Source: The post M.S. Swaminathan shows how science can build Viksit Bharat has been created, based on the article “A tribute to M.S. Swaminathan, ‘the man who fed India’” published in “The Hindu” on 20th August 2025. M.S. Swaminathan shows how science can build Viksit Bharat.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Science and technology- Achievements of Indians in science & technology.
Context: India’s Viksit Bharat goal needs strong, self-reliant science, especially for the digital economy. A new biography of M.S. Swaminathan prompts reflection on how India achieved food self-sufficiency. The article distils lessons from the Green Revolution for building capability today.
For detailed information on Swaminathan walked ahead of his time: scientific community read this article here
Seeds of collaboration and discovery
- Collaboration, not isolation: The Green Revolution was powered by science. Breakthroughs came from collaboration, not isolated labs. Inputs raised yields, but heavy grain bent weak stalks. Swaminathan tried radiation-induced mutations for stronger stalks. They failed.
- The dwarf wheat clue: In 1958, a visiting Japanese scientist pointed to dwarf wheat with short, strong stalks that resisted lodging. The variety had gone to the United States, where a breeder was working on it.
- Mexican seeds and early results: That breeder was developing winter wheat, unsuited to India. But Norman Borlaug in Mexico had promising lines. Swaminathan had met him earlier and secured a small seed shipment. The seeds performed well, and he sought to invite Borlaug.
- Cut red tape and connect globally: IARI cleared the invitation in 1960, but approvals took over two years. Borlaug arrived only in March 1963. The lesson: build global contacts and travel freely; cut bureaucratic control.
From lab to field: enabling trials
- Trials need timely support: The next step was farmer field trials. The Ministry would not fund them. Lal Bahadur Shastri became Prime Minister in 1964 and named C. Subramaniam Agriculture Minister. This changed the trajectory.
- Subramaniam’s decisive intervention: Subramaniam convened about 20 scientists. Swaminathan said seeds were ready but trials lacked funds. Subramaniam called for the file and released money.
- Hearing scientists directly: A second lesson follows. On complex technical issues, leaders must hear scientists first-hand, not only through a generalist bureaucracy. Many ministers neither backed nor understood research. Orders to “sort out problems” ignored ground realities.
Science-informed politics and capable ministers
- Technically literate leadership: China’s success reflects ministers with technical training and management records. Subramaniam fit that mould. Achieving Viksit Bharat will require more such ministers.
- Deciding amid dissent: Scaling up required importing 18,000 tonnes of seed, costing $5 crore. Finance resisted the foreign exchange. The Planning Commission doubted superior performance. The Left opposed Rockefeller-linked seeds. Shastri visited IARI, was convinced, and approved imports. Indira Gandhi later gave full backing.
- Decide, back, and monitor: New ideas trigger conflicting expert opinions. Debate is healthy, but decisions must be taken at the top. Once taken, back the effort and ensure independent monitoring with course corrections. The 1968 wheat harvest validated the strategy. PL-480 imports were phased out.
- Sustainability warnings: Heavy water and fertilizer use caused environmental stress. Swaminathan, outside government, urged corrections for sustainability. The reforms remain overdue.
Future imperatives for Viksit Bharat
- Climate and institutional performance: Climate change will depress farm productivity. Science will be decisive. Outcomes depend on the strength of research institutions.
- Funding, rankings, and quality: India once led China in the late 1960s. Today China has eight agricultural research institutions in the world’s top 10; India has none in the top 200. India spends only 0.43% of agricultural GDP on R&D. China spends roughly twice that share.
- Autonomy and access: Institutions need autonomy and good governance to hire and promote on merit. Top scientists must have access to decision makers, as Swaminathan did. Filling these gaps best honours him. The lessons apply across scientific domains, not just agriculture.
Question for practice:
Examine how scientific collaboration and decisive political support enabled the Green Revolution and what lessons this offers for Viksit Bharat.
