India is amongst the top-ranking countries in the field of basic research. Indian Science is one of the most powerful segments for growth and development, especially in the emerging scenario and competitive economy.
India has the third largest scientific and technical manpower in the world; 162 universities award 4,000 doctorates and 35,000 post-graduate degrees and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research runs 40 research laboratories which have made some significant achievements.
India has also made remarkable strides achieving 98 per cent indigenisation in launch vehicle technology and 60-70 per cent in satellite technology, according to Mr M Y S Prasad, Director, Sathish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR at Sriharikota.
Market Size
India ranks ninth globally in the number of scientific publications and 12th in the number of patents filed. The composite annual growth rate (CAGR) of Indian publications is around 12±1 per cent and India's global share has increased from 1.8 per cent in 2001 to 3.5 per cent in 2011. By 2020, the global share of publications must double and the number of papers in the top 1 per cent journals must quadruple from the current levels.
According to the Global Science Report of the UNESCO, India's current global ranking is commensurate with its number of full-time equivalent (FTE) of R&D personnel. It is imperative that the total number of FTE of R&D personnel will increase by at least 66 per cent of the present strength within the next five years.
Recent Developments
Some of the recent developments in Indian science and technology sector are:
The Department of Space/ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established an endowed fellowship at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology, California, USA
ISRO plans to launch the country's first navigation satellite - Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-1A (IRNSS-1A), on July 1, 2013
The ISRO Navigation Centre (INC), established at Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) complex at Byalalu, about 40 km from Bengaluru, was inaugurated by Mr V Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India
Tata Industries and Ramot at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have entered into a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) to fund and generate leading-edge technologies. The MoU will fund technologies in fields like engineering and exact sciences, environment and clean technology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare
Ahmedabad has launched a first-of-its-kind Heat Action Plan, making it the first city in South Asia to create a comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat events fueled by climate change
Karnal-based National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) has produced the world's second cloned male calf. The calf, named Swaran, was born through the new and advanced 'hand-guided cloning technique'
Koppert, a Dutch company specialising in biological crop protection, has partnered with Namdhari Fresh to develop crop protection solutions suitable to Indian conditions
Government Initiatives
"We need a new wave of investment from the private sector so that young people will be encouraged to seek a career in science," according to Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India.
Some of the major initiatives taken by the Government of India to further promote science and technology in the country:
Government of India plans to set up a dedicated Rs 5,000 crore (US$ 830.73 million) fund to boost scientific innovations that can improve the life of the common man
The Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NOW) have signed an agreement for a joint research programme between Indian and Dutch companies in the field of computer science
The governments of the United States of America (through the Department of State) and India (through the Department of Science & Technology) have established the United States - India Science & Technology Endowment Fund for promotion of joint activities that would lead to innovation and techno-preneurship through the application of science and technology
Under the Union Budget 2013-14, Rs 200 crore (US$ 33.22 million) is set apart to fund organisations that will scale up science and technology innovations and make these products available to the people
The Government has allocated Rs 6,275 crore (US$ 1.04 billion) to the Ministry of Science & Technology, Rs 5,615 crore (US$ 932.91 million) to the Department of Space and Rs 5,880 crore (US$ 976.93 million) to the Department of Atomic Energy in the Union Budget 2013-14
The Centre's allocation for the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Earth Sciences has been doubled for the 12th Plan period (2012-17), as per Mr S Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences
Road Ahead
The future of scientific research in India is very promising. India is the Promised Land of scientific and technology research. Advances in these two areas are having a significant impact in India's present and therefore, future. India is the primary source for many outsourcing companies for that reason. In addition, India has a large pool of professionals who are high skilled and a valuable asset to the country. India's government is a democracy that favors advances and research in the technological and scientific areas.
India is leading in many areas and evolving in others. Industrial research and development competitiveness must be encouraged more, as most of the effort goes into the field of space, defense, oceanography, and atomic energy. However, India is strong in software technology and computer science.
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