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Funding Basic Research in Science

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February 09, 2018

What is the issue?

India's funds for Science in general and for small scale science projects in particular are very low.

How is India's expenditure in Science?

  • Currently, research and development expenditure stands at around Rs. 1 lakh crore.
  • This amounts to 0.8% of the GDP.
  • The recent Economic Survey highlights the role of scientific and technological innovations in economic prosperity.
  • It thus calls for doubling the above share.
  • Even the doubled amount would be behind that of China, Israel, Japan and the U.S.
  • Notably, each of these countries spends more than 2% of their GDP on research.

What are the concerns?

  • Research Grants - This year’s Budget has allotted around Rs. 28,000 crore to science ministries.
  • Out of this, a mere 3.22% is for basic science projects.
  • This will be disbursed as competitive research grants by the statutory body, Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
  • This is very low in comparison to many other countries where the share is around 30 to 40%.
  • Small Projects - Share of expenditure for R&D in GDP is a significant indicator.
  • However, more importantly, appropriate share between small and large scale projects also needs attention.
  • Notably, funds for exploratory small-scale science researches are diminishing.

How have small science projects transformed?

  • Creative and indigenous innovations often result from the efforts of scientists working alone or in small groups.
  • The small science projects often emerge as harbingers of technological changes.
  • Higgs boson - Discovery of Higgs boson/God particle in 2012 at CERN, European Organisation for Nuclear Research was popular.
  • It came with $1 billion annual expenditure of CERN.
  • Yet, this began in seminal theoretical works of several independent scientists including Peter Higgs.
  • Spectrometer - In 1928, C.V. Raman spent about Rs. 200 on his laboratory-built spectrometer.
  • Today, the global market for Raman spectrometers is about $1.2 billion.
  • It also brought to India its first science Nobel prize.
  • ISRO - Through the 1960s, Vikram Sarabhai was experimenting with simple sounding rockets.
  • These ultimately grew into the Indian Space Research Organisation of today.

What is desired?

  • India’s provision for competitive research grants needs upward revision.
  • Science budget has to be balanced between mission-oriented projects and the small research grants.
  • Mission-oriented projects include those in the areas of defence, space, nuclear and environmental sciences.
  • Besides these, the research ecosystem that provides human resources and feeds for innovations needs enough policy focus.
  • The Economic Survey recommends having a greater share of an investigator-driven model for funding science research.
  • These are voluntary, independent researches.
  • Here, the investigator or the institution (academic, private, or governmental) serves as the Sponsor.
  • It provides more scope to generate individual, innovative ideas.
  • The Survey also calls for expanding resources in this regard.
  • It stresses on creating governance structures for facilitating supportive research environment in the country.

 

Source: The Hindu

 

Quick Fact

SERB

  • The Science and Engineering Research Board is an autonomous body.
  • It works under the Department of Science and Technology.
  • It was set up by the Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008.
  • It is aimed at promoting basic research in Science and Engineering.
  • It provides financial assistance for those involved.
  • These include individual scientists, academic institutions, R&D laboratories, industrial concerns and other agencies.
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