Administrative Hurdles in Indian Science: The Human Cost of Delayed Research Funding
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (S&T Policy, R&D); Social Development (Women in STEM); Indian Economy (Government Budgeting - Treasury Single Account system).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
General Studies Paper 3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; Indigenization of technology.
Key Highlights from the News
The article argues that delays in disbursing fellowships and funds in Indian research institutions are a major crisis.
The latest example is the Biocare programme of the Department of Biotechnology, where 75 selected women scientists have not received their salaries or official appointment letters for months.
The government attributes this delay to the transition to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system.
Scientific research is time-sensitive. Delayed funding negatively impacts experiments and, consequently, researchers' careers.
This issue disproportionately affects women scientists and researchers from marginalized communities, as they already face numerous systemic barriers.
For India to become a global scientific power, this administrative malaise in the research sector must end, and proper accountability must be ensured at the ministerial level.
Detailed Explanation: Key Concepts
Biocare Programme:
Full Name: Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation for Women Scientists.
Objective: This is a special scheme implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology to help unemployed or career-break women scientists return to research.
Treasury Single Account (TSA) System:
This is a Public Financial Management reform.
According to this, all government revenues and receipts are centralized into a single account (usually with the Central Bank). All payments are also made from this single account.
Objectives: To improve government cash management, enhance transparency, reduce government borrowing costs, and ensure efficient control and monitoring of funds.
Problem: The transition to this new system, when implemented without adequate preparation, leads to delays in beneficiaries receiving funds.
Challenges in India's Research Ecosystem:
Besides delayed funding, Indian researchers face several other problems: lack of laboratory facilities, bureaucratic hurdles in universities, complex application processes for grants, lack of clear guidelines, and insecure working conditions.
Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM):
Although the number of women in STEM fields is increasing in India, they face many obstacles in career progression (referred to as the "leaky pipeline").
Having to take career breaks due to family reasons is a major issue. Schemes like Biocare aim to address this problem..
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