India's Scientific Output and Global Comparison
India aims to overtake the U.S. in scientific publications by 2029, but currently lags behind both China and the U.S. in quantity and quality.
India's share of scientific publications is significantly lower than countries like China, the U.S., and Israel.
India ranks poorly in quality indicators such as the CNCI (Citation Network Quality Index), with a value of 0.879 compared to 1.12 for China and 1.25 for the U.S.
Challenges in Scientific Research in India
India spends only 0.67% of its GDP on civilian research, far below other countries like Israel (6.3%) and South Korea (4.9%).
India's scientific contributions in prestigious journals are much smaller compared to China and the U.S., even among top institutions like the IITs.
Indian scientists rank lower in global lists, with fewer in the top 2% compared to countries like Germany and Japan.
Quality Issues in Indian Science
India’s research output is often criticized for its low quality, with many publications in fake or low-impact journals.
Unethical practices, such as paid publications and fraudulent research, have tarnished India's scientific reputation.
A significant portion of India’s research may be fake, with a large share of journals being misleading or lacking peer review.
Need for Reform and Investment
India’s science and technology sector needs major investments in training and research quality, similar to China's successful model.
The focus should shift from just increasing the number of publications to improving the quality and integrity of research.
Addressing ethical issues and boosting investment in education and research are crucial for India's scientific future.
COMMENTS