomes rather than procedural compliance at every step.

4. Faster Research Regulation

• Speed up approvals: Make approvals for research involving biological materials and clinical trials faster and more predictable.
• Support smaller institutions: Reduce regulatory burdens because excessive delays and costs disadvantage small and medium-sized institutions.

The Way Forward

1. Raise R&D investment: Move towards 1.5% of GDP for R&D by 2030 through stronger public funding, private-sector incentives and innovative financing.
2. Democratise research: Allocate ANRF resources transparently to state universities and colleges through seed grants, laboratories, mentorship and regional innovation clusters.
3. Strengthen research-to-market links: Create joint university-industry R&D centres and link incentives with commercialisation, patents, start-ups and practical outcomes.
4. Build research human capital: Strengthen faculty training, research internships and fellowships while attracting Indian researchers abroad through competitive salaries and laboratory autonomy.
5. Support national development: Build indigenous capabilities in semiconductors, AI, renewable energy and defence while using research to address health, agriculture, nutrition and climate challenges.
6. Make excellence systemic: Convert successful pockets of research excellence into wider institutional practice so that innovation becomes the norm rather than an exception.

Conclusion

India has the scientific talent and a growing research base to move beyond technological catch-up. NEP 2020 and Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) provide an institutional foundation, but higher R&D investment, wider research opportunities, flexible regulation and stronger industry linkages are essential. Converting scientific knowledge into technologies can strengthen self-reliance, economic competitiveness and solutions to social challenges, enabling India to shape future global innovation.

Question for Practice:

Evaluate whether India’s research ecosystem can enable it to move from technological catch-up to global technological leadership.

Source: The Hindu ; ORF