. 21/10/2024 10:34 AM
Why in News?
The Nobel Prize season draws attention to India's limited representation in these prestigious awards. Since the inception of the Nobel Prize in 1901, only 12 individuals of Indian origin have been honored, with just five being Indian citizens. Dr. C.V. Raman remains the only Indian to have won a Nobel Prize in the science category, receiving the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Raman Effect. The 94-year gap since this achievement raises significant concerns regarding India's global recognition in scientific research.
Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee: An Indian-born American economist who, along with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer, won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics for developing an experimental approach to alleviate global poverty.
Limitations in Research
Inadequate Basic Research: There is a lack of emphasis on fundamental research, limiting innovation and groundbreaking discoveries.
Low Public Funding for R&D: India's investment in research and development (R&D) is approximately 0.7% of its GDP, much lower than that of countries like the United States (~3%) and even other BRICS nations.
Excessive Bureaucracy: The bureaucratic framework within India stifles creativity and slows down the research process.
Decay of University Research Capabilities: Many universities struggle to maintain high research standards, further limiting the potential for scientific breakthroughs.
Diminished Pool of Researchers: India has about five times fewer researchers per capita than the global average, reducing the probability of producing Nobel-worthy candidates.
Highly Selective Nobel Selection Process
While India has produced several notable scientists who were nominated for Nobel Prizes, many have been overlooked.
Among the publicly disclosed nominations, six Indian scientists stand out: Meghnad Saha, Homi Bhabha, SN Bose (Physics), GN Ramachandran, T Seshadri (Chemistry), and Upendranath Brahmachari (Medicine). Although they were nominated multiple times, none secured the award.
Additionally, some prominent scientists like Jagadish Chandra Bose (pioneered wireless communication) and KS Krishnan (co-discovered the Raman Effect) were entirely overlooked.
Western Dominance in Nobel Prizes
The majority of Nobel Prizes in sciences have been awarded to researchers from the US and Europe. Out of the 1,100+ laureates, only a small fraction hail from Asia, Africa, or South America, with Japan leading among non-Western nations.
Brain Drain
Many Indian-origin scientists, such as Hargovind Khorana, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, won Nobel Prizes in their respective fields but conducted their groundbreaking work abroad. These scientists were not Indian citizens at the time of their awards.
India's scientific community is relatively small, with only 260 scientists per million people compared to over 4,000 in the US and UK. Many promising scientists migrate abroad due to better infrastructure, higher salaries, and more career opportunities.
Science serves as the foundation for all technological progress. Everyday technologies like the mobile phone are made possible by numerous Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, such as the transistor (1956, Physics), laser technology (1964, Physics), integrated circuit (2000, Physics), and lithium-ion battery (2019, Chemistry). Each of these breakthroughs was instrumental in driving the modern revolution in consumer electronics.
Countries invest in science not because they are already developed but because such investments lead to development. India must take this lesson seriously to improve its scientific landscape and increase its chances of securing future Nobel Prizes.
Emphasize STEM Education
To foster groundbreaking research, India must redirect its focus from the current rush toward engineering careers to foundational scientific education.
Early identification and nurturing of scientific talent through scholarships, strong mentorship programs, and research opportunities will ensure the development of gifted young minds.
Reviving initiatives like the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) can encourage students to pursue careers in pure sciences. Programs such as INSPIRE could be scaled up to support long-term scientific innovation.
Address Brain Drain
To retain talent and reduce brain drain, India needs to improve research infrastructure, salaries, and career prospects. The recent removal of financial incentives for high-performing scientists is a misguided step, as science is a global field, and Indian researchers need to be competitive at the international level.
To attract and retain top talent, India could take cues from countries like China, which have provided significant incentives for scientists to stay and work within the country.
Increase Investment in Research
India must commit to higher funding for R&D from both the government and private sector. Current R&D spending is inadequate to fuel Nobel-level discoveries.
Establishing and supporting Centers of Excellence and building new world-class research institutions where cutting-edge research can thrive is essential.
Encourage International Collaborations
Many Nobel-winning discoveries are the result of interdisciplinary and international collaborations.
India should promote global partnerships by launching initiatives like a "1000 Scholar Programme" that facilitates young scientists' internships with top research groups and Nobel laureates worldwide.
Cultivate a Culture of Risk-Taking and Innovation
One of the main barriers to Nobel-level research in India is the preference for safe, incremental projects over high-risk, innovative research. This tendency is often driven by the need to secure funding and publish papers.
Reducing bureaucratic constraints and promoting a culture that encourages bold experimentation is vital for achieving transformative scientific breakthroughs.
Q.1. What is the Raman Effect?
The Raman Effect, discovered by Sir C.V. Raman in 1928, explains how light interacts with a material, causing some light to scatter in different directions and with varying energy levels. The effect occurs because the light's wavelength changes when deflected by molecules, leading to new insights into molecular composition. Sir Raman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for this discovery.
Q.2. What is the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY)?
KVPY was a scholarship program funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, aimed at encouraging students to pursue research careers in basic sciences. In 2022, the program was merged with INSPIRE, which also aims to nurture scientific talent.
Addressing the issues within India's scientific ecosystem, such as inadequate funding, brain drain, and the lack of a culture of risk-taking, is crucial to producing Nobel-worthy discoveries. By taking proactive measures, India can pave the way for its next generation of Nobel laureates, closing the 94-year gap since Dr. C.V. Raman's historic win.
