Science in India

SCIENCE IN INDIA
(2004 - 2013)
Decade of Achievements and

Rising Aspirations
2013
SCIENCE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE PRIME MINISTER
2013
SCIENCE ADVISORY COUNCIL
TO THE PRIME MINISTER
Department of Science & Technology,
New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110016.
FOREWORD
am happy to learn that the Science Advisory Council to the Prime
Minister is bringing out a volume Science in India (2004-13): Decade of

Achievements and Rising Aspirations to document the march of science
in the country during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance
Government. It is also a roadmap of where we stand today in our longterm quest for Indias place in world science, and what approach we need
to adopt to achieve our objectives in the best possible manner and in the
quickest possible time.
I must pay tribute to the stellar role played over the last nine years by the
Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister chaired by eminent scientist
Prof. C.N.R. Rao and comprising many luminaries of Indian science,
industry, academia and science administration. In this forum, they have
brought together much needed synergy in the way we think about science.
The nation has benefited immensely from their views and recommendations,
ranging from creation of new governance structures to serve specialized
disciplines of science and new educational institutions to focus on scientific
research and new incentive-related policies to make careers in science
attractive and promising. Many of these recommendations have been
successfully implemented, while others are being actively considered by
Government. The council has also identified specific challenges in scientific
and industrial domains that we need to address.
(i)
The Councils vision of the potential of science reflects and reinforces the Governments paramount
goals of inclusion and equity. I have always believed that science, above all, is a tool of socioeconomic empowerment. In the past nine years, it has been the consistent effort of my Government
to orient science to solve the age-old practical problems facing India, and to create an ecosystem
where science, technology and innovation reinforce each other to serve our developmental needs.
I am confident that science will play an even bigger role in Indias progress and prosperity in the
years to come.
New Delhi
25 May, 2013
PREFACE
The Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister has been functioning since
2004. During this period, the Council has accomplished many things and made a
variety of recommendations. Based on its recommendations, many institutions
have been created and new policies initiated by the Government. The 2004-2013
period has seen a great increase in the support for scientists in terms of new
fellowships and professorships. Funding for research has been improving
constantly and is likely to improve further in the next few years. 2004-2013 marks
an important period where there has been a positive increase in public funding of
R&D as well as in scientific output. Based on the gains made in the last few years,
there is every hope that we will do even better in the years to come, by creating a
conducive climate for higher quality scientific research and greater science-led
innovation. Subject to our maintaining a significantly positive slope in our support
to science, there is every reason to believe that India will emerge as a global
leader, and be amongst the top five countries in the world, if not amongst the top
three, in the next ten to fifteen years.
This volume is not meant to be a comprehensive report on our accomplishments
in all the various sectors of science and technology. What is intended is to present
the major recommendations of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
and happenings in science arising from the recommendations. This volume starts
with a vision document (Part 1), followed by a brief presentation of the
accomplishments and recommendations of the Science Advisory Council to the
(iii)
Prime Minister during 2004-2013 (Part 2). This part gives an idea of the way the
Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister has functioned in the last few
years. In Part 3 of this volume, challenges and opportunities in science and
technology are discussed along with an approach to an action plan. We do hope
that this volume will be found useful by scientists, planners, administrators and
all those interested in science in the country.
C. N. R. RAO
Chairman
Science Advisory Council
to the Prime Minister
SCIENCE IN INDIA
(2004-2013)
Decade of Achievements and Rising Aspirations

PART 1
India as a Global Leader in Science

(A vision document)
Pages 1 - 35
PART 2
Major Recommendations and Accomplishments

of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
(2004 - 2013)
Pages 37 - 96
PART 3
Challenges and opportunities in Science and Technology

(Approach to an Action Plan)
Pages 101 - 197
PART 1
(A Vision Document)
A Vision for India
n the next two decades, India is likely to become an
economically prosperous nation and move significantly

towards being a far more inclusive society, with the bulk of
its population gaining access to facilities for education and
health care and living a life with hope and security. To realize
such a vision, it is essential that science is at the heart of the
strategy that the next stage of national development
demands. In what follows, we present a vision for the growth
of Indian science that can help the strategy succeed, and a
road map for India to emerge simultaneously as a global
leader in science.
Part 1: India as a global leader in science
CONTENTS
A vision for India
India
Indiass Place in the World of Science Today
The gathering storm?
Our vast but unrealized potential
India
Indiass strengths
Indian basic science has spawned new technologies

- but not in India
Millimetre waves and J C Bose
Raman Scanners
Mathematics and technology
The new wave
11
Science at the core of national development
12
What science should we do?

Pressing problems of India
12
13
Water
gy
ater,, ener
energy
gy,, food
13
Science outside the science departments
15
India as a global leader: The way forward
17
Making India a global leader in Science
17
How to run the best schools in the world
19
How many scientists do we need?
20
A framework for higher education
22
The innovation eco-system
23
Investment in science
25
High-tech exports
26
Can NSERB be an engine of change?
28
The individual and the institution
29
A way to get good advice
31
Liberating science from bureaucracy
32
Epilogue
33
References
34
SCIENCE TODAY
s we near the end of the first decade

of this new century, there is a growing
perception around the world about the
emergence of India as one of the potential
global leaders in Science. (In this report, the
word science is used as a generic term that
includes mathematics, engineering,
technology, medicine, agriculture and other
related subjects.) The US National Academy
of Sciences (NAS) published an influential
report in 2005 titled Rising above the
gathering storm. The storm referred to in
this report is concerned with the emergence
of other global leaders such as China and
India in science, and the challenges that
such a development would pose to the
position of the US in the world of science
(Box 1). Interestingly, the US President has
spoken about young people in China and

India working round the clock hungry for
knowledge, and how jobs in Buffalo may be
lost to Bangalore and Beijing.
We should resist the temptation to get
carried away by the NAS report, since India
is yet to become a major force in global
science. The creation of new scientific and
technological knowledge is largely
concentrated in three areas of the world: the
US, Western Europe and the North-east
Asian hub (Japan, South Korea, China and
Taiwan), with a few peaks in Russia and
Australia (Graphic 1). India unfortunately
presents no comparable peaks.
Indias Place in the World of science today
INDIAS PLACE IN THE WORLD OF
2 India as a global leader in science
Box 1
The gathering storm?

Excerpts from the US National Academy of
Sciences report Rising Above the Gathering
Storm:
Economic studies conducted even before
the information-technology revolution have

shown that as much as 85% of measured
growth in US income per capita was due to
technological change.
of other nations whose economies are

growing.
[We] are worried about the future
prosperity of the United States. Great minds

and ideas exist throughout the world. We fear
the abruptness with which a lead in science
and technology can be lost and the difficulty
of recovering a lead once lost . . .
Thanks to globalization, driven by modern
The recommendations of the NAS Committee

focused on four issues: K-12 education,
research, higher education and economic
policy.
From a recent survey (Nature 2004)1 of

impact-making scientific publications, we
are 22 in global ranking below China,
South Korea and Poland. Indeed Indias
relative position in the world of science has
declined in the last twenty years. We
produce more science than before, but
several more ambitious countries like

China and S. Korea have outpaced us. The
fraction of GDP that is spent on R&D has
remained stagnant in India for two decades
now (Graphic 2), whereas the more dynamic
Asian countries have surpassed us in this
period.
communications and other advances, workers

in virtually every sector must now face
competitors who live just a mouse-click away
in Ireland, Finland, China, India, or dozens
India as a global leader in science 3
Graphic 1: The Geography of World Science2
Two-thirds of the national R&D

expenditure in India comes from the central
government, and a quarter from industry.
In contrast, it is almost the other way in S.
Korea: about 30% of its R & D budget (about
3 % of GNP), comes from the Korean
government which spends about the same
on R & D as the Indian government does
but all the rest of it comes from industry.
Indian industry is spending more on R & D
now than before in absolute terms, but less
relative to GNP (0.38% of GNP in 85-86,

0.2% currently). Except in sectors like
pharmaceuticals and drugs, our industry
does not appear to be making major
investments in or demands on Indian
science.
Yet, there are good reasons why Indias
presence in the world of science cannot be
ignored.
Global distribution of number of papers produced
Graphic 2: Gross domestic expenditure on R & D by area, 1996 - 2006

as a percentage of GDP3
Potential
The untapped scientific and technical knowledge available to India for the taking is
the economic equivalent of the untapped continent that was available to the US 150
years ago.
Milton Friedman, 1955 Report to the Union Finance Minister
Indias Strengths
Indias resources and strengths in science
are considerable, but the potential is still far
from realization. The rapid economic
growth of the last fifteen years makes it
feasible for the country to invest a great deal
more in science than it could earlier.
Contribution to Research & Development (R
& D) from private sources is on the increase
even though it still remains relatively small
(Graphic 3). We believe, therefore, that the
present time is a special one in the history
of Indias science as it offers an unusual
opportunity to move towards a new and
higher level than the one that we have
become used to for decades.
At the school-leaving level there is great

enthusiasm for science. A national science
survey4 has found that the most popular
subject among tenth standard students is
mathematics (with a vote of 35%). In the
international Olympiads, Indian students
have been in the same class as USA, South
Korea, China and Japan in terms of medals
won in mathematics5; in biology, they rank
above the US. However, as these bright
young minds begin choosing their careers
they prefer other options, chiefly because
they see science as offering fewer
opportunities.
OUR VAST BUT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL
Our Vast but Unrealized
Graphic 3: Growth in Indian science budget

R&D expenditure5
India has several natural advantages as

well. A major one is the youthfulness of
Indias population (Graphic 4), -which
currently has a median age of 25 years. The
number of Indians in the university-going
age group (between the ages of 17 to 21) is
currently about 9 crores (90 million), and
will be 10 crores or more in 2025: the
demographics will still be dominated by
youth (Graphic 4). Only 13% are enrolled
in higher education today. There is
therefore vast scope for expansion.
Indias strengths in original research in

basic science have been substantial. The
science, done in India, has often led to
striking new technologies, but these
technologies have generally been
developed elsewhere in the world. We
believe that this is a consequence of the
overall weakness of the innovation
ecosystem in India, as we shall discuss later
in this report.

Graphic 4: Age-wise population distribution6
Indian basic science has spawned new technologies

- but not in India
There is a fairly widespread perception that
basic science done in India is not relevant
for technology. The history of Indian science
shows that this perception is not true. As
elsewhere in the world, applications
sometimes follow discovery decades later.
Here are three examples
Millimetre waves and J C Bose

In 1895, Jagadish Chandra Bose used what
are today known as microwaves to ignite
gunpowder and ring a bell at some distance
without the aid of any mechanical or
electrical contact 7. This demonstration,
carried out with electro-magnetic radiation
of 5-25 mm wavelength in Kolkata, showed
for the first time that communication signals
could be sent through electromagnetic
waves (over distances of upto a mile at the
time), without the use of wires. In further
demonstrations at the Royal Institution in
London in 1897, Bose used waveguides,
horn antennas, dielectric lenses and
polarisers, and was the first in the world to
use a semiconductor crystal (galena) as a

detector of radio waves. In the years
following, attention was focused on long
distance transmission which demanded
using much longer electromagnetic waves,
but in the middle of the 20 th century
microwaves became very relevant, for
greater resolution rendered them central to
such important applications as radar. It is
the sort of microwave radiation that Bose
demonstrated in Kolkata more than a
hundred years ago that today drives the
almost ubiquitous mobile phone, which has
ushered in a communication revolution in
India among both rich and poor. Other
striking applications of millimetre waves
are satellite communications and remote
sensing. Data on the earths atmosphere
(e.g. humidity) are obtained by satellites
sensing microwave radiation in the 1-30
mm wavelength range. Millimetre wave
radars are used in short range applications
on automobiles and at airports. Why did all
these applications emerge in the West, not
in India?
Raman scanners
Mathematics and technology

The work of mathematical genius
Ramanujan is a striking example of how
basic research in such abstract branches of
mathematics as number theory can have,
many decades later, unexpected
consequences and applications in new
areas such as modern cryptography,
population dynamics and theoretical
physics. There are other examples (e.g.
control theory, mobile communications)
where basic research in mathematics done
in splendid isolation has turned out to be
C. V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in 1930

for the optical effect known after his name.
Using condensed sunlight (the most intense
source of illumination available to him at
the time), Raman discovered a new kind of
radiation, in which the scattered light had
a different frequency from that of the
illumination. Scattering changed the
colours, so to speak. And the scatterers could
be gases, vapours, liquids, crystals and
amorphous solids. It turns out that the
change in spectrum provides a unique
identity tag to any type of molecule: i.e.
gives it a finger-print. Raman foresaw
early that his discovery could have many
applications. But it is only some 70 years
after its discovery that Raman spectroscopy
is beginning to directly affect the common
mans life. This has become possible because
of several other recent developments in
technology: small, inexpensive and
powerful lasers, fast digital image
processing techniques developed for the
space and communication industries, and
surface-enhanced spectroscopy all these
have now combined to create a new Raman
technology. Raman scanners using this
technology have just reached the market
place. With a hand-held device weighing

less than 250g it is now possible to scan a
surface non-intrusively and in real time to
detect, to less than one part in a billion,
traces of a wide variety of molecules from
pathogens and drugs to explosive
chemicals. This technology appears set to
grow vigorously in the next decade in a
wide variety of fields from health care to
security to many others besides. So, the
question is how and when do we build the
ability to traverse the journey from the
Raman Effect to the Raman scanner in our
own country?
crucial in some new technology. With the

explosion of data and the advances in
genomics, it is now widely agreed that
newer areas of mathematics, in theoretical
computer science, statistical analysis,
information theory etc., need to be
developed, as more scientific discoveries
begin to be made through exploration of the
vast quantities of data that modern
technology provides us with. The paths of
knowledge application and knowledge
creation have clearly to combine to make
rapid strides in development.
Many such examples can be given from

other fields. What all of them show is that
the journey from idea to product is complex,
and demands science and technology
developed in a variety of other fields for
quite different applications, and a variety
of expertise all the way from science to
manufacture, financing and market
knowledge. As we argue elsewhere, it
demands a whole new ecosystem that
encourages innovation.
THE NEW WAVE
The 1991 reforms have just now begun to

touch the Indian science system. The
revision of salaries by the Government of
India in 2008 has been a significant step
forward. The new Indian Institutes of
Technology (IITs) established in recent
years, the new system of Indian Institutes
of Science Education and Research (IISERs),
new universities being established in the

country, new milestones in national megaprojects, the outstanding performance of a
small number of state universities and the
considerable growth in private wealth (in
some cases arising out of the innovative
initiatives taken by Indian industrialists
and businessmen), all these are changing
the scientific scenario in India dramatically.
These strides should presage a new wave of
investment and growth in Indian science
the only one of such magnitude after the
early initiatives taken by the government
led by Jawaharlal Nehru, in the late 40s and
the 50s.
THE NEW WAVE
Considering that Indias potential in science

and technology is immense, we believe that
a policy of vigorous pursuit of science in the
country can lead to rapid growth of the
kind that occurred in our GDP following the
economic reforms of 1991.
Science at the core of

national development
What science should we do?
Curiosity and quest for understanding have
driven human beings to discover many
wonderful things. As we have already seen,
it is virtually impossible to exactly predict
how todays basic research will eventually
improve our quality of life or to guess the
new technologies or markets that may
emerge. There is little doubt however, that
such improvements and industries will
eventually arise. The results of basic
research are prerequisites for many future
technological advances and societal
benefits.
At the heart of the initiatives proposed here
is the need to promote the pursuit of basic
science in the country. Without the anchor
of the strong foundation that basic research
can provide, and the new ideas that can lead
to future technologies that could be
generated in the laboratories of the country,
the vision of this document cannot be

achieved. Tomorrows technology often
depends on todays basic science as
exemplified earlier.
Innovative solutions will have to be
encouraged, by establishing the whole
ecosystem that is necessary for ideas that
germinate in research centres to reach the
market place. Indeed some of the work in
the basic sciences should be driven by
programs that the nation will have to
undertake to tackle the major problems that
the nation, and indeed the whole world, face
(Box 2).
Advances in basic science will not by
themselves make India a global knowledge
power. It will be essential to identify the real
causes behind our lack of progress in
attaining food security, energy
independence, efficient water management,
tackling climate change, providing
universal health care and a variety of other
areas, some of which are global in nature

(Box 2). From this point of view, it would be
essential to incorporate a strong scientific
component in education in socially
important areas such as agriculture,

medicine and veterinary science. We briefly
indicate the kind of challenges faced by us
in three areas, water, energy and food.
Box 2
Pressing problems of India

Equity and social justice
Mitigating effects of possible climate change
Universal access to education
Strengthening the innovation ecosystem
Energy independence
Skill development for better employment

opportunities
Health-care for all

Efficient water management
National security, internal and external
Food security
The pressing problems that we face need

complex, interdisciplinary solutions. None of
them is easily solved, but there is no way that
we will ever solve these problems without the
proper use of science.
Water, Energy, Food

Among the foremost of these is water - in
particular drinking water. Because of the
vagaries of the monsoon, the nature of the
hydrological cycle and the physiographical
and geological attributes of the country the

only replenishable water availability is
finite and subject to unpredictable
variability. Scientific analysis suggests that
Indias current water usage is already close
to annual availability, and that this could
lead to serious shortfalls over the next two
decades. Furthermore, the physical and
ecological integrity of Indias water
resource system is seriously jeopardized by
rapid industrial and population growth.
The time has come for India to formulate a
coherent unifying policy that combines

scientific knowledge with the need to ensure
equitable sharing of a vital resource among
all sections of society.
is for the common benefit of the people and

combines scientific analysis with
considerations of social justice8.
What are the principles that may govern

such a water policy? In the first place, it
must be realized that atmospheric water,
surface water, soil water and ground water
constitute a single interconnected resource.
Management of such an interconnected
resource is best achieved with drainage
basins and ground water basins as the basic
units. Resource integrity has to be preserved
for future generations. It is time to realize
that water use privilege cannot be granted
to any person or institution in perpetuity. It
is no longer possible for us to take water for
granted as an abundant renewable resource.
Yet, water is humankinds birthright - after
all, the minimum that the state should
provide every citizen is safe drinking water.
Energy shortage is a chronic and serious

problem in many parts of the country.
Uncertainties in the availability and pricing
of oil resources, increasingly serious
concerns with climate change, difficult
ecological and human displacement
problems with large dams, and a host of
other similar considerations have made it
essential for us to take a more integrated
view of energy, in order to be able to secure
it for our future. Our most abundant
domestically accessible source of energy
remains coal, but its use poses serious
problems associated with emissions. Here,
science and technology should be able to
offer practical solutions, provided
appropriate research and development
programmes are pursued.
Formulating a rational water policy for the

whole of the country is an enormously
complex task. Nevertheless it is essential
that effort be made that combines public
education at all levels with the best
scientific evidence and wide consultation
with all stakeholders. The only way forward
is to set up a water management system that
Energy at present is the core mandate of six

Ministries: Power, Petroleum and Natural
Gas, Coal, New and Renewable Energy,
Environment and Forests, and the
Department of Atomic Energy. A proper
policy is clearly necessary for us to develop
an appropriate energy economy that creates
an optimal mix of energy sources capable
of meeting the steeply increasing demands

in the country. We have to become more
involved in research in areas such as solar
energy and hydrogen energy to fully benefit
from the advances being made elsewhere,
and to add to them from our own efforts.
Even as we write this document, major new
developments are being reported in these
areas, and we should be pursuing relevant
R&D with vigour and purpose.
If we consider the science of combustion and
the need to enhance the efficiency of
automotive or aero-engines, or for that
matter the use of new fuels (such as biofuels) across the energy sector, so much can
be meaningfully attempted and
accomplished with the combined
knowledge available in the different
ministries. Much more has also to be done
to develop more knowledgeable human
resources in the energy sector.
Food security is associated with problems
of water and energy resources that we have
indicated above. Here again, science can
play a major role, as it already did in the
(first) green revolution. A second green
revolution is now needed. In spite of all the
controversies surrounding genetically
modified foods, the science of genetics is
bound to play a major role in these advances

- as indeed it has done in the past.
In all these problems concerning the
essentials of life - water, food, energy etc. further progress will depend on the best use
the country can make of evidence-based
science, but its effectiveness will also
depend on establishing new mechanisms of
consultation, mutual education and
dialogue among different disciplines as
amongst various stake holders. Devising
such mechanisms is essential if science is to
be harnessed for the next phase of national
development.
Science outside the science

departments
Promoting the use of science and technology
in various socio-economic sectors, outside
the departments of science is of prime
importance. With this objective, S & T
Advisory Committees (STACs) in the socioeconomic ministries were proposed to be set
up during the Seventh Plan period. As a
result, over the last two decades, 25 STACs
and an Inter-sectoral S & T Advisory
Committee with Secretary, DST as
Chairman have been established. The

performance of most of the STACs does not
present an edifying picture. It is understood
that about half the STACs have not met even
once during the last few years. It is not clear
if any major programmes or projects have
been taken to a stage where their impact has
been felt in the economic growth of the
concerned sector. However a few STACs
that had distinguished scientists as
Chairmen have yielded better results.
No coordination to achieve well-defined
objectives from the use of S&T in a given
economic sector appears to have been
attempted.
Currently the science and technology
components receive less than 1%, and in
several ministries less than 0.5%, of the
ministrys total allocation. The rate of
increase of allocation to S & T is significantly

lower than that of the total allocation to the
ministries. Given the authority of the
ministries, there is considerable room to
derive support from industry, in the public
as well as in the private sector, if
collaborative projects can be thoughtfully
crafted. Such measures can attract more
investment in S & T from industry.
The scientific advisory system in the socioeconomic ministries need to be restructured,
in particular also to exploit the potential
S&T strengths residing in national
laboratories in several areas of considerable
economic relevance.
A new mechanism must be evolved by the
Prime Minister and the Cabinet to ensure
that the STACs function smoothly and
effectively, and that science plays its role in
national development across different
sectors.
The Way Forward

Making India a global leader
in science
In order to begin to contribute significantly
to world science and to make an impact on
it, Indias contribution to global scientific
literature would have to rise to something
like 10% (from the present 2% or so) that
is a major increase in ten years. Similarly our
ownership of intellectual assets would also
have to show an increase from a little more
than 1900 filed by Indians and sealed in
2007 to about 20000 patents sealed per year
by 2020.
A mere increase in the number of
publications or of patents, however striking,
will not by itself make a great impact on
Indias position as a global leader. What is
needed in addition is that, first, the science
that is generated is of high quality, and
second, it also helps in tackling the

numerous problems of Indian society and
state, and indeed of mankind as a whole, as
already discussed. We must be able to afford
the opportunity for all Indians to lead a life
of dignity. These include such essentials as
food security, water resources, energy
independence, health care for all, a clean
environment, universal access to education.
The country should get to be known for its
excellence in science; in terms of metrics, the
number of Indian publications among the
top 1% of the most cited in the world would
have to be higher than 5%. Some of our
educational institutions should be amongst
the top 50 in the world. Indian science
products would have to be seen on the
highways and sea lanes, in the skies, at home
and everywhere in the global market place.
Indias natural advantage in knowledgebased industries must be fully exploited to
india as a global leader: the way forward
India as a Global Leader:
generate novel solutions for old as well as

new problems. To accomplish all this,
pursuit of excellence has to become a way
of life and only this can make us leaders in
science, technology and innovation.
How can we begin to move towards
achieving these goals? Given the young
India advantage, one major instrument
should be stronger science education at all
levels, from elementary schools to postgraduate institutes, including a system of
vocational training that can produce
excellent technicians. At the early levels of
education, the key to excellence in the
education system is the teacher as indeed
it has always been in history and as our
ancestors recognized all along (Box 3).
In technical education, a national or an
international council could be appointed to
restructure the present system and monitor
its progress.
We will have to give considerable attention
to provide massive continuing education
programmes for teachers. Summer and
winter schools (month or two long),
retraining something like 50000 teachers
each year over the next 5 years, are essential.
We need to give teachers a position of
honour in society one from which teachers
themselves encourage an open, creative
questioning attitude. This involves

permitting schools to adopt a wide variety
of systems to suit the diversity of Indias
population, while at the same time ensuring
quality defined in a broad sense rather
than as the mere ability to secure high
marks in scholastic tests. The administration
of the education system would have to take
on a totally different character, drawing on
all appropriate sources of funding and other
support for establishing more schools. At
the same time, given the inequities that have
unfortunately been inherent in Indian
society for far too long, a vast system of
financial support to those in need or those
who cannot afford appropriate education
for economic reasons although they have
the ability, will have to be created. The same
private sector that has set up or promoted
schools must be persuaded to support a vast
system of new pan-Indian networks of
assistance to the Indian young.
Similarly, in higher education, the vast
expansion the country needs (Box 4) can
only be achieved by public-private
partnerships. We must recall that major
investments in science education in the late
19th and the first half of the 20th century,
were the result of private initiative. We
should do everything to revive that spirit,
including large tax benefits to private
How to run the best schools in the world

The best school systems are not to be found in
the countries which have done a great deal of
research on education systems, nor in the ones
who pay teachers the highest salaries,
according to a report by McKinsey9 The bestperforming systems (as measured by the mean
score in mathematics on an international
assessment) are apparently in Finland, South
Korea and Japan. What is common about
them is that they have found ways to attract
the best teachers to the profession. In South
Korea, primary school teachers come from the
top 5% of the graduating class in the 4-year
undergraduate programmes undertaken in 12
selected universities. No more than the required
number of teachers is taken every year. In
countries like South Korea, Finland and
Singapore the teaching profession is
competitive, difficult to get into, and
prestigious. Teachers undergo special training
programmes every year. Failing pupils get
attention, through separate programmes
designed specifically for them.
No educational system can be better than the
teachers it manages to get. This simple
partners. It is equally important to take a

major initiative in technical education, with
special support for technology universities
that can bridge the gaps between science
and enterprise. Science must become an
principle seems to be common to all the highperforming countries. In India, where teaching
is unfortunately no longer a respected calling,
we need to experiment with new methods of
getting the best teachers into the profession and
recognizing them for the profound national
and societal value of teaching and forming
new generations of citizens. The school system
has to support all parts of the distribution
the high- and low-achieving tails and the midlevel groups. This needs a diversity in the
system, but a method of preparing and
rewarding the right teachers at each level
remains the key ingredient of a successful
system.
Space, communications and computer
technologies should be fully exploited to
provide best possible teaching across the
country. The knowledge TV channels now
running should be improved. Whatever else
we may do, we should not forget that a main
aim of our educational efforts should be to
inculcate scientific temper amongst children
and, indeed, all our citizens.
integral part of education in agriculture,

medicine, pharmaceuticals, veterinary
medicine etc., and in particular also in
technology.
Box 3

Box 4
How many scientists do we need?

In 2006-7, the total university enrollment in S&T
(including medicine and agriculture) was 36.6
lakhs. The out-turn in 2003 was 6.1 lakhs, of
which 82.6% took the first degree, 16.3% postgraduate degrees, and only 1.1% obtained a PhD.
India graduated 8420 PhDs in science in the year
2005-06 10.
In the age group 17-21 years, the number enrolled
in higher education in 2006-7 was about 1.1
crore, i.e. approximately 13%. Of these, S&T
account for about a third say 4 to 5 %. In 2025,
the 17-21 year group will number around 9.8
crores. If we should plan for about twice the
present ratio and require that 25% of them
should be enrolled in higher education, we will
have to cater to about 2.5 crore nearly 2 times
the present number. This means a student body
in S&T of nearly a crore, against the present
number of about 37 lakhs. These are probably
conservative estimates.
At higher educational levels, the numbers would
have to increase a great deal more if India has to
be competitive. In 2005-06, India produced about
1000 PhDs in engineering and technology,
whereas the US and China were already
producing about eight times as many in 200405. We should plan for a huge increase by 2030;
even ten times would barely match Chinas
current output. This shows the enormous
magnitude of the problem. In areas such as
computer science, the situation is serious, with
only 25 or so Ph.Ds being produced per year in
India.
During 2004-06, India produced one research

scientist for every 7100 people; China 1 in 1080,
S. Korea 1 in 240, Sweden 1 in 163.
Another way of looking at the problem is to plan
for world-class education in all of S&T for 20% of
the university-age Indians i.e. to about 2 crores
in 2025; If 10% of these went on to post-graduate
work to embark on research (Masters + PhD
say over 4 years) we would have 20 lakhs of
which about 5 lakhs will graduate each year, say
a tenth of these with a PhD (50000
approximately). At current ratios, about 35000
will be in natural science, and 5000 will be in
engineering and technology.
No matter how we look at the numbers, if India
has ambitions of becoming a leading global force
in science, a massive increase in S&T education
will be necessary both in quality and quantity.
We should expect the number of scientists to
increase at least at the following rates by 2025:
Graduate scientists: 15 lakhs per year
Post-graduate scientists: 3 lakhs per year
PhDs: 30,000 per year
The large S & T manpower in India will not only
support our national efforts but will also be able
to assist the aging world elsewhere, making India
a leading knowledge provider through its human
resources.
It would indeed be advisable for a group of wise persons
to examine the education scenario and manpower
requirements of 2025.
scientists now working abroad will want to

return and join in the exciting project of
building a new India.
As much of the rest of the world grays into
a predominantly older demographic profile
India will only show a middle-aged bulge
even in 2050, and will continue to possess a
considerable human advantage.
Another advantage that India has is that it
is today the most cost-effective source of
internationally accepted R&D in the world.
Roughly speaking, India spends only %
of what the world does on science, but
produces 2-2 % of global scientific
literature (Table1).
Table1: Some S&T indicators for Select Countries11

Country
Total no. of
High-impact
publications
publications
(2006),
% (change)
(change over 1997)
GDP,
$ T(2003)
Investment
R&D,
%GPD
Investment
R&D, $B
$ M/
publication
USA
451 028
(+18%)
63%
(-4%)
10.9
2.68%
292.0
0.65
UK
~122 000
12.8%
(+25%)
1.79
1.89%
33.8
0.28
China
78 671
(+358%)
0.99%
(+125%)
1.42
1.31%
18.6
0.24
(+290%)
0.78%
(+178%)
0.61
2.64%
16.1
0.60
26 963
(+60%)
0.54%
(+69%)
0.60
0.77%
4.6
0.17
South
Korea
India
PhDs
E&T
per
year
8000
9000
700
It is not a question of numbers alone. We

need to pick the best talent for science. This
should be possible with the large untapped
talent especially in rural India. Every effort
should be made to attract young people in
schools and colleges to science by taking
various types of initiatives including setting
up a large number of fully funded
residential schools and colleges in Indias
interior. We should also use the talent of
Indians settled elsewhere for various
national endeavours and provide suitable
opportunities for talented persons from
other countries to work here. We should
strive to make a scientific environment in
India that is so attractive that many Indian
Our total production of world R&D is small,

but its cost-effectiveness is unsurpassed.
Furthermore, public sector science in India,
wherever it has been successful, confirms
this advantage. For example, in comparison
with that of the other major space powers,
India has been described as running its
prolific programme on a shoestring
budget as Aviation Week and Space
Technology has commented.
Although India is not yet a major source of
innovation in the world, many Indian
scientists (often working abroad) have
shown that the innovative spirit is
widespread among Indians. In a recent poll
taken by Zogby International in the US 28%
of 3000 respondents voted that the next Bill
Gates will come from India: only the US (at
29%) had a better chance12. What India lacks
is not the innovative spirit, but an effective
innovation eco-system.
A framework for
higher education
There have been numerous studies of the
Indian higher education system, and several
proposals have been and continue to be
made to improve its performance.
Successive Prime Ministers (beginning with
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru) have often

remarked on the bureaucracy and political
interference that characterize the system.
As the problem has persisted in spite of all
this attention, some radical ideas have to be
considered. The following proposals are
made, in the light of the Governments
intention of establishing several world-class
universities. As the present system is by
common consent inimical to the success of
such a project, a new framework has to be
devised. Here are some criteria that would
define a new framework.
Seek dynamic leadership at the top and
provide real autonomy with minimal

bureaucracy.
Get the best faculty and establish the best
facilities
Establish a proper faculty promotion policy.

Keep out political interference
Welcome private investment and support
from private wealth.
Assemble a diverse student body
balancing excellence and inclusion.
Combine undergraduate teaching and
world-class research
technology, humanities
Inculcate national pride amongst pupils

Build campuses with character and
suitable traditions.
Keep student numbers manageable

Offer integrated 4+1 year BS/BA + MS/
MA programmes with a flexible package

of courses
Match supply and demand
The innovation eco-system

In a world of rapidly-advancing and everchanging technology, innovation is a key
driver of science, technology and indeed
of economic advance. Innovation is not just
about patents and new products, though
these are important outcomes of innovation.
It is equally about new ideas, services, and
even business models. Social networking
sites like the Facebook are examples of new
services based on technology, while Google
represents an innovative business model
(where the user does not pay for service).
India has been active in innovation of
certain kinds. Its IT industry created a new
and disruptive business model through its
on-site plus off-shore structure, which

resulted in unprecedented growth and
success. The Tata Nano represents a
combination of innovative design and
engineering, while nano in a different sphere
shampoo and other sachets has created
a new business model serving what has been
called the bottom of the pyramid. This has
been emulated in such vital areas as health.
Grass-roots innovation thrives, as
documented by the National Innovation
Foundation. However, much of our
innovation has been incremental and has
focused on jugaad, best characterized as
improvisation rather than true or radical
innovation. Inventions, break-throughs and
large value-addition are rare.
The potential for innovation is extremely
high since diversity and adversity, both
crucial to innovation, are characteristic
features of the Indian scene. The first
permits, even encourages, out-of-box
thinking, while the latter throws up day-today problems that can be overcome only by
creative solutions. Our investments in
higher education and R&D facilities should
provide the wherewithal to facilitate
innovation. In recognition of Indias
capabilities, a large number of MNCs have
set up R&D centres in India. Yet India has
Balance educational efforts in science,
not become a leader in innovation. (It is

worrisome that 9 out of the top 10 entities
receiving Indian patents are of foreign
origin) What seems to be lacking is the
overall eco-system that can translate the
undoubted Indian potential into reality. The
main elements of such an eco-system would
include the following:
Venture funding: While there is now
funding available for commercial scalingup of successful proof-of-concepts or pilots,

there is yet a problem with regard to seed
or angel funding that is willing to take
risks on ideas. At this stage, failure rates are
necessarily high and in many countries such
funding is often provided directly or
indirectly by government (Israel is a striking
example). However, in the case of
government involvement, there must be
high failure-tolerance: conventional
auditing, that tries to fix accountability for
unsuccessful investments, will not do, as
some failures are an integral part of
innovation. A separate, large fund (of the
order of Rs. 1000 crore/year) must be set up
and administered autonomously possibly
through a public-private Board, or as a notfor-profit company that invests in
innovative start-up ventures.
Tax incentives: Given high failure rates,
there must be some tax write-off and other

incentives to encourage angel investing,
linked to the crucial element of mentoring.
Greater funding for new ideas and
innovation in government-funded R&D

organizations, academic institutions and
universities, and a willingness to risk failure:
Such funding could be separately provided
(as extra-budgetary grants) through the
fund mentioned earlier.
Less bureaucratic controls in government-
funded R&D organizations: This is a big

impediment
to
free
thinking,
experimentation and innovation.
Encouragement: Through both sabbatical
leave and other schemes and appropriate

funding, scientists and technologists should
be encouraged to realize and monetize their
ideas through commercial ventures.
Changes in education curricula to encourage
creative thinking and innovation (as

opposed to rote learning): Since a great deal
of innovation takes place through crossfertilization of ideas, we need to encourage
trans-disciplinary centres and give freedom
A fund (either as part of the one suggested
earlier or separately) to promote social

innovations: Ideas or ventures that may not
be commercially profitable but have high
social returns will have to be supported.
Encouraging tie-ups between academia,
R&D laboratories and commercial ventures:

This, as proven elsewhere in the world, is
an excellent combination for promoting
innovation and taking it to market quickly.
Strengthening the intellectual property laws
and their enforcement: While there are

strong arguments for putting certain kinds
of developments in the public sphere, there
is also need to enforce IP laws, so as to
encourage investments in and development
of new products and processes.
economic growth and strength. Fortunately

the country has great potential to be truly
innovative. Demography, democracy and
diversity give us a unique advantage. If we
can create the right ambience through an
appropriate eco-system, we can reap the
benefits of these advantages.
Finally, the investment in science that began
some sixty years ago has left the country
with a broad infrastructure going all the
way from a few excellent academic
institutions to fine research laboratories
and effective technology delivery systems.
This infrastructure has many weaknesses,
but with the growing economic strength of
the country a rapid build up has become
feasible.
Investment in science
A special package for a Small Business
Science budgets of the Government have

been steadily increasing, although as a
fraction of GNP they have remained more
or less stagnant in the last ten years (See
Graphic 2).
India needs innovation to tackle the diverse

problems confronting it, including the one
for converting our knowledge-assets to
The State Governments do not invest much

money on science either. Only in some
special sectors such as pharma have
significant budgets been set apart for R&D
Initiative that will promote the

establishment of and provide support for
small R &D intensive firms.
to students to take various combinations of

courses (as against the present straitjacketing).
by industry. India is still a small player in

high technology exports (Box 5), and the
new wave in science that we advocate here
would not be sustainable unless the
demands made by not only the science
sector itself but also by industry and
commerce for scientist-personnel show
significant increase. In recent years the
nature of exports from India has been
changing, and high-tech products are
beginning to show a rise although the total
still remains small. But there is promise that
this can increase a great deal more. For
example the Indian automobile industry

surpassed the performance of China last
year; the main force that drove this
development was the higher skill levels of
the Indian industrial work force13. Indian
satellites continue to be 25-30% less
expensive than those launched from
western nations. With appropriate
incentives for innovation and high
technology exports, Indian industry will be
well set to grow in internationally
competitive sectors.
Box5
High-tech exports
The European Unions definition of high
technology includes nine sectors: aerospace,
computers and office machines, electronics
and telecommunications, pharmacy,
scientific instruments, selected electrical
machinery, selected chemicals, selected nonelectrical machinery and armaments. Over
the period 1995 to 2006 Indias high tech
trade increased more than four fold (from
US $ 1.0 B to 4.5 B), but over the same period
Brazils went up by 8 times and Chinas 25
times (to about US $ 300 B).
High-tech trade accounted for only 0.49%

of Indias GNP in 2006, and for 0.23% of
global high-tech trade. Indias imports of
high tech goods increased form $ 2.6 B in
1995 to $ 23 B in 2006 still only 1.2% of
global imports. These figures are
disproportionately low (the lowest in the
BRIC countries), and explain the generally
low demand for science in Indian industry:
we are still largely a low-tech trading
nation14.
To make sustainable growth in science

possible, it is necessary that it is perceived
as a national goal, cutting across the various
ministries of the Government of India, the
public and private sector industry,
educational institutions, national research
laboratories and the growing private
initiatives in R&D. This will need to be
signalled through a variety of actions. First
of all, the investment of the Union
Government in science must begin to show
a significant increase as a percentage of
GNP, rising to at least 2.5% by 2020. States
should also invest more in science as well
as higher education and support their own
universities adequately.
A special economic package must be put
together for the promotion of high-tech
industry in India and its exports (just as in
the IT sector). Educational and research
institutions in the country would have to go

more global and make special schemes for
exchange of scientists at various levels with
selected partner nations or institutions
across the globe. In particular, we suggest a
major initiative that makes international
collaboration both ways easier. It is
necessary to devise special schemes for
post-doctoral fellows and other
professionals, both Indian and foreign, that
make it attractive to work here. It should
be noted that post-doctoral fellows have
been largely responsible for the greater
productivity in top class science in the
advanced nations of the world; in India, a
recent initiative makes post-doctoral
fellowships more attractive, but a great deal
more needs to be done. A scheme that will
make it possible for increasing numbers of
young foreign scientific workers to conduct
collaborative research with Indian
colleagues in our own laboratories can be a
major step forward in enhancing the quality
of communication and cooperation
between the scientific communities of India
and other countries of the world.
In such cases, government schemes must

provide the full funding where necessary
(for example in energy research and
development, with specific goals over a
5-10 year period). Formulation of economic
policies that reward competitive
knowledge-intensive industries should
receive high priority.
Can NSERB be an engine of

change?
The recently established National Science
and Engineering Research Board (NSERB),
which is the Indian counterpart of the U.S.
National Science Foundation, can act as an
engine driving some of the changes. The
Board should constantly monitor the state
of health of Indian science, and take action
on its own initiative to promote the growth
of science and to realize the vision that this
document sets out. It will be necessary to
see that all serious scientists in India get
adequate support for their professional
work. It is also necessary that NSERB takes
the initiative in putting together mega-
projects or mounting grand challenges that

will bring together scientists and their
institutions from across the country, and
perhaps the rest of the world, in achieving
these objectives. One mechanism that might
be particularly useful is to set apart funding
for projects executed by teams of scientists
cutting across disciplines and institutions,
assembled together by enterprising
scientists in the country. NSERB could also
create new types of fellowships and
professorships to support and encourage
outstanding scientists of all age groups.
INSTITUTION
The growth of modern science and

technology in India owes a great deal to
visionary individuals who went on to build
great institutions. Beginning with the Indian
Association for the Cultivation of Science
set up in 1876 by a well-known physician
of Calcutta, Dr. Mahendra Lal Sircar, the
Indian Institute of Science established in
1909 by the vision of the great industrialist
Jamsetji Tata, and the Banaras Hindu
University in 1916 by Pt. Madan Mohan
Malaviya, private initiative played a key
role in reviving Indian science at a time
when the national scene looked extremely
bleak. Sir M.Visvesvaraya was the greatest
national champion of modern Indian
industry in the first half of the 20th century.
Many of these pioneers encouraged public-
private partnerships, of which the most

striking example was the Indian Institute of
Science, which came up by a three-party
agreement between the House of Tatas, the
Maharaja of Mysore and the British
government. The Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research has had similar
origins, and was the result of the shared
vision of H. J. Bhabha and J. R. D. Tata.
There are numerous less well-known
examples in the form of professional colleges
built by successful local professionals or
princes. In 1942, Indian private enterprise
came forward to fund the Board of Scientific
and Industrial Research when the British
Indian government cut budgets because of
the War 15.
the individual and the institution
THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE
the individual and the institution
Has this private passion for the growth of

Indian science waned in the last sixty years?
Since the economic reforms of 1991, private
wealth in India has soared, but it is
generally conspicuous by its absence on
Indian campuses barring professional
undergraduate courses. Indian business is
now more entrepreneurial than ever. It has
built the most competitive automotive and
software businesses in the world, created the
largest telecommunication market in the
world, and a vigorous pharmaceutical
industry. It also has the worlds largest
petroleum refinery. An Indian-born
businessman has brought into being the
largest steel-making entity in the world. The
public sector has remarkable examples as
well: one of the most cost-effective space
programmes, and a science base that is the
source of world-level R&D for most major
multinational companies. The spectacular
growth of private engineering and medical

colleges, the former producing more than
10 times the graduates that government
institutions do, indicate the potential of
private enterprise in education.
Is post-reform private wealth allergic to
major investments and initiatives in
education? Does the present educational
system, dominated by the Government
since 1947, discourage bold new individual
initiatives through over-regulation? Are
there sufficient domestic incentives for such
public-spirited initiatives? Is the United
States doing better in inviting Indian wealth
to their campuses than we are able to do
ourselves here in India? These are
important issues that need to be debated.
We need to understand why private wealth
has turned away from supporting
excellence in higher education.
A Way to GET GOOD ADVICE
academies of science to present accurate

accounts of the state of the art. It is worth
considering whether this objective could be
better achieved through a council such as
the Science Advisory Council to the Prime
Minister or by the constitution of a National
S&T Council (NSTC), on the lines of the US
National Research Council. NSTC would
comprise all the major academies of science,
engineering, agriculture and medicine,
heads of science agencies and eminent
scientists in their individual capacity. Such
a council will be assigned the responsibility
for major scientific assessments by
commissioning reports through welldefined contracts and for advising the
government on relative priorities in S&T
and associated investments.
A WAY to get GOOD advice
Many problems today, typified by climate

change, genetically modified foods and
water resources management, to mention
only a few, touch the daily lives of all
Indians directly. The problems raised here
are complex. They have widespread social
and economic impact, and often become
subjects of intense political debate. While
science must continue to seek advances on
the basis of its own internal drives and
judgements, a serious problem will remain
in communicating the conclusions of
science, simply and accurately, to the public
at large. This requires a special effort. On
controversial scientific issues (for example,
genetically modified foods and climate
change), the Government should make a
serious effort to get the most unbiased and
accurate advice possible by calling on the
liberating science from bureaucracy
LIBERATING SCIENCE FROM

BUREAUCRACY
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated in

the recent science congress session that it is
high time that we liberate science from
bureaucracy. How true! Practice of science
in India has been severely hampered by
oppressive bureaucratic practices and
inflexible administrative and financial
controls. One of the necessary conditions for
progress in science is the elimination or
minimization of bureaucracy. This is
required in the central government and even
more so in the state governments.
In addition to eliminating bureaucracy, it
is important that we restructure many of
our organizations and institutions so that
they are able to create the right atmosphere
to pursue research and higher education
more effectively. Restructuring is specially
essential in the state university system and
its educational institutions, where there is
need for much better methods of appointing

vice-chancellors, greater autonomy, major
changes in the examination system,
procedures for admission, recruitment and
promotion
of
faculty,
research
administration and, in fact, a total
transformation of the academic
environment. We suggest that the
Government
appoint
a
Science
Administrative Reforms Commission,
comprising largely of scientists, to propose
a new administrative system for
universities, national laboratories and the
science departments and agencies.
When asked about how to build a great
institution, James Conant of Harvard
University said the following: Get the best
minds and leave them alone. There is a
lesson for all of us in this statement.
EPILOGUE
epilogue
What has been projected here has to be accomplished within a short period, if
India has to truly find a place in the sun; we cannot afford to lose time. The nation
is demanding accelerated, inclusive growth and world class governance. Indian
science is today in a position to help in this endeavour. India has to become a
leader in the scientific world, and a knowledge provider for the world. For this to
happen, it is essential that science gets an important position in our way of thinking.
Pursuit of excellence and elimination of mediocrity should become guiding
principles in all our endeavours. Policy makers, administrators, and politicians
as well as the general public have to view science as an essential agent of
transformation. There is much to be done by individual scientists, scientific
institutions, academies, universities and the society at large. One hopes that the
entire nation will rise to the occasion.
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
1.
D. King 2004 Nature 430; 311-316.
2.
C Wagner 2008 The New Invisible College , Brookings Institution, Washington DC

(Graphic reproduced by permission of author)
3.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Science, Technology and
Industry Outlook 2008
4.
NCAER 2005 India Science Report
5.
NISTADS-CSIR 2009 India: Science and Technology 2008
6.
U.S. Census Bureau, International data base
7.
D T Emerson 1997 IEEE-Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 45:2267-73;

D R Vizard 2006 Microwave Journal 49(7):22-34.
8.
T N Narasimhan, V K Gaur 2010 Economic & Political Weekly, XLV:20-23; also NIAS Report
R4-09, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
9.
Summarized by The Economist, 18 October 2009.
10.
DST 2009 Research and Development Statistics 2007-08; NISTADS-CSIR 2009 India: Science and
Technology 2008.
11.
R. Narasimha 2008 Technology in Society, 30:330-338
12.
Manufacturing and Technology News, 16 June, 2009.
13.
Sunday Times of India, 15 August 2010
14.
World Bank data in India Science & Technology 2008, NISTADS-CSIR 2009
15.
N. R. Rajagopal et al, 1991 CSIR Saga, CSIR, New Delhi.
The key to national prosperity, apart from the spirit of the people, lies in
the modern age, in the effective combination of three factors, technology,
raw materials and capital, of which the first is perhaps the most important,
since the creation and adoption of new scientific techniques can, in fact,
make up for a deficiency in natural resources, and reduce the demands on
capital. But technology can only grow out of the study of science and its
applications.
The dominating feature of the contemporary world is the intense cultivation
of science on a large scale, and its application to meet a countrys
requirements. It is this, which, for the first time in mans history, has given
to the common man in countries advanced in science, a standard of living
and social and cultural amenities, which were once confined to a very small
privileged minority of the population. Science has led to the growth and
diffusion of culture to an extent never possible before. It has not only
radically altered mans material environment, but, what is of still deeper
significance, it has provided new tools of thought and has extended mans
mental horizon. It has thus influenced even the basic values of life, and
given to civilization a new vitality and a new dynamism.
From the Scientific Policy Resolution (1958)
PART 2
Part 2: Major Recommendations and Accomplishments

(2004-2013)
CONTENTS
1 New Institutions and S
tructures
Structures
41
2 Promotion and Support for Education, Research and Outreach
63
3 New Fellowships and Professorships
74
4 New Policy Frameworks and Initiatives, Societal Issues & Missions
75
5 Matters related to Industry
93
Major Recommendations & Accomplishments of the SAC-PM (2004 - 2013)
41
1.1 Establishing the MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES and EARTH COMMISSION,

Government of India.
(Appendix 1.1)
1.2 Establishing of the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND
RESEARCH under the Ministry of Health, Government of India.
1.3 Setting up the new research funding agency, NATIONAL SCIENCE &
ENGINEERING RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NSERF) to be responsible for all
aspects of funding research to major research projects including those related to
the frontiers of science as well as pressing problems of mankind. (NSERF was
subsequently renamed NSERB)
(Appendix 1.2)
1.4 Establishing five new INDIAN INSTITUTES OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AND
RESEARCH to promote high quality science education in an atmosphere of
research.
(Appendix 1.3)
New institutions & structures
1 New institutions and structures
42
1.5 IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES recommended by the Scientific

Advisory Council in LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, all of which
have been established:
National Biotechnology Regulatory Board
Institute of Animal Biotechnology
Regional Centre of Biotechnology in collaboration with UNESCO, Hyderabad
Translational Health Science Technology Institute
National Institute of Agriculture Biotechnology, Mohali
National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Calcutta
Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine
(See Part 3 for some details related to Bio-medical Sciences)
1.6 Recommendation on the crucial importance of having periodic external review
of institutions dealing with scientific research and higher education.
43
Appendix 1.1
A restructuring of the national effort in meteorology, ocean development and

allied sciences in India
Background
The ability to forecast the monsoons on
scales varying from days to the whole season
or even longer remains one of the most
important problems facing the country
today. Monsoon failures, such as the ones
the country experienced in 2004 and 2002,
affect the Indian economy adversely and
cause great distress to the large numbers of
people who become victims of droughts or
floods. In addition India keeps facing major
natural disasters almost every year. As
examples we may cite the tsunami of 26
December 2004 which resulted in the loss of
nearly 11,000 lives (no good estimate of the
cost of the total damages is available yet),
the Bhuj earthquake of 26 January 2001
which resulted in the loss of about 20,000
lives and damage to property estimated at
Rs. 50,000 crores, and the Orissa supercyclone of 1999 which resulted in a loss of
8,765 lives and damages evaluated at
approximately Rs. 5,400 crores. From these
figures it is clear that improvements in our

ability to make better forecasts of some of
these events and to save lives and reduce
damage to property would be highly
worthwhile objectives, if only in the sense
that they would quickly pay for themselves.
It was therefore significant that at the Science
Congress held in January 2005 the
Prime Minister pointed out that we need
better understanding of natural phenomena
that led to such [natural] disasters [as the
recent tsunami] and of human activities that
aggravated them.
From many points of view our ancient land
has still not been observed or analyzed in
sufficient scientific detail to enable us to
appreciate it in all its extraordinary diversity,
or to utilize its vast resources in
environmentally sound and humane ways.
THE EARTH COMMISSION
44
One characteristic feature of the science that

would enable us to do better on these
problems is that it now demands a far more
well-integrated view. For example the recent
tsunami was triggered by an earthquake, a
seismological (geophysical) phenomenon,
which occurred thousands of kilometres
away and had to traverse the Indian Ocean
before it hit our coasts. It is clear that to be
able to provide adequate warning of such
events seismological and oceanic sciences
would have to work closely together.
Similarly the rainfall that India receives
every year is affected by such parameters as
the EI Nino, which starts with a warming in
the east Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean
dipole and other parameters connected with
the dynamics of the equatorial Indian Ocean,
making it clear that ocean and atmosphere
interact very strongly to determine the
weather and climate of this country. Snow
cover, volcanic eruptions and other landrelated parameters also affect Indian
weather.
Similarly the major problem of climate
change is global in scale and is strongly
affected by, and will in turn affect, a great
variety of parameters including vegetation,
land use practices, ocean processes, snow
cover etc. demanding a knowledge of not
only land, ocean and geosystems but also the

biosphere of the earth. The need to take an
integrated view of these systems is forced
on us by the nature of the phenomena. It is
for this reason that in recent years an
integrated discipline called Earth System
Science has emerged across the world. It is
essential for India to realize that the nature
of the problem we face can be tackled only
by looking at the earth as one whole system.
The basic idea behind the present proposal
is in fact to set out the necessity for taking
such a view and to offer solutions that will
enable us to tackle the novel problems that
are being faced in the 21st century.
Earth system science is a field in which
fundamental scientific problems still remain
(whether it is forecasting monsoons or
earthquakes, cyclone tracks or ocean state).
Complete success in making satisfactory
forecasts of these phenomena cannot
therefore be guaranteed. Nevertheless
considerable improvements - in modelling,
observation systems, information generation
and dissemination, and decision support for
farmers in particular and for all citizens of
the country in general, seem entirely feasible.
To be able to achieve such improvements,
however, the current Indian scientific effort
in earth system science needs far greater
45
can be saved even if property loss cannot be

entirely avoided. It is well known for
example that loss of lives due to cyclones is
much less in Andhra Pradesh than in Orissa,
because of a well-planned system of cyclone
shelters in the former.
It was said at the Legacy of MONEX

Conference held in Delhi in February 2005
that India is 10 years behind in atmospheric
modelling, and has only a 100th of computing
power available in other major world
centres. There may be room for some
disagreement on this assessment, and it is
clear that the many initiatives that DST is
taking in modelling and in new
observational programmes may narrow the
gap. However it is a fact that as of today we
have in India no atmosphere-ocean coupled
models, no super-ensemble forecasting, no
high resolution global model, few regional
climate change studies, and only one code
written entirely in the country with some
new physics.
We must further appreciate the fact that the

21st century is likely to be dominated by
issues concerning water, global climate
change, the environment, land use, ocean
resources etc. There has already been much
discussion on the possibility of water wars
in the not too distant future. In India
drinking water for all still remains a bit of a
dream. These issues will become very
important in national and global politics, and
for India to be able to influence events to
defend its national interests it will be
essential to be globally competitive in the
associated sciences. The different political
stances on climate change, in Europe, the
United States and the developing countries
is only one mild fore-runner of the far more
acrimonious confrontations that are likely to
take place in coming decades.
It must also be clearly understood that

disaster management is not solely a problem
of prediction. With good warning systems,
better science and technology support,
quicker communication and a wellprepared administration and public, lives
It is for this reason that the need for taking

an integrated view of earth system science,
i.e. land-ocean-atmosphere problems, is
becoming increasingly recognized across the
intellectual, technological and financial

support, and leadership that will integrate
the efforts in what have traditionally been
considered separate scientific disciplines and
have
therefore
become
divided
responsibilities in the Government.
46
world. Thus the United States has already.

integrated its efforts in ocean and
atmosphere research and services through
NOAA (National Ocean and Atmosphere
Administration). Research centres for
atmosphere, ocean and land studies are
proliferating across the world. Japan has
built the most powerful computer in the
world today in order to be able to simulate
the earth system. A strong interdisciplinary
effort in global climate change is essential to
be able to tackle the associated problems, as
has become clear from the sustained effort
of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate
Change during the last decade or more.
Current position in India
Furthermore
international
multidisciplinary programmes are multiplying;
we may cite in particular the International
Year of Planet Earth, involving several
international scientific unions across
disciplines, to be implemented globally. The
international
geosphere-biosphere
programme and the numerous groups
studying climate at regional and global
levels are examples of international
initiatives where a coordinated effort in
India would be required to make our
presence felt and ensure that our interests
are protected.
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
The Indian effort in earth system science

today is fragmented among
India Meteorological Department (IMD/
DST, includes seismology)
Department of Ocean Development
(DOD)
Research Institutes (CSIR, IITM ... ) and
academia (IISc, IITs)
Department of Environment and Forests
(DEF)
To the above list of institutions should

perhaps be added the Geodetic and Research
Branch of Survey of India. There are several
capable skilled groups in all these
institutions, but a tightly coordinated
programme among the different agencies is
essential for further progress.
Many of the older institutions among those
listed above, including IMD, GSI and the
Geodetic and Research Branch of SOI, have
very proud traditions, and must be
47
inclusion of earth science in the

recommendation was far seeing, but was
clearly ahead of the times, for what the
Government established was a Council for
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences.
In the popular perception in India today

these fields however are not glamorous. As
Current Science recently said in an editorial
(10 January 2005), The earth science scenario
in India remains bleak .... Geology is a subject
that is taught classically and traditionally in
many places, [and is seen as] dull,
descriptive and untouched by the excitement
of modern science.
In 2002 a second IMD Review Committee,

chaired by Dr. K. Kasturirangan, noted:
The 1976 and 2002 reviews of

IMD
Incidentally the need for integrated services
has for long been appreciated in India. For
example the IMD Review Committee
constituted in July 1976, under the
chairmanship of the late Dr. Raja Ramanna,
noted that the need of the hour is to bring
on increased interaction at all levels between
IMD, research institutions and the user
community, and recommended the
establishment of a Council of Meteorology
and Earth Sciences. In retrospect the
Oceanography has great relevance and

importance to meteorology and the two
subjects may sometimes even be inseparable.
Recent advances in remote sensing of the
atmosphere and oceans have clearly brought
out the linkages of the land-oceanatmosphere system. Phenomena like the EI
Nino/ENSO are examples of how ocean
processes can have a direct influence on
global atmospheric circulations. Various
global developments such as the evolving
Integrated Global Observing Strategy
espouse the importance of viewing earth
processes at the overall system level and it
is more so relevant to meteorological
observations. The availability of computing
power on a massive scale has now made it
possible to handle ocean data and
incorporate them in ocean-atmosphere
coupled models on an operational basis.
Thus, the ocean and atmosphere are no
longer being treated as distinct domains
elsewhere in the world. The US National
supported to recover world leadership at

least in the tropics; but once again in several
of these areas that will only be possible by
taking a broader view of the earth system as
a whole.
48
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

has both the National Weather Service and
the National Ocean Service under one
umbrella ....
The Committee considered various models
of integrating oceanography and
meteorological services because of the
synergic advantages this integration could
bring to both the national services. However,
considering that this issue is beyond the
terms of reference of the Committee and
noting that there are ongoing activities

between IMD and DOD, the Committee
recommends the establishment of a suitable
operational mechanism, which will facilitate
this two-way exchange of data and scientific
efforts across the two disciplines, through
constant dialogues between DOD and the
NMO/DOM to improve operational
weather services in the country. In the longer
term, the possibility of bringing these
services together in an integrated fashion
would be in the best interests of the country.
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats

If we look at our strengths we can list the
following:
India has perhaps the best and longest
climatological records in the tropical world.
It has several centres of excellence in
research and education (NIO, NGRI, IISc,
the IITs, IITM Pune).
We have a vigorous and very successful
programme in space science and
technology.
We have several promising research
projects in DST in earth system science and
at DOD in ocean observation and
technology.
We are the largest economy and the most

powerful scientific force in the global
tropics.
Furthermore India has now a growing
private sector in software and
communication technology. The country has
shown that when a nationally recognized
mission is articulated and supported, it has
the scientific, administrative and leadership
skills necessary to make significant progress
in the field, through the commission/
department organization structure that the
national programmes in atomic energy and
space have so ably demonstrated.
Our weaknesses are
science (meteorology, oceanography,

seismology, geology, glaciology,
hydrology, numerical/mathematical
modelling, computer simulation ..)
technology (space, IT, computers, radar,
communication ... )
MoU between DST/DOS in India and

NOANNASA of US, but open up other
avenues as well with Europe, Japan and
other countries - pushing such agencies and
programmes as ICTP (Trieste), Indo-US S&T
Forum, IndoFrench Centre, Indo-UK fora
(ct. emphasis on climate issues by David
King, Royal Society, UK Government) etc. taking great care to ensure protection of the
national interest.
applications (agriculture, aviation,

engineering industry, fisheries, ocean
resources, coastal zone management,
environment protection ... )
relatively small injections of new

technology (instrumentation, radar,
communication, space platforms, GPS
sensors, buoys ... ).
basic research - theoretical, computational,

experimental
Our opportunities include the possibility of

revamping thoroughly a system that once
served our purpose well, leap frogging into
a new organizational structure that will be
far better equipped to solve emerging
national and international problems.
Furthermore improvement in weather and
ocean services will make an immediate
impact on farmers, fishermen and others
making a living out of land and water, and
will be something that the common man in
India will be immediately able to appreciate.
The threats we face are many. Failure to
tackle the problem of recurring droughts and
floods, earthquakes and other natural
disasters, and inadequacy in handling global
human resource development

absence of a vibrant earth system science
programme that is seen as modern,
nationally and internationally significant,
strongly driven by and coupled to the
national developmental effort.
no strong data dissemination effort and
decision support system that reaches the
remotest corners of the country.
relatively weak international links of the
kind that are essential in such a truly global
science; we need to build on the present
lack of strongly integrated programmes

involving
49
50
climate change problems due to weak

scientific support, will vastly increase
politically confrontational situations, with
respect to water in particular but also
regarding
ocean
resources,
the
environment, international effects of
atmospheric and marine pollution (such as
for example the recent controversy on the
Asian Black Cloud) etc.
In the light of the above analysis a major
effort in earth system science is essential.
A vision
Given that land and water are primary
resources for the common man in India, and
that advanced science and technology are
needed for providing adequate services in
all areas involving the earth system, it is
proposed that the nation adopt for itself the
following vision.
To provide the Indian citizen with
integrated services on all matters
connected with meteorology, the oceans,
seismology and the environment
interpreted in the broadest sense,
recognizing that such services are essential
for economic development and that land
and water are the primary resources for
the common man, and using all the

support that the most advanced science
and technology can offer; and
to ensure that, just as India has joined the
top half-a-dozen countries in nuclear and
space technologies, it is necessary to attain
a similar position in Earth System Science,
and to strive for the top position in tropical
meteorology and oceanography, realizing
that we are the biggest nation
economically and the most advanced
scientifically in the global tropics.
Earth system science is one strong candidate
for a visionary science and technology
initiative for the 21st century - just like
atomic energy in the 50s and 60s, space in
the 70s and 80s and life sciences more
recently.
Proposed administrative
structure
The 2002 IMD Review Committee proposed
a Met Commission, headed by a Secretary
of the Department of Meteorology who also
simultaneously would be the chair-person
of the National Met Organization. In other
words the Committee proposed a
If we adopt this model we envisage an Earth

Commission supported by a Department
of Earth System Science (DESS) and an
Earth System Science Organization (ESSO).
This would be an enlargement of the
proposal already made by the
Kasturirangan Committee for meteorology.
In the proposed reorganization the
Department of Ocean Development will
become part of DESS and therefore the total
number of Government departments will
not increase. However all activities in earth
system science will gain because of the
presence of a new Commission with a
specific mandate, endowed with
considerable authority and held accountable
for performance.
The proposed DESS will

take over, coordinate and manage the
functions of IMD, DOD, and their various
centres, suitably re-organizing them where
necessary.
establish world class facilities (at new
centres if necessary to enable Government
to provide the best possible national
forecasting services and advice on
weather, climate, ocean state, fisheries,
ocean resources (biological, mineral and
other), earthquakes, and related areas in
earth system science).
work closely with ISRO, CSIR (NIO, NGRI,
NAL ... ) and academic institutions (IISc,
IITs, Universities).
develop strong technology programmes
(instrumentation, radar, sensor networks,
modern data collection and dissemination
through space platforms/ internet ... ).
encourage and support basic research in
academic institutions, create new human
resources by attracting young talent,
building on SERC and ESS programmes
in DST.
work closely with Government on disaster
prediction and mitigation (Ministry of
Home Affairs, State governments).
Commission/Department/Organization
structure. This structure has worked
extremely well in India when a well
articulated mission, with the strong support
of Government at the highest levels, has been
pursued as a national goal. The key feature
of this structure is that the commission,
which basically makes policy decisions, is
supported by a department which looks
after administration and an S& T
organization that implements approved
programmes, all three bodies being headed
by the same person.
51
52
manage commercialization of met,

oceanographic and geophysical data for
use by agriculture, industry, aviation etc.
(ct. UK Met Office, now legally a trading
body; Australian Met Office, which sells
CDs with RAINMAKER software giving
data, decision support).
help formulate science-backed national
policies on climate change, manage
international relations on all issues
connected with ESS, provide a wider net
for catching leadership material.
have representation on Earth Commission
for ISRO, DST, CSIR, Home Ministry,
Planning Commission, PMO, Finance, and
include some independent scientists.
adopt (wherever applicable) management
practices of successful national agencies
like ISRO (including in particular project
and human resource management skills).
absorb DOD, shift IMD (which already
includes seismology) from DST, work out
relations with CSIR labs (NGRI, NIO) and
DEF.
establish specialized high S & T cells in
appropriate centres, especially charged
with the task of generating higher order
knowledge products, resilient engineering
designs and other disaster-related

measures.
catalyse scientific literacy on all earthrelated matters amongst the public, by
producing and disseminating relevant
scientific information through documents
and advisories broadcasts through various
media.
Such a major initiative in Earth System
Science can provide services (based on
advanced S & T) that a common man can
understand and appreciate (land and water
are his primary resources). Anything less
than the above plan will not be able to tackle
what is bound to emerge as a major 21 st
century S & T enterprise worldwide.
Organizational structures
elsewhere in the world
As already pointed out the United States has
already integrated atmospheric and oceanic
sciences under NOAA. The Japanese
Government has established the Japan
Agency for Maritime and Earth Science and
Technology (which among other things
manages the powerful Earth Simulator
Centre). In France CNRS has taken major
Although such integrated approaches are

being pursued in most advanced countries
of the world, an Earth Commission of the
kind proposed here will in some ways be
the first such body in the world. The reason
for proposing that it be established is
basically that science now demands it, and
the Commission/Department/Organization
concept has been very successful in India,
because it is particularly well adapted to
working with the scientific/national/
political/bureaucratic establishment when
there is a well-defined mission and no strong
regulatory policy component in its mandate.
The Mission Statement for

the Earth Commission
A mission statement in the Earth
Commission might read as follows:
To provide the nation with the best
possible services in:
forecasting the monsoons and other
weather/climate parameters, ocean state,
earthquakes, tsunamis and other
phenomena relating to the earth system,

through well integrated programmes
utilizing the best that science and
technology can offer today at the highest
international standards,
offering extensive data resources and
setting up appropriate decision support
systems to serve the interests of the
common man whose primary resources
are land and water,
supporting all other industrial and
scientific activity (including aviation,
engineering industry, water resources,
aquaculture etc.) through authentic,
adequately processed earth system data of
various kinds,
working closely with other agencies, both
public and private, to provide them with
S & T support and assist in ensuring
adequate preparedness for handling
natural disasters and managing their
consequences, and
supporting research and development in
ESS and enlarging the human resource
base
through
special
funding
programmes.
ESS initiatives. The UK Met Office, without

changing its name, does both atmospheric
and oceanic modelling.
53
54
Budget
In the first instance DESS will take over the
budget of DOD and of all met, seismological
and ESS operations in DST. This is currently
close to Rs. 700 cr per year. A Task Force
may be appointed to work out further
financial requirements of DESS and spell out
a set of S & T tasks requiring immediate
attention. Preliminary estimate of budgetary
requirements would be:
annual budget (plan) of about Rs. 1200 cr,
depending on the institutions and centres
that will come under the authority of DESS.
an immediate additional grant of Rs. 1000
cr to be spent on such tasks as
upgrading technology and equipment
available to ESS services across the board.
enhancing modelling and computer
simulation programmes, with more
powerful computers and a new initiative to
help grow modelling capabilities in country.
providing S & T opportunities for ESS
scientists through new fellowships and
positions in ESSO centres and in academic
and R&D institutions.
establishing a vigorous programme of
human resource development to attract
bright young talent into the field.
This is an indicative and not exhaustive list.

The proposed Task Force may be requested
to identify more specific objectives.
Action plan
The Earth Commission/DESS/ESSO
structure proposed here may be
implemented immediately by reorganizing
the institutions within the authority of the
Minister of Science and Technology and
Ocean Development (independent charge).
A task Force may be appointed to prepare a
detailed action plan which, among other
things, will also consider the relations
between or coordinate the work among the
various agencies which are involved in the
present effort in earth system science. Some
of the agencies (DST, DOD, CSIR) are under
the Minister of State for Science and
Technology and Ocean Development
(independent charge), and ISRO is under the
Prime Minister. It may at some later stage
be worth considering how the relations
between the Earth Commission and other
Earth System Science activities and
organizations in the country may be
coordinated, enhanced or redefined.
55
Appendix 1.2
NOTE FOR THE CABINET COMMITTEE ON

NATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NSERF)
The fruits of science and technology have
been harnessed for the welfare of mankind
since time immemorial. Realizing the
important role of science and technology for
the growth of our nation, the Government
of India, immediately after independence,
laid the required stress on R&D in science
and technology. Over the last 57 years of
independence, we are emerging as one of
the largest scientific manpower in the world,
of which our nation could be proud of. Also
our scientific achievements in various
sectors have indeed been quiet impressive
and they are lauded world over. However,
considering the formidable task of
eradication of poverty, improvement in
productivity, environmental sustainability,
improving health and economic status of

our people and industrialization as well as
globalization we will have to reshape and
reorient our scientific R&D efforts so as to
be globally competitive, effective and
efficient. Therefore, it is evident that the
coming years would be highly technology
driven as well as technology dependent.
India with its rich intellectual stockpile can
be a leader in basic research, provided
proper strategic thinking and adequate
financing and facilitating mechanism are
available. The present note examines the
current level and mechanism of support for
basic research in India and suggests the
formation of a new national body which can
File No.DST/SAC-PM/(01)/General/2005
Ministry of Science & Technology
Department of Science & Technology
56
take a global and holistic view of scientific

research in education and other institutions
including infrastructure.
Science is an endless frontier, a uniquely
human activity without limits. Advancing
that frontier through intense basic research
carried out at the forefront of human
knowledge is an exciting endeavor. The
Indian contribution to this endeavour, both
qualitatively and quantitatively, has been a
matter of deep concern in recent years.
Whereas the emphasis on science that will
make economic and social sense has been
rightly stressed, we need also to remember
that there is no high technology without
high science. Indeed, science provides new
insights and approaches for technology
development, helps leap-frog rather than
follow the trodden path and provides the
basis and understanding for know-why of
technology.
Prevailing Funding
Mechanism
Recognizing the inter-disciplinary character
of science and engineering activities and the
continuous emergence of new areas in these
fields, it was recommended in 1973 by the
National Committee on Science &

Technology (NCST) that a Science &
Engineering Research Council (SERC) be set
up to promote research in inter-disciplinary
fields and newly emerging areas of science
and engineering. The setting up of SERC
scheme in 1974 as part of the Plan Scheme
of the Department of Science & Technology
provided a mechanism for supporting a
wide range of basic research in Science and
engineering, which otherwise did not strictly
fall under the purview of various specialized
agencies. The present level SERC funding to
both basic research and mission oriented
projects is around Rs. 250 Crores annually.
SERC has done very well in nurturing basic
research; indeed the objectives of research
projects supported by SERC have had long
term implications, going far beyond the
sharply focused mission oriented projects of
the specialized agencies. It is true to say that
this aspect of SERC mechanism has helped
in furthering the growth of new interdisciplinary areas in science and engineering
during the last 30 years or so. The extramural
funding for basic research is also provided
by other specialized scientific departments/
agencies of the Government who have given
support to do research in their own areas of
activity for instance CSIR support through
its extramural funding to universities, DBT
where new knowledge generation is looked

at as a crucial competitive factor. In most of
the countries a single national body has been
made responsible for supporting basic
research e.g. National Science Foundation in
the United States was the major catalyst for
the development of the University Science
system. Similar bodies exist in China, Brazil,
Taiwan, South Korea etc.
International Experience
Basic research is funded heavily in not only
the developed world but also in the more
enlightened part of the developing world,
Need for a National Science & Engineering Research

Foundation (NSERF)
The mechanisms for funding and
administering individual investigator
initiated projects have become mired in
bureaucracy with complex financial
procedures inhibiting efficient operation.
These difficulties are inevitable results of the
growth in academic sector in India over the
past three decades. The need for new
funding
mechanism
and
debureaucratization has been stated in the
Science & Technology Policy 2003 and

reiterated in the Honble Prime Ministers
speech at Indian Science Congress at
Ahmedabad in January 2005. This proposal
is to provide fresh thrust to science in India
by creating an autonomous agency, the
National Science & Engineering Research
Foundation (NSERF), which will strongly
promote and fund research in all fields of
science and engineering, such a organization
for Biological Sciences and support provided

by DAE, ICAR, ICMR and DOS in their own
areas of interest. University research has also
been supported through University Grants
Commission (UGC) in its COSIST and
Departmental
Special
Assistance
Programme. However, the extent of support
provided by these agencies to basic research
is limited.
57
58
is essential both for the absorption and

creation of new technologies. This new
initiative assumes special importance in the
context of the increasingly competitive
international scene in Science and
Technology. The key element of the
proposed Foundation would be its status as
an autonomous body, charged with the
mandate of raising the level of scientific
activity in India to internationally
competitive level.
Functions of NSERF
The primary functions of NSERF will be:
To provide support to basic research in
India so that Indian Science could create
and sustain leadership across selected
frontiers of scientific knowledge;
To determine the national priorities in basic
research and give a proper focus and
direction to research in the country;
To develop procedures to assess the overall
health of science across all disciplines and
bring out appropriate science and
technology indicators, which can serve as
input in guiding government policy;
To assess the infrastructure requirement for

maintaining a competitive advantage in
basic research and to support the setting up
of national experimental facilities which
require major investments;
To support, on a highly selective basis,
small units of excellence around researchers
of exceptional merit;
To do all that is necessary to enhance the
relationship between basic research and
national goals in order to convert
knowledge into wealth and in so doing,
keep a close watch on the industrial needs
as well as on technology development in
the country;
To take measures to develop and train
appropriate human resources in chosen
areas depending on national needs;
To establish special schemes for supporting
the faculty/scientist positions and research
fellowships, which will be generated and
managed by the NSERF; and
To establish, promote and utilize
international relations in science and
technology for improving and augmenting
research efforts of individuals and
institutions.
Organization
The Executive Director will be responsible

for administration of the NSERF. The
Executive Director of NSERF will be a
scientist with a high level of research and
managerial experience.
The Management Committee will be chaired
by the Executive Director and will have
Directors of different directorates/divisions
as members. These directorates will have to
be formed after due deliberation, but they
might, among others, comprise the
following:
Directorate/Division of Biological and
Medical Sciences
Directorate/Division of Mathematical and
Physical Sciences
Directorate/Division of Engineering
Sciences
Directorate/Division of Chemical and
Material Sciences
Directorate/Division of Earth, Planetary
and Ocean Sciences
Directorate/Division of Policy/Planning
NSERF will be managed by a non-whole

time Board (National Science and
Engineering Research Board), chaired by a
scientist of repute with its membership
comprising leaders of Indian science and
chosen representatives of S& T agencies and
industry. Honble Prime Minister would
approve the composition of the Board. The
Secretary to the Department of Science and
Technology will be Vice-Chairman. The
Secretary to the Board will be the Executive
Director of NSERF. The Executive Director
will be appointed by the Board. The Board
will be responsible for developing national
priorities and levels of support between
different broad areas of basic research and
laying down the policy guidelines for
NSERF. The Board will consult various
individuals and organizations in the country
and abroad in arriving at policies and closely
work with the Scientific Advisory Council
to the Prime Minister/Cabinet in order to
ensure a close link with national needs and
policy directions. The NSERF will provide a
report to the Minister of Science and
Technology every six months and to the
Prime Minister annually.
59
60
The Board may set up Advisory Committees

for the Directorates as it may deem fit. Each
Directorate would decide, with the approval
of the Board or the Advisory Committee, the
principles and criteria for support in the
areas of its activities. Some of the criteria for
developing programme priorities inter-alia
would include scientific excellence and the
promise of the activity. NSERB will maintain
a broad base of support across a wide variety
of scientific and engineering disciplines,
including provision of advanced equipment
and facilities.
Location
Following the model of the DAE and the
DOS, the main offices of the NSERF can be
located at a suitable place in India. If a
location outside Delhi is considered suitable,
a small office of the NSERF can be based at
the DST, to facilitate coordination with the
various sister agencies of the Government.
Summary
A new autonomous Body for funding
Science & Engineering in India at a
significantly enhanced level is necessary.
This initiative will be critically important in
raising Indias S & T capability in an
increasing competitive global environment.
The Foundation will supplement existing
mechanism for S & T support. It will have a
mandate to develop flexible and efficient
mechanism for supporting science. The total
annual outlay will be of the order of Rs. 100
Crores. The Foundation will also establish a
mechanism for monitoring of scientific
output of the country and provide periodic
assessments of the overall status of S & T
activities in the country.
61
Appendix 1.3
Setting up Indian Institutes of Science for

Education and Research (IISER) at Pune and
Kolkata is a path-breaking decision of
Government of India. It is based on the
strong recommendation of Scientific
Advisory Council to Prime Minister. Several
other bodies have also emphasized the need
to attract young, meritorious students to
career in sciences. Internationally, India is
becoming a leading nation in the emerging
knowledge economy scenario. In order to
gain a competitive advantage, it is necessary
to train young students in the emerging
fields of sciences. There is a need to establish
a set of high-quality education and research
institutions in the field of basic and natural
sciences.
The academic model of the proposed
institutions is unique and different from
either the traditional university system or the
technical educational institutions. The

proposed institutions will foster education
and research in interdisciplinary areas
without any boundaries or constraints of
academic departments. These institutions
will offer Integrated Masters level
programmes as well as Doctoral
programmes. The academic programmes
will emphasize the spirit of research at an
early stage of education. The research
infrastructure of these institutions will be at
such an international level that it will attract
the best talents within the country, as well
as successful Indian scientists from abroad
to return and take up faculty positions in the
proposed institutions.
INDIAN INSTITUTES OF SCIENCE

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (IISERs)
62
The proposed institutions will be established

as the national centres of excellence. These
institutions will be able to award Masters
and Doctoral degrees. Each Institute will
have an approximate strength of 1000
students in the Integrated Masters
programme and an additional strength of
nearly 1000 students in the parallel streams
of Post B.Sc and Post M. Sc. Inputs into the
Ph. D. programme. Each batch of Integrated
Masters level students will be admitted
through a national-level entrance test.
Students will have an option of selecting a
major and a minor area of specialization not
at the entry level but during the course of
their education. Students will need to earn
research credits for their Masters level

degree programme. The intake for the
doctoral programme will be in all areas such
as Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences,
Material Sciences, Mathematical and
Computational Sciences and Biological
Sciences. The Institutes will also have a
strong post-doctoral programme to
encourage research beyond the doctoral
level. About 200 post-doctoral fellows will
be on the roll of an Institute. The faculty
strength is earmarked at 200. The support
staff of technical and ministerial level will
be 300, including outsourced personnel.
63
2 Promotion and Support for

Education, Research and Outreach
2.1 Setting up an EMPOWERED GROUP under the University Grants

Commission and the Ministry of Human Resource Development to directly
grant research scholars, faculty and for financial support for purchase of
equipment and for infrastructure improvement to deserving university
departments with good track record, networking centres and setting up
D.S. Kothari post-doctoral fellowship. (Appendix 2.1)
2.2 New modalities of funding research by NATIONAL SCIENCE AND
ENIGNEERING RESEARCH BOARD (NSERB).
2.3 Setting up the NANO MISSION to take care of all the requirements of R&D in
nanoscience and technology including setting up of Units, Centres and
institutes and establishing appropriate facilities nation-wide.
2.4 Improving quality of medical education and research. (Appendix 2.2)
2.5 Data intensive scientific discovery: Creation of facilities and promotion.
(Appendix 2.3)
Promotion & Support for education, research & outreach
64
2.6 Promotion of ecological research (Appendix 2.4)

2.7 Holding of SCIENCE CAMPS for talented undergraduates where leading
scientists interact with them (VIGYAN JYOTHI SHIBIR)
2.8 Periodic intervention related to values of SCHOLARSHIPS FOR Ph.D
STUDENTS AND POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS.
2.9 Advocating for better emoluments, perks and service conditions for scientists
and engineers.
2.10 Need for a dedicated TV CHANNEL FOR SCIENCE.
65
Appendix 2.1
SETTING UP AN EMPOWERED GROUP

The Council noted the problem of basic
research in universities is becoming acute,
in spite of major initiatives for infrastructure
funding that have been initiated by the
University Grants Commission and the
Department of Science & Technology. In
view of other diversions being easily
available to the young talented people, it was
also felt that there is a need to rejuvenate
basic scientific research in the universities
by creating more research opportunities. In
fact, the Council expressed its concern at the
reducing number of good research proposals
emanating from the university sector and the
reducing number of publications coming out
from the universities in major journals of
science and engineering.
The Council, therefore, recognizing the
urgent need of boosting support to high
quality scientific research in the universities
had recommended that a Task Force be set
up jointly under the Ministry of Human
Resource
Development
(MHRD),
Department of Science & Technology

umbrella to examine the problems and
challenges associated with boosting scientific
research in universities and to come up with
their recommendations, at the earliest.
MHRD was conveyed about this
recommendation and a Task Force for basic
Scientific Research in Universities was
constituted in March 2005 with Professor
M.M. Sharma as its Chairman. Two other
members of the SAC-PM; Professor G. Mehta
and Dr. P. Rama Rao were members of the
Task Force. The terms of reference of the
Task Force included assessing the present
status of scientific research and training in
universities and determining the areas of
concern, suggesting solutions, strategies to
enhance excellence in scientific research and
to make assessment of the physical and
financial resources required to improve their
strategies.
66
Action
The task force submitted its report to MHRD
identifying the areas of concerns and
recommending several strategies to meet the
challenges. The main recommendations
include the following:
Creation of 1000 positions of research
scientists at various levels, e.g. that of
Lecturers, Readers and Professors for a
period of five years. The Universities
would be asked to draw from these
experts for their faculty positions.
Up-gradation of existing labs and research
infrastructure.
Enhancing the number of quality Ph.Ds

from Indian universities by almost five
fold in a span of 10 years.
Formal linkages between universities and
national labs for joint research projects
and training to be encouraged.
An empowered autonomous body
headed by an eminent scientist to oversee
the
implementation
of
the
recommendations with earmark grant of
Rs.600 Crores per annum for
implementation of the programme.
67
Appendix 2.2
IMPROVING QUALITY OF MEDICAL

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Governance, innovation and monitoring of medical research regulating medical
research
Enunciate National Health/Medical
Research Policy.
To monitor, and direct health research a
National Health Research Management
Forum (NHRMF) needs to be established
to co-ordinate with all agencies which
fund health research.
There is an urgent need to translate into
action the resolve of the Government to
set-up a Department of Medical Research
within the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare.
Standing Parliamentary Committee for
Health/Medical Research to be
constituted.
High Powered Committee on Health/
Medical Research should be formed for
quick seamless decisions making.
De-bureaucratize research.
Financing for medical research
The funding available for health research

is sub-critical, there is an urgent need to
augment allocations for medical research.
A Medical/Health Research Fund should
be created and administered by a health
research organization that has direct links
with medical colleges.
ICMR is the single largest agency which

conducts and funds medical research in
areas no other science agency supports.
Endorsed the recommendation of the
ICMR Performance Appraisal Board to
raise its budget to a minimum of Rs. 5000
crores for the 11th Plan period.
68
Translating knowledge into product

and services
To facilitate bi-directional movement of

academicians and researchers, research
experience to be treated at par with
teaching experience.
Set a high powered Committee on

Translation of Health Research into Action
to periodically review the use of results of
research in health systems.
Translational research institutes to be

created for purpose of conversion of
technology to product.
Identify strategies for taking research and

technology to the poor.
Bring about parity between practitioners

of clinical, pre-clinical and para-clinical
subjects.
Build centres of excellence especially in
clinical sciences, and develop clinical trial
skills in a phased manner.
To have more medical colleges under the
Central Government so as to be able to
effectively fund and control them.
Strategies to improve medical research

in existing medical colleges
Use strengths of information technology

like e-education modules for improving
knowledge.
Create cadre of research faculty and take

steps to upgrade research aptitude and
skills of teachers. This would help to
improve the quality of thesis.
A one-time grant for infrastructure
strengthening for research should be
provided and implemented in a phased
manner.
Provide incentives for encouraging
research and at the same time ensure the
research becomes an integral part of
assessment for promotions.
In existing research institutes
Service conditions should be brought at

par with SAC-PMs recommendations for
scientists. Both lateral and forward
mobility should be allowed. Career based
performance and additional monetary
incentives to performing health scientist
should be created.
Critical manpower needs to be addressed

immediately. Scientific posts should not be
allowed to lapse.
In industry
More public private partnership and

involvement of scientists in health
industry and biotech pharma to be
facilitated.
Health Research through private
organizations should be encouraged
keeping in view utilization of private
facilities by people.
Concessions to industry for development

of Health Technologies should be
rationalized.
Encourage
industry
translational research.
sponsored
Setting up new infrastructure

MD-PhD course to be started in select 4-5
institutes, and expand gradually in phased
manner to finally have 14 - 15 institutes
offering the course.
A knowledge-grid between top 5 medical
colleges and select medical colleges.
69
Providing opportunity for PhDs from nonmedical areas to get a condensed course
in medicine to create a new breed of basic
scientists having medical exposure.
Create training opportunities and
mechanisms for grooming and mentoring
leadership qualities.
Open new institutes to address research
issues on non-communicable diseases.
Reforming Medical Council of India

If there is one single intervention that
would have far reaching impact on
improving medical research in the country
it is the reorganization of the Medical
Council of India.
Needs revamping, reconstitution.
Modify membership.
Bring in modernity in vision and
leadership.
Redesign medical education curriculum to
be in tune with the changing times.
Total budget requirement: about Rs. 100
crores to be included in the ICMRs 11th
Plan proposals.
70
Appendix 2.3
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY THROUGH

INTENSIVE EXPLORATION OF DATA
There has been an explosion of data available
for scientific investigations, coming from
observations, new experiments, and
numerical simulations. At the same time,
there are sophisticated models of complex
systems, based partially on physical
principles, but increasingly also based on the
data. We need to bring together researchers
working on understanding the interplay
between data - observational, numerical, and
experimental - and the theories and models
that need the data, and how this interplay
illuminates the scientific questions being
investigated - in short, scientific discovery
through intensive data exploration. Some of
the fields of research using large data sets
are:
Computer science and statistical methods
Life and health sciences, including
structural biology and genomics
Earth sciences including atmospheric and

climate sciences
Astronomy
High energy physics
Materials science
There is a general consensus on (i) the
inadequacy of the existing computational
infrastructure for research using large data,
and (ii) the necessity of a comprehensive
plan for developing such an infrastructure,
and most importantly, for developing
trained manpower. The following
recommendations emerged out of the
discussions during the meeting.
Actively encourage new paradigms of
doing science and new paradigms of
collaborations between industry and
government organizations.
There is need for computing infrastructure

that can be shared and available for use
by scientists across various institutes and
universities.
Inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional
collaborations on scientific problems using
large data could be a focus area for
agencies such as NSERB, DST, etc.
Encourage the growth of dedicated highspeed networks for the data intensive
sciences.
Connectivity to international networks
through collaborative efforts such as the
GLORIAD should be pursued.
Strengthening of existing national
academic and research network and
creation of new ones should be a priority.
Local inter-institutional high-speed
networks, coexisting with the above, need
to be developed and existing campus
networks need to be upgraded.
Innovation is required in the financial
models under which academia and
industry can work together.
71
Pilot projects, emulating the success of

projects such as the Open Source Drug
Discovery
(OSDD),
should
be
encouraged. Examples include, but are not
limited to,
National Virtual Archive of data, including
mirroring of datasets from around the
world.
A community-owned network for sharing
large datasets.
Capacity building and human resource
development through short term
workshops, and dedicated long term
initiatives for masters and doctoral
programs.
Setting-up of a task force consisting of
national and international experts from
academia,
industry,
and
nongovernmental organizations, to develop a
plan to implement these suggestions on
an urgent basis.
72
Appendix 2.4
PROMOTION OF ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Noted conservation biologist and wildliferesearcher Dr. Ullas Karanth made a detailed
presentation to the SACPM about the vital
importance of ecological and wildlife
research and the major difficulties faced by
researchers in carrying out their
programmes. He was accompanied by Dr.
Mewa Singh, Dr. Ajith Kumar and Dr.
Madhu.
The situation can be briefly summarized as
below:
The Indian Forest Act (IFA, 1927), the Wild
Life (Protection) Act (WLPA, 1972) and the
Biodiversity Act (2002) were enacted,
respectively, to prevent the loss of forests,
destruction of wildlife and the piracy of
biodiversity through criminal acts and do
not adequately address research needs. Yet,
research is vital to fulfill the goals of the
above laws.
The primary agencies responsible for
implementing the laws are the State Forest
Departments. Their structure and function
needs to adapt to conservation and research

needs.
The above three laws have been useful in
safeguarding our natural heritage, by
restricting access to and hence, the misuse
of our forests, waters and wildlife. At the
same time, because of the preventive nature
of these legislations and the absence of
wide- scientific input in their framing and
implementation, these very laws are not
researchfriendly.
As a result, a wide range of research
programmes face daunting impediments
ranging from denial of permits to
procedural roadblocks
Owing to this adversity, pure and applied
scientific disciplines, such as animal
behaviour,
population
biology,
conservation genetics, biological diversity
studies, systematics and taxonomy, natural
history, conservation biology, human
ecology, natural resource management, and
hydrology, face a bleak future.
73
The SAC-PM specifically recommends the following immediate measures to

address the above problems:
The SAC-PM recognizes that the core to
solving the problems facing ecological
research require specific amendments to
existing legislation and to guidelines that
have evolved in the past.
Therefore, an empowered committee under
the Prime Ministers direction be set up to
initiate necessary legislative and
administrative reforms in a time-bound
manner. This empowered committee

should be headed by a scientist of
international eminence, with the
participation of the Secretaries of the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, the
Department of Biotechnology and the
Department of Science and Technology.
Importantly, the committee should include
eminent ecologists and conservation
scientists.
NEW Fellowships and professorships
74
3 New Fellowships and Professorships
3.1 RAMANUJAN FELLOWSHIPS under the Department of Science and

Technology for young scientists and engineers who want to come back from
abroad to take up faculty or equivalent positions. The fellowships are awarded
based on the nominations of the host institutions and will not depend on
vacancies in the concerned departments.
3.2 J.C. BOSE NATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS to recognize outstanding senior
scientists of the country with a proven track record who have consistently
carried out high class research and contributed to science in the country.
3.3 YEAR OF SCIENCE PROFESSORSHIPS for a select number of eminent senior
scientists and engineers with international reputation independent of their
age.
3.4 Special stipend for Bhatnagar Prize winners and those who are members of
two science academies.
3.5 Support in formulating programmes of the Department of Science &
Technology such as KVPY, INSPIRE and CURIE.
New Policy Frameworks & Initiatives,

Societal Issues and Missions
4.1 To set up an EDUCATION COMMISSION to come out with a vision document

taking into account the likely national scenario around 2030. This is considered
to be very important since the country will have a large number of additional
young people coming for higher education as well as vocational education in
the next few years.
4.2 Report on the status of AERONAUTICS AND AVIATION: (The report has
been well received by the government and adequate steps are being taken.
See Part 3 for details).
4.3 Problems and Challenges in FORENSIC SCIENCE in the country: The report
has been presented for consideration of the Home Ministry. (Appendix 4.1)
4.4
Recommendations on ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN PARTICULAR SOLAR

ENERGY made to the Department of Renewable Energy of the Government
of India. (The need to increase use of solar photovoltaic power byat least 20,000
MW in the next 15 years for use in irrigation and other purposes (See Part 3
for some details)
New Policy Frameworks & Initiatives, Societal Issues & Missions
75
76
4.5 HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING: Importance of improving our

computing ability has been brought out in a report wherein support has been
sought for high-performance computing in the country at the peta and exa
scale. At present, India does not rank highly in computing ability. (A major
grant is being provided during the 12th Five Year Plan for high-performance
computing).
4.6 Major recommendations on promotion of WOMEN IN SCIENCE.
(Government of India set up a task force based on the recommendation of
SAC to PM)
4.7 Importance of identifying NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MISSIONS related
to water, infectious diseases, education and energy. Initiation of a national
mission on TEACHING AND TEACHERS.
4.8 Using SCIENCE IN DIPLOMACY A report made to the Ministry of External
Affairs. (Appendix 4.2)
4.9 Recommendation regarding the use of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN
SOCIO-ECONOMIC SECTORS (outside the science departments) by
strengthening science advisory mechanisms.
4.10 Coordination and increased support required for State Science &Technology
Councils (Appendix 4.3)
77
4.12 Safe Drinking Water (See Part 3 for details)

4.13 Accelerator Policy in the country
4.14 (a) Contributions to the science and technology component of the 12th
five-year plan.
(b) Contributions to the Science, Technology and Innovation policy of
the Government.
4.11 Recommendation on strengthening institutional structures and improving

incentives for application of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN RURAL
INDIA; the need for a Rural S&T Foundation (Appendix 4.4)
78
Appendix 4.1
PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES IN FORENSIC

SCIENCE IN THE COUNTRY
Preface
This concept note was prepared following a
presentation by Dr J Gowrishankar, Director,
CDFD on 22 November, 2010.
Introduction
The inadequacy, both qualitative and
quantitative, of forensic science activities at
present being undertaken in the country,
and its consequent negative impact on the
criminal justice delivery system, has
engaged the attention of various
constitutional and Govt. agencies in the last
few years, including SAC-PM itself. At
present, forensic science is under the ambit
of the law enforcement agencies of the States
and the Centre, and the problems and
difficulties of such an arrangement include
the following:
Cultural: The rigid command structure in
law enforcement agencies is often at odds
with the non-hierarchical and disruptive

(irreverent) cultural ethos normally
expected for scientific activities.
Technical: The heads of law enforcement
agencies are from the IPS or lAS, often with
little knowledge of science.
Potential conflicts of interest: Ideally,
forensic investigations must be undertaken
by an agency which is independent of the
police and the prosecution, so that they are
seen to be impartial.
Therefore, a view that is gaining increasing
acceptance is for forensic science activities
in the country to be managed or overseen
by the Ministry of Science and Technology,
of course with close operational linkages
maintained with the law enforcement
agencies that come under the Ministry of
Home Affairs. It is noteworthy in this context
that the National Academy of Sciences of the
USA, in its 2009 report that was
commissioned by the federal legislature, has
79
perhaps by creation of an oversight body

that is co-chaired by Secretaries from the two
Ministries, that would closely monitor and
direct the forensic science activities in the
country.
The Concept Note below discusses three

issues in this context, namely, (i) what are
the alternative administrative structures that
can be considered for implementing the new
arrangement (of science agency oversight
and/or control of forensic science); (ii) what
are the alternative mechanisms that can be
considered for effective delivery of forensic
science services in support of the criminal
justice system; and (iii) what is the road-map
and time-frame for implementation of the
above.
The second is to bring all the existing, and

in future expanded, activities of forensic
science under the ambit of one of the existing
agencies of the S&T Ministry, which could
be DST, CSIR, or DBT.
Alternative administrative
structures
Three
alternative
administrative
arrangements can be envisaged by which
forensic science activities are overseen by the
S&T Ministry.
The first is to continue with the existing
system but to put in place an alliance
mechanism between MHA and MST,
The third alternative would be for creation

of a new Department of Forensic Science
(DFS) to be headed by a scientist/
technologist. In one variant of this third
alternative, the DFS would be under the
MHA, whereas in the other variant it would
be under the MST.
In the cases of the second alternative as well
as both variants of the third alternative, once
again there would be the need to establish
alliance mechanisms between MHA and
MST, to enable co-ordination to ensure that
the investigative agencies are obligated to
send the cases for forensic investigations
rather than doing so at their discretion, as is
the current practice.
also made similar strong recommendations

for transfer of all forensic science laboratories
in the USA from the administrative control
of law enforcement bodies to that of an
independent science agency.
80
Of the various alternatives above, the first

would appear to be just an incremental
improvement that may be insufficient to take
care of the criticisms of the existing system.
Additionally, given the scale of the required
operations (discussed below), one could
reasonably support the suggestion for
creation of a new DFS; and locating the latter
in the MST would have the advantage of
more effective co-ordination of its activities
with those of the other science agencies of
MST such as the DST, DBT and CSIR.
Alternative service delivery

mechanisms
Irrespective of the structure by and through
which forensic science activities shall be
administered, three alternative mechanisms
for undertaking the expanded services can
be envisaged, which are not mutually
exclusive.
The first mechanism is through forensic
science laboratories and autonomous
institutions/public sector enterprises, both
existing and newly created, of the Central
and State Governments. In the expanded
scale of operations (see below), this would
require the establishment of a cadre of over
a thousand forensic scientists. Furthermore,

the general experience has been that it is
quite difficult to sustain standards, quality,
enthusiasm/motivation, and academic rigor
and independence in the provision of hightechnology services (which is what forensic
science activities represent), when such
service activities are divorced from other
academic pursuits such as research and
technology, in a Government organization.
The second approach is for forensic science
activities to be undertaken in existing
academic and/or research institutions.
Several successful examples exist in other
countries where forensic investigations are
performed by faculty in University
departments, such as in the Dept. of Forensic
Medicine at the University of Copenhagen,
Denmark; the Institute of Forensic Medicine
at University of Berne, Switzerland; and the
Dept. of Forensic and Investigative Genetics
at the University of North Texas Health
Science Center, USA. Of these, the Institute
in Berne is of interest in that it is highly
multidisciplinary,
encompassing
Departments for Forensic Medicine, Forensic
Chemistry and Toxicology, Physics/
Ballistics, Forensic Imaging etc. In all of the
examples above, the faculty engage
themselves both in academic work including
The major advantage in this second

approach, apart from providing the
academic rigor and independence for the
service activities, is that a large cadre of
permanent Government officials does not
have to be created. One possibility, therefore,
would be to announce a Request for
Proposals (RFP) after sensitizing the
academic community through a write-up in
a journal such as Current Science, and then
to have an expert Committee short-list and
identify Departments/investigators with the
required competence and motivation to
provide these services in a decentralized
manner (after a suitable training and
orientation programme). It must be noted
that the RFP in this case would be for
provision of services and not for research
(which by definition has uncertainty in
attainment of its goals), and therefore is more
likely to succeed provided proper care is

taken in the selection and monitoring of
groups/individuals.
The third approach for forensic service
delivery is through public-private
partnerships (PPP), for which again
successful examples exist in several other
countries. The PPP model would have the
following features:
The public partner (Government agency)

would provide the required funds to the
private partner(s) who would undertake
the forensic activities.
The private partner(s) would create the

infrastructure and hire the personnel as
needed for the purpose.
An alternative model would be for the

public partner to create and own the
infrastructure, and for the private partner
only to hire the personnel who will deliver
the services by operating the infrastructure
so provided by the public partner (i.e., an
operations-contract).
Quality issues and confidentiality issues

would be governed by the conditions
imposed by the public partner.
teaching and research, as well as in forensic

investigations, and the academic affiliation
has ensured the independence of their
service activities. In this country as well, the
CDFD, Hyderabad would represent a
successful example of an institution whose
faculty undertake both research and forensic
service activities, where the two activities
support one another and each in turn is
enriched by the other.
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In crime investigation cases, it is expected

that the public agency would send coded
samples to the private partners laboratory
for forensic analysis following established
procedures for maintenance of chain of
custody. The laboratory would then
analyse the samples and communicate the
data back to the agency. Sample decoding,
data analysis and their interpretation
would be done by the public agency which
would submit the report to the courts and
also defend the same during examination/
cross-examination.
As mentioned above, these three different

approaches for forensic investigations are
not mutually exclusive, and hence could be
combined to varying degree in the overall
strategy.
Roadmap of and timeframe

for implementation
In the discussion below, the example of DNA
profiling alone is considered since this
would in any case represent the major
component of forensic investigations in
criminal cases today, and furthermore it is
also illustrative of all the other disciplines
of forensic science. It is estimated that
approximately 100,000 cases per year can

potentially benefit from DNA analysis in
India, to undertake which there is need for
around 1000 DNA examiners (the
international average being 70-100 cases
undertaken/DNA examiner/year). (A DNA
examiner is a technical officer, and around
8-10 of them can function in a laboratory
under the supervision of one faculty
member/scientist). At present, there are <
10 forensic laboratories with DNA analysis
facilities, with < 20 examiners in total and <
500 cases being done per year. Hence, the
need is for an approximate 100-fold increase
in the scale of operations.
The timeframe for achieving this would be
around 5 to 10 years if all three mechanisms
of service delivery are made operational, or
longer if the model of public forensic science
laboratories alone is employed. Over this
time-frame, it is expected that the service
activities would be rolled out and expanded
fairly uniformly across all the geographic
territories, making use of the provision that
establishment of Union agencies and
institutions for scientific or technical
assistance in the investigation or detection
of crime is included in the Union list of the
Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Since
law and order is a State subject, all State
The complete administrative structure of the

DFS may also be expected to be established
over a period of around 5 years. To begin
with, its operations could perhaps be
initiated through a Board that is established
in an existing Department of MST (much like
how DBT was set up from the erstwhile
NBTB in the 1980s). It must also be
emphasized that the DFS would engage in
co-ordination of all activities related to
forensic science including service delivery,
liaison with MHA, training (of technical
officers, crime investigation officials, police,
judiciary), research, reagent manufacture
and supplies (since these are at present
imported
and
very
expensive),
establishment and enforcement of quality
standards etc.
Summary of
recommendations
Establishment of a Board, later to be
converted to a Department of Forensic
Science in the Ministry of Science &
Technology to administer all activities
associated with forensic investigations in
the criminal justice system.
Establishment of an alliance mechanism
between the Ministries of Home Affairs,
Law, and Science & Technology for coordination between forensic science and
the other activities necessary for efficient
delivery of criminal just.ice.
100-fold expansion of forensic
investigation services including through
RFP and PPP models.
Timeframe of 5 to 10 years for
implementation.
Goverments would also need to be taken on

board so that Government Orders are issued
in the respective states making it obligatory
on the part of crime investigation personnel
to send forensic samples to the concerned
laboratories. The RFP model (approach 2 in
Section IV) would be particularly suitable for
the scaling up of activities across all the
States in a time-bound manner.
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Appendix 4.2
SCIENCE IN DIPLOMACY
Introduction
Context
The Science Advisory Council to the Prime

Minister has recently developed the Indian
Vision for the emergence of India as a global
leader in science. The Indian vision for
science has provided a road map for India
becoming a leader in the scientific world and
become a knowledge provider for the world.
There is an aspiration in the country. Our
youth population and talent base offer
unique advantages in global knowledge
economy.
It is widely known that technological

changes play critical roles in the growth of
per-capita incomes of most countries. The
Indian science system is learning to connect
knowledge to wealth generation. Several
major companies of the world are
establishing Research and Development
base in India.
The Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime

Minister foresees the possibility and strategic
advantages of building science as a
diplomatic tool in forging international
alliances and partnerships. This background
note has been prepared for institutionalizing
the internal alliances between the Ministry
of External Affairs and The Ministry of
Science and Technology of the Government
of India.
The recently enunciated Science vision of

India has made a strong case for
strengthening and investing further into
research and development. Demographic
dividend of India is seen as an important
advantage of the country by many
developed countries in building alliances
through science.
Although India has developed a good base
for science and technology, there is a need
to improve the quality of our scientific
institutional base. Indias position in
Science as a Connecting Bridge

between Nations
Science is global. Performing scientists are
truly global citizens. Therefore, Indian
science sector could play a major role in
developing strategic alliances with
developed countries in Europe and
Americas. There is a matching enthusiasm

in the developed economies for forging
mutually gainful alliances with India.
Advantage India
India offers advantages in the development
of affordable innovations. The bulk drug
industry, vaccine production, Nano car and
many more developments in India are
attracting global attention for development
of technologies and creation of extremely
affordable innovations. Indias strength in
space and atomic energy is widely
recognized. Many developing countries look
up to India for developing their own
technological base. Many advanced
countries with well developed science and
technology system have started to value the
ability of the country in cost optimization of
high technology products.
Indian Science Sector for Enabling Partnerships with Developing

Countries
India has enjoyed a robust economic growth
during the last decade. Public investments
into Research and Development are
increasing. There is now a potential for the
country to make investments to building

strategic alliances with select countries
through the tools of science and technology.
It may be gainful proposition to invest
scientific outputs as well as innovation index

could be vastly improved through strategic
international scientific collaboration. India is
establishing a large number of new
universities, Indian Institutes of Technology
(lITs) and Indian Institutes of Science
Education and Research (IlSERs). If Indian
institutions were to emerge as global leaders
in some branches of science in shorter time
span, international S&T cooperation would
be essential.
85
86
asymmetrically into some developing

countries both resources and S&T outputs
with long term advantages. Giving may be
gaining in some select international
partnerships where giving through science

may amount to long term investment.
Synergy through Indian Science Sector with Strategic partners

It is now becoming possible for India to
invest into equal and reciprocal partnerships
with some countries by virtue of advantages
of Indian science and technology sector.
When India is in a position to invest, we
should be able to negotiate terms and
conditions of sharing of intellectual
properties generated out of joint research
Technology Acquisition for

Accelerated Growth
Technology
acquisition
through
international partnerships is an area. There
is an emerging opportunity to build
partnerships with well developed
innovation ecosystems in the world to
rapidly develop our own innovation
ecosystem. Technology acquisition fund
coupled with an ecosystem to rapidly
develop cost optimized solutions through
global partnerships would provide for India
a unique leadership space.
and development. Such investments would

add to the national prestige on the one hand
and contribute to the global competitiveness
of technology base of the country on the
other. Symmetrical partnerships with coinvestments and reciprocity principle into
science sector with some developed
economies would be of high value.
Science Diplomacy
There is now a possibility to leverage science
and technology as a tool in diplomacy and
building strategic alliances and partnerships
with both developing and developed
economies. The Indian science sector could
play a vital role in science diplomacy.
Technology diplomacy, Technology Synergy
and Technology Acquisition could form
three pillars of Indian strategy for
developing science diplomacy as a tool in
strengthening of our external relations.
If India could play a traceable role in

strengthening of R&D institutions in many
parts of the developing world, leadership
position through technology diplomacy
would be a natural consequence. India could
share technologies for forewarning of
natural disasters like cyclone, Tsunami, flood
etc, it would earn for the country significant
goodwill and support from developing
countries. Strategic technology partnerships
with developing countries are valuable tools
in technology diplomacy.
Enlarging the engagement of Indian science

and Technology sector with select countries
under technology synergy model could
provide mutual advantages to India and our
partnering countries in both scientific
developments and socio economic benefits.
Indian strength flowing from talent base and
youth population provides a strong
dividend for technology synergy with
developed economies.
Recommended Actions
Some important lead actions to leverage the
potentials of Science, Technology and
Innovation sector of the country in building
science diplomacy could be considered.
They are
General
There are science counsellors only in four

countries. For Indias global presence and
impact through science sector, we would
need at least additional 20 science
counsellors in carefully selected countries
and regions.
Many countries in Africa and other regions

of the developing world value the Indian
science and technology sector. They seek
India to play the soft leadership role among
the developing economies in several areas
of science and technology. India has adopted
the Small and Medium Enterprise sector as
the growth engine. The Indian model suits
the developing countries with widely
distributed raw material base. Technologies
for decentralized production offer
advantages of low capital investments for
every job created. This also follows from the
Gandhian model of decentralized
production and consumption.
87
88
We would need a special advisory

mechanism for developing strategic
relationships based on mutual benefit.
An institutional mechanism is needed for

undertaking due diligence of our
technology partners based on science
diplomacy policy.
Special package for developing countries

for strengthening of their own R&D
institutions through sharing of technology
and experience in select areas of mutual
interest.
Establishment of an Alliance Office

between Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA) and Ministry of Science &
Technology.
Assistance to least developed countries in

developing science-led development
policy by creating 60 positions under
Technology up gradation fund to be
implemented through collaboration
between MEA and Ministry of Science and
Technology.
Technology Diplomacy
Technology Synergy
Establishment of a long term fellowship

scheme for citizens of the developing
world to undertake doctoral and post
doctoral research in the institutions in
India to be administered nationally with a
provision for 100 fellowships a year.
Establishment of an institutional
mechanism for undertaking scientific
assessment of opportunities for
technology synergy partner countries.
Creation of Technology fund of Rs. 4500

crores for developing countries for
promotion of technology partnerships to
build over a period of five years through
synergy between MEA and Ministry of
Science and Technology.
Establishment of bilateral fund based on

the principle of reciprocity and coinvestment of matching funds and
equitable sharing of intellectual properties.
Establishment of a suitable advisory,
oversight and monitoring mechanisms.
Technology Acquisition
Establishment of a technology observatory
in the country to map specific technologies
of national interest.
Creation of technology acquisition fund
under Public-Private Partnership complete
with an efficient management system.
Leveraging strength in areas of core
competence of India in areas like
aeronautics (with >75% growth),
biotechnology (>35% growth), auto
components, telecommunication and
other high growth sectors based on high
technology areas.
Constitution of special National Advisory

Council for acquisition of high
technologies to develop a policy
framework.
Way Forward
Science offers a handy and soft tool for
building diplomatic relationships with
strategic allies in the modern world. The
Indian science sector has reached a stage of
development in which it could play a more
effective and critical role for Indias Foreign
policy makers. This note defines the context
and enlists some specific recommendations
for the Government of India to consider. An
institutionalized alliance between the
Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry
of Science and Technology is the next best
way forward.
Selection of projects of national

importance in areas like water, climate
change, environment, energy, food and
health security related challenges.
89
90
Appendix 4.3
COORDINATION AND INCREASED SUPPORT

REQUIRED FOR STATE SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY COUNCILS
In order to have more involvement of States
in S & T programmes, the Council discussed
the issue and decided to organize an
interaction meeting involving all Heads of
the State S & T Councils and State S & T
Ministers. A meeting was organized on 10December, 2005 at Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore in which Heads of all
State S & T Councils participated and
presented activities being pursued by the
States in science and technology. After
detailed deliberations, the SAC-PM
recommended the following:
Chairman SAC-PM to send a
communication to the Chief Ministers of
States to ensure enhanced allocation for
S & T in the State Budget.
DST to ensure separate allocations for S&

T in the State Budget allocations by
Planning Commission.
The possibility of including S& T as an
agenda item in the National Development
Council meeting to be explored.
An interactive meeting of the State S & T
Councils to be convened annually by the
State S & T Councils for continuous
information dissemination. The invitation
extended by the Punjab State S & T
Council for organizing the next year
meeting was accepted.
Each State S & T Council should have its

own informative website, with regular upgradation, for which support from DST
may be provided separately if required.
Keeping in view the requirement of States
based on their S & T related programmes,
DST may enhance the support being

provided to State S & T Councils,
particularly to take care of their needs
including scientific and technical
manpower.
To evolve a suitable policy for ensuring
mobility of scientists from Central
Departments/Agencies &Academic
Institutions to State S & T Council for short
term/long term tenures.
Publishing an annual/bi-annual news

letter on the activities of various State
S & T Council to be initiated.
91
92
Appendix 4.4
S&T FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The role that science and technology can
play in comprehensive rural development
plan has been explored time and again. The
various S& T Policies have also given a
prominent place for use of S& T in Rural
Development. The Council had therefore
deliberated on this issue based on a paper
made and presented by Dr. Ashok
Jhunjhunwala and Shri Kiran Karnik. In
their presentation, they advocated S& T
intervention for up-liftment of quality of life
in rural India. The focus of the presentation
was the usage of science and technology
intervention in specific sectors such as
energy generation and distribution, rural.
micro-enterprises, mass education, health
and drinking water, agriculture and
irrigation in rural India, Sanitation etc in
rural areas. Specific recommendations for
setting up inter-agency Task Force in 4
sectors initially were made. These sectors
include: Agriculture, Power Generation,
Information & Communication Technology
(ICT) and Health and Rural Micro
Enterprises.
During deliberations, it was advised to

involve concerned ministries/agencies in the
Task Force like Ministry of Rural
Development, Department of Agriculture
and Cooperation etc.
The Council has also recommended
instituting a Medal at the highest level for
scientific excellence in rural development.
Action
The Honble Minister of Science &
Technology has been requested to set up a
Task Force involving the concerned
ministries/agencies
and
ensuring
involvement of concerned SAC-PM
members.
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
(CSIR) is in the process of instituting a CSIR
Medal for Scientific Excellence for Rural
Development.
Matters Related to Industry
5.1 Problems of Pharma industry
(Appendix 5.1)
5.2 Incentives for R&D in private sector industries

5.3 Recommendation to allow scientists and engineers in autonomous research
and educational institutions to establish START-UP COMPANIES and engage
in other ENTERPRENEUR ACTIVITIES (since approved by the Cabinet).
5.4 Joint taskforce between Science and Technology agencies (Department of
Science and Technology (DST) in particular) and Confederation of Indian
Industries (CII)
(Appendix 5.2)
Matters related to industry
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Appendix 5.1
PROBLEMS OF PHARMA INDUSTRY

Drugs & Pharma R&D
During SAC-PM held on 8th July, the Prime
Minister had asked us to review the current
national pharmaceutical policy 2006
proposed by the Minister of Chemicals and
Fertilizers, especially with respect to the
impact on R&D in the country. We have
undertaken this exercise by holding a
consultation with some of the key stakes
holders. On behalf of SAC-PM, we would
like to make the following submission.
SAC-PM believes that the liberalization of
the drug control regime and the new
patent legislation have both driven the
industry to invest more and more in
research and development. This has led to
an increased demand for PhDs and
qualified scientists. This has led to the
beginning of the reversal of brain drain,
where PhDs, who would leave India for
employment in the western countries have
decided to stay back. In fact, today, there
is net shortage of trained scientists

specialized in R&D in drugs &
pharmaceuticals.
The Honorable Minister of Fertilizer and
Chemicals has brought out a draft policy
on price control (Part B), which would
effectively increase the number of drugs
under price control and that too
significantly. SAC-PM believes that the
proposed 2006 policy would have a
serious and negative effect on research
investments, since this innovative industry
will be deprived of adequate surpluses
that can be ploughed back in R&D. The
new drug policy is likely to have following
immediate and negative impact on R&D.
Net profit margins of all large and medium
sized pharma companies will drop from 67% today to less than 4-5% severely limiting
investment in research,
Plans of increasing the spend on R&D,
world class manufacturing facilities and
global outsourcing will be shelved vis-a-vis
More
innovative
formulations
(combination/new molecules) for which
the country is well known- will no longer
be focused on. This will severely impact the
burden of disease particularly on tropical
diseases.
Many companies, which have already
invested significantly in R&D, world class
manufacturing and distribution reach
(these investments have a gestation period
of 3-10 years) will reduce investment and
indeed perhaps layoff existing scientific
manpower.
In terms of price control, SAC-PM
recommends that status quo be
maintained. The present policy has
worked well and should remain
unchanged. The current cost control on 74
essential drugs, as well as allowing intense
competition in the remaining market
segments to manage prices has proven to
be adequate measures to keep the price in
check.
The current cost based approach (The

MAPE) of pharmaceuticals needs a
review, Turkey was the last country in the
world to have a cost based control because
it failed to create incentives for research
Japan and New Zealand are other
countries, where the price controls have
had a negative effect on research
investments.
There are global/regulatory changesnamely the onset of the new patent regime
in 2005, as well as active and mandatory
transition of all manufacturing facilities to
world -class standards. Indian industry
will need to dramatically increase R&D
spends( from current 5% of sales to more
than match international levels of 15% or
so). Sustain continued distribution
expenses (to inform and reach more than
4 lakh doctors and millions of patients),
and constantly upgrade manufacturing
facilities. With the current margins of 67%, these challenges cannot be met unless
further liberalization occurs. Giving longterm fiscal incentives for research can only
achieve this.
a further 5-10% planned spend on R&D,

companies will actually have to reduce this
spend,
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96
Finally, SAC-PM reiterates that the Indian

pharma industry is providing low cost
(lowest in the world!) medication to the
masses. It is undertaking innovation in
formulations to improve the already
present drugs by combination technology.
The Indian pharma industry is poised to
become a world leader. Indeed, this
industry today is heralded as the most

likely successor to the IT sector in terms
of improving Indias image in the world
as a country that has low cost and
qualified, innovative manpower. In fact,
if this industry is left alone without too
much interference, it can be the medicine
market to the world.
Appendix 5.2
JOINT TASK FORCE BETWEEN SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY AGENCIES (DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY (DST) IN PARTICULAR) AND
CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRY (CII)
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
made a presentation on Mission for
Innovation in Manufacturing. In this
presentation, they highlighted the
advantages of convergence of ABG
(Academic, Businesses and Government),
for benefitting Society through Innovation
and Technology. The presentation that had
focused on R&D achievements of the

industry, defined the available potential in
S&T, barriers to explore the available
potential, key technology requirements for
India and a possible delivery mechanism in
the Public Private Partnership models. SACPM had set up a Joint Task Force to finalize
the details.
Challenges and Opportunities in Science and Technology (Approach to an action plan)
PART 3
(Approach to an Action Plan)
97
98
99
IN BRIEF
Indian S & T faces many challenges. In spite of its enormous and youthful human
resources, there are many areas where India has fallen behind more ambitious
countries - both big and small. At the same time, the advantage we have in one
integrated economy of over a billion people (half of whom are younger than 25
years) gives the country extraordinary opportunities provided economic, social,
political and S & T policies can be integrated.
The opportunities vary widely across the board. Problems with water keep posing
serious challenges, but there have been some success stories. In terms of energy,
with the rapidly falling prices of solar technologies there are huge opportunities for
India in pursuing the solar option with the utmost vigour, for it is the one source we
have that can meet all our energy requirements for a long time to come a source
that is clean. We have to invest in new technologies such as the one based on
hydrogen. India has made rapid progress in the design and production of generic
drugs; there are huge opportunities here for us to become the global source not
only for generic drugs but also for biopharmaceuticals and the modern sciencebased exploitation of natural products. Vaccines are another interesting opportunity.
Our success in the pharma industries has been accompanied by the dramatic growth
of the biotech and agribiotech industries. International programmes, and generating
public and private funding to tackle problems that arise in our own country, present
at one and the same time both challenges and extraordinary opportunities, for
solutions found here could be relevant to half the population of the globe. In matters
relevant to health, it is paradoxical that while many health problems remain - from
malnutrition to tuberculosis, Indian entrepreneurs have come up with original and
innovative solutions in providing health care at a fraction of global costs. Whether
it is the heart or the eye, Indian innovation has shown how health care costs here
can be lower by huge factors. Exploiting these opportunities on a global scale
constitute an essential strategy for meeting some of our challenges.
100
Similarly, our airline traffic keeps growing at rates of between 15 and 20%, which
today must be about highest in the world. In spite of experience with the development
of the new technologies in several aerospace sectors, our presence in design and
manufacturing, or even international aviation into and out of India, remain
inexplicably poor. IT has become a profitable enterprise, chiefly by exploiting the
quality of the human resources available in India at low cost. Mobile communication
in India offers one of the cheapest such services in the world, and has completely
changed the process by which communication technology can spread.
The challenges before the country remain numerous and great. What is needed
today is an appreciation of how an opportunity grasped and exploited to the full
can give us confidence and the required resources to tackle the many challenges
that remain. With the support of the society as a whole and with appropriate efforts
in the education sector, we should be able to succeed in what we want to achieve.
Part 3: Challenges & Opportunities in Science and Technology
CONTENTS
In Brief
99
Prologue
103
Agriculture
108
Water
114
Renewable Energy
124
Chemicals and Fertilizers
137
Metals and Minerals
141
Earth Sciences
149
Life Sciences and Biotechnology
155
Revitalizing Medical and Health Research
160
Aeronautics and Aviation
165
ICT and Science
173
Education
181
Science-led innovation
187
Epilogue
197
101
102
103
PROLOGUE
ndia is expected to emerge as an economically prosperous country, with an inclusive

society wherein the bulk of the population has access to facilities for education and health
care and has a life with hope and security. In order to realize such a vision, it is necessary
that science is at the heart of the strategy for national development. In what follows, we
indicate how we need to identify important tasks in the various sectors related to science
and technology sector. An agenda for action prepared with care and deliberation should
guide our national efforts. This outline is intended to prompt the preparation of a more
complete and thorough action-plan
There is reason to believe that India may

become a major economic power in the next
two or three decades. There is also hope in
the scientific community and in the general
public that India may become a leader in
science to contend with. It is imperative that
India becomes a knowledge power,
particularly in science, in the next few years.
It is only by this means that India can become
a great centre for technological innovation.
We need to take many steps to reach this

goal.
The present situation in the country with
regard to science is not altogether
encouraging. We do not have educational
institutions which are in the top 50 or 100 in
the world. Our universities have decayed
due to years of neglect. Even our leading
institutions are not performing as well as one
PROLOGUE
PRologue
104
would expect, comparable to the best

elsewhere. In most areas of science and
technology, there are only few real experts.
There is a leadership crisis wherein we do
not find sufficient number of young leaders
in science. We need to take a serious note of
this situation and do everything possible to
build our capacity in science. At the same
time, there is increasing competition from
other countries, specially our Asian
neighbours. Some of our Asian neighbours
such as South Korea and China have made
enormous investments in science in the last
few years, not only in terms of funding but
also in creating large manpower. The
performance of these Asian neighbours has
out-classed our performance in terms of the
number of Ph.Ds, scientific research papers
and so on. The main concern for us should
be not merely to improve the quantity of our
scientific contribution, but more importantly
to improve the quality of science
significantly, by eliminating mediocrity from
our educational and scientific institutions.
Let us not forget that India contributes
around only 3% to world science and around
1% or so to the top 1% of scientific research.
In the next two decades, we should try to

reach a level where at least 10% of the top
1% of scientific research comes from India.
In order to reach a high level of performance
in the next two decades or so, it is necessary
to improve the quality of our institutions in
all respects, specially of those dealing with
scientific research and education. We must
ensure that we have a large number of
schools and colleges of high quality and that
our universities become fountains of
knowledge, and are able to generate future
leaders in science. Teachers and teaching
should become a national mission for the
next decade. Our leading institutions should
take active part in improving the quality of
schools and colleges.
We should recognize that real progress in
science occurs because of the small science
carried out by individual scientists or small
groups of scientists in their little laboratories.
Because of our preoccupation with big
agencies, small science has not received
sufficient support all these years. We have
to create a large number of small centers of
We must improve the overall environment

for innovation and creative work. We have
to create the right climate for innovation and
creativity to blossom, so that young India is
able to meet the challenges that we are
facing. While serious effort is required on
part of the central and state governments,
help from the private sector is equally
essential to achieve this objective. It is
necessary that the entire society cooperates
in eliminating mediocrity from all spheres
of life and also in creating an ambience
where scholarship and science get due
respect. More importantly, bureaucracy in
science administration has to be eliminated.
We have to find new ways of administering
science and this may require changing the

structures of our institutions as well as
administrative and auditing practices.
Some of the strategic interventions necessary
are:
Carefully plan an increase in the density

and volume of high quality manpower in
the Research and Development sector by
about 60% from current levels during the
12th Plan period.
Identify a few India-centric Grand Science

Technology and Innovation challenges with
potential for global impact and dedicated
groups to pursue them without structural
confinements or resource limitations.
Establish 100-200 research groups and

create a number of centres around
individuals and teams of scientists with
proven track record of performance. Make
long-term investments in them through
flexible grants for reprioritization among
investments into revenue expenditures for
making global impact.
PRologue
excellence devoted to well-defined areas

around outstanding individuals or groups
of individuals. Such centres will enable
young people to work in frontier areas of
science and technology. We will have to
provide improved opportunities to young
people to work in important areas of science
in leading laboratories in the world so that
our manpower needs to tackle serious
problems facing us are met.
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106
PRologue
Energize the university system with special

funding and procedural flexibility.
Mandate all PSUs and companies to spend
a specified share of their profit for funding
research in universities and elite
institutions with a provision for matching
funding support by the government. (this
could be part of the proposed CSR
spending likely to be specified in the new
Companies Act.)
Provide Research and Development grants

to performing universities and centres of
excellence with flexibility for enhancing
international research collaboration. A
dedicated funding provision could be set
aside for such global collaboration in
identified priority areas.
Establishment of non-homogeneous
clusters for co-locating various players of
the innovation of ecosystem, so as to
promote work across and at the
intersection of disciplinary boundaries.
water and sanitation) after connecting

research competencies and resources.
Launch a scheme of 1000 doctoral and post

doctoral overseas fellowships for training
of young scientists in chosen centres
abroad in selected areas of national
priorities.
Networking Indian Institute of Science,

Indian Institutes of Science Education and
Research, and National Institutes of
Technology with other institutions and
colleges for enrolling researchers from
academic institutions into research and
development.
Encourage public-private partnerships

with a changed mind-set, moving from a
grant-centric approach, to creating of
enabling research synergies.
Set up good schemes for the training of

youth, sabbaticals for career scientists, and
mentor future leaders in science.
Challenge prizes and award of major
Create a robust innovation eco-system, so
grants for research in selected areas (e.g.,

energy, environment, health, agriculture,
that science-led innovation can flourish in

India.
Some of the important points to note related

to S&T and national development are:
prepare an agenda for action on the S&T
inputs to pressing national problems such
as energy, food, water, environment and
health. Fund priority R&D areas under
each sector adequately.
underscored as being essential for many

years but little progress has been made),
and
fully recognize that education plays a
critical role in all S&T efforts related to
development and in solving problems
related to the alleviation of poverty, disease
and others facing the country.
In this document, we have briefly outlined the issues and tasks related to some of
the sectors where S&T play an important role. We have to prepare more detailed
plans on these and other issues (e.g., transportation, coal, advanced materials) for
guiding future actions.
While there are many warning signals, there is cause for hope that India will emerge
to become a major power in science and technology in the next two decades if we
adopt the right strategies and provide the necessary support for the pursuit of
excellence in education and science. Politicians, administrators and the public have
to develop interest and love for science, and ensure that science figures in our value
system.
PROLOGUE
ensure that the socioeconomic sectors fully

make use of S&T (This aspect has been
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108
AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE
Science helped in the agricultural revolution in the past. And now, there are new challenges
facing agriculture.
Science-led growth in agriculture, a necessary

condition for inclusive growth
India has moved from an era of chronic food
shortages during 1960s to food selfsufficiency and surplus in some sectors, as a
result of the massive national efforts made
to generate appropriate scientific manpower
as well as technologies (Green Revolution),
provide critical inputs and develop relevant
infrastructure. However, the recent food
crisis witnessed globally and the surging
population and livestock faced with the
daunting negative impacts of climate
change, continue to challenge the agriculture
sector of India more than ever before.
Agriculture will therefore, remain central to

Indias economic security, which in turn,
depends largely on scientific developments
and interventions made in the area. As the
largest private enterprise (~130 million farm
families) of India, agriculture contributes
nearly 14.5% of the national GDP and
engages 52% of the workforce. Hence, it is
critical to visualize interventions to facilitate
growth in agriculture and allied sectors to
enable its GDP contribution commensurate
with the involved workforce. It is also crucial
to realize that agriculture is an area of science
that has to be region-specific and oriented

to the ecological and socio-economic
systems, unlike many others.
Agricultural research including education in

India (National Agricultural Research
System, NARS) has been largely organized,

facilitated and coordinated by the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),
one of the largest systems of research in the
world, through 105 research institutes of the
ICAR, 61 coordinated Research Projects, 630
Krishi Vigyan Kendra and 53 State
Agricultural Universities. The single most
significant factor that made Green
Revolution in India a success is the existence
of a well-organized NARS with trained
scientific personnel.
Demand Scenario
Rising population (projected to be 1.5 billion
by 2050) and per capita income, are pushing
up the demand, which needs to be met
through enhanced productivity per unit
area, input and time. The demand for
agricultural commodities is rising at a much
higher rate than the growth in population
and dietary patterns are shifting from low
price calorie food towards high price calorie
foods. The trend in demand at national level
indicates that by the year 2026-27, it is likely
to rise by 1.3% per year for cereals, 3.0% for
pulses, 3.5% for edible oil, 3.3% for
vegetables, and 4-6% for fruits and livestock
products over base year 2011-12 (Table 1).
AGRICULTURE
While the annual food grain production has

increased from about 50 mmt in 1950-51 to
over 250 mmt at present, the horticultural
production has increased from 25 mmt to 241
mmt during the same period through
science-led research interventions and
development. The animal and fish sectors
have also kept pace by recording annual
production of 120 mmt of milk, 63 billions
of egg and 8.3 mmt of fish. Research
continuum in development and infusion of
technologies resulted in this significant
increase in the farm productivity that have
placed India among the leading producers
of wheat, rice, pulses, sugarcane, milk, eggs,
fruits, vegetables and fish. A significant
contribution of science and technology led
output growth is the reduced cost of
production in the range of 1.0-2.3% per
annum during the past three decades in the
case of cereals. Thus, without the
contribution of research, India would have
been an importer of about 13.8 mmt of rice
and wheat, annually.
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AGRICULTURE
Table1: Estimates of Food Demand 2011-12 to 2026-27 (unit: million metric tonnes)
Commodity
2011-2012
2016-2017
2026-2027
Compound growth rate

%: 2026-27 over 2011-12
Cereals
218.86
235.67
265.24
1.29
Pulses
18.84
21.68
29.73
3.09
Edible oils
14.23
16.64
23.98
3.54
Sugar
23.70
26.50
32.95
2.22
Vegetables
139.17
161.01
226.39
3.30
Fruits
77.38
96.86
164.00
5.09
Meat, fish and eggs
12.47
15.75
29.36
5.87
Fish
8.48
10.68
19.84
5.83
Major Concerns
India has over 17% of the worlds
population and is still counting, 4.2% of
worlds water, and 2.3% of the worlds
geographic area. The share of water for
agriculture is declining on account of
industrial and municipal demands. The
cultivable area in the country has remained
140mha 2 mha for the last four decades of
which, at present, about 63 mha (44.7%) are
irrigated.
Current farm power availability is around

1.7 kw/ha compared to 7+ kw/ha in Korea,
14+ kw/ha in Japan and 6+ kw/ha in the
USA.
The use of high-input technologies of
intensive agriculture over the five decades
without supportive natural resource
management options followed by farmers
Research Strategies
Agricultural research preparedness, in terms
of an inclusive blend of basic, strategic,
applied, and participatory researches, and
synergistic combination of modern and
traditional knowledge, are the sine qua non
for a vibrant agricultural research system,
and in turn provides for a thriving, dynamic

and livelihood-securing agriculture. The
strategy is oriented to strengthening basic
research for accelerating technology flow,
trained human resource at vocational, basic
and higher education levels, addressing
anticipated challenges, integrating research
in coordinated networks to accelerate
technology generation and validation, and
up scaling of technologies for translation,
adoption and generation of profit in farm
enterprises.
The research strategy for development aims
at farm productivity enhancement,
minimizing production losses, value
addition and commercialization of products.
This is now being viewed in an integrated
farming system perspective involving all
forms of agriculture specific to the ecological
regions of the country. In doing so, a definite
focus is on the rain-fed agriculture that
supports 40% of food grain production and
66% of livestock production. Future growth
in agriculture has to come largely from these
areas. Vision 2030 of the ICAR envisions to
accomplish the goals by improving
efficiency in agriculture through effective
use of resources; accelerated dissemination
of technologies, information and
AGRICULTURE
has resulted in soil degradation, nutrient

depletion, surface and ground water
depletion, poor drainage, problem soils and
pollution in the high production zones.
Variants of pests and pathogens as well as
new pests and diseases have emerged. The
other concerns at farm level are low input
use efficiency, low-scale application of postharvest management or value addition,
limited availability of feed and fodder, lower
levels of income and profitability from
farming compared to other livelihood
options. Farming is being increasingly
considered as less remunerative on account
of various risks of production, prices and
marketing. The growing threats to
agriculture on account of climate change
need huge investments in research to make
the crops climate resilient and other
technologies adjustable to the consequences
of changing climate.
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112
knowledge; enhancing quality of human

resources right from trainers under agrieducation to all linked with the agri-supply
chain; and promoting efficient governance
in R & D and best practices in agricultural
production systems.
AGRICULTURE
Research Initiatives
The fast-paced developments in science
having applications in agriculture require
higher skills and techniques and, therefore,
capacity building deserves high priority.
Modernization of research infrastructure,
development of human resources and
improvement in knowledge and skill of
farmers are critical. Also, high priority
should be accorded to build core competence
in cutting-edge science and strategic
research focused towards minimizing the
vulnerability of the agricultural production
systems towards which the GMO (or
transgenics) technology would have a large
scope in India. The adoption of GM crops is
making an important contribution to the
development of crop production systems
that require fewer pesticide applications,
reduce the risk of crop losses due to insects
and weeds, and increase the yields. In India
some of the transgenics in crops such as
cotton, chickpea, sorghum, sugarcane
potato, castor and tomato are being

developed and field-tested with the aim of
introducing traits such as pest resistance,
disease tolerance and abiotic stress tolerance.
Acquisition of cutting-edge technologies and
their dissemination will play a pivotal role.
Owing to the increasing complexities in
accessing and refinements in utilizing the
next generation technologies, it becomes
imperative to achieve self-reliance in the
relevant areas such as biotechnology,
information and communication technology,
nanotechnology, geographical information
system and robotics.
Todays research environment within the
system and outside of it (sponsored
research) has gainfully evolved into a
network-based multi-disciplinary team
research. Several teams have emerged to
chalk up bold and target oriented
programmes to undertake research in
challenging topics. This approach is being
consolidated in the form of research
consortia platforms which are proposed in
critical areas such as agri-biodiversity
management, genomics, seed, hybrids,
conservation agriculture, input use
efficiency enhancement, climate resilient
agriculture, water & waste management,
warning systems, molecular diagnostics and

stem cell research in animals by roping in
collaborations with other science agencies of
the country.
The way forward to ensure a holistic growth
and vibrant research environment to
increase agricultural productivity and
farmers profitability with minimum
regional gaps also requires enhanced
budgetary allocation of at least 1% of the
total Ag-GDP from present level of 0.6%, that
may gradually be enhanced to 2%. The new
technological needs are knowledge and
capital intensive and therefore, demand
much higher investment. Appropriate
supporting services, supplies and policies
are vital links that enable us to meet our
committed Development Goals. It is,
therefore, imperative that these should be
aligned for making maximum impact of
agricultural research for all round
development and to make it an effective
instrument to bring about inclusive growth
of the economy.
S. Ayyappan
AGRICULTURE
health foods, feed & fodder, fiber,

biofortification, processing and post harvest
management, diagnostics and vaccines,
precision farming, farm mechanization,
energy, nanotechnology, high value
compounds / phytochemicals and agriincubators. The core science institutions
(public and private) related to disciplines
concerned are integral part of the consortia
platforms to make these the practical
scientific solution providers of the problems
chosen. Further, core research areas like
biology including molecular biology,
genomics and genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) along with the risk
analysis prior and post-release, and
biotechnology, chemistry, economics,
evolution, space sciences and statistics have
been prioritized on their scope to cover the
gaps in research on complex issues such as
drought and heat tolerance mechanisms in
plant and animal systems, nutrient uptake
efficiency and its management, allele mining,
bioinformatics, host-pathogen interaction,
weather prediction, development of fore-
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WATER
WATER
Water is essential for life. Drinking water is also the birth-right of all beings. There are many
pressing challenges related to water.
The per capita availability of fresh water has

been plummeting in our country. For
example, the per capita utilizable surface
water availability went down from 1911 m3
in 1951 to 672 m3 in 2001 (K. D. Sharma &
co-workers, Current Science, 89, 2005, pp.
794-811), the availability being projected to
drop further to 495 m3 by 2025. As is well
known, the ground water availability is also
diminishing, with total projected
replenishable stock of 433 b m3/annum as
on 2003, i.e., a per capita availability of 309
m3/annum assuming the same level in 2025
and projected population of 1.4 b (R. K. Mall
& co-workers, Current Science, 90, 2006, pp.
1610-1626). With a conservative estimate of
per capita demand amounting to 600 m3/
annum, it is probable that demand could
outstrip supply. Thus India will need to
augment its fresh water resources while

focusing on water conservation at the same
time. A whole host of measures including
minimising fresh water runoff into the sea,
maximising ground water recharge and
replenishment of water bodies during good
monsoons, creating large reservoirs, vertical
utilization of space such as excavated
hilltops, etc., are necessary. In water-stressed
coastal areas, fresh water resources will have
to be augmented through seawater
desalination while in arid/semi-arid regions,
rainwater harvesting and water reuse must
be accorded high priority.
Irrigation consumes three fourths of
utilizable fresh water. Thus maximum
attention needs to be given to water
conservation measures in this sector.
Key recommendations in this direction

(some of these also form part of the
conclusions emerging from the deliberations
during the recent India-EU Stakeholders
Conference on Research and Innovation in
Brussels) are listed below:
Close watch over the salinity index of soil
which can reduce water uptake efficiency

by plants;
Water conservation through cost-effective
Enhancement of water use efficiency
through improved 5-day and seasonal

weather forecasts (conclusion emerging
from EU-India High Noon Project);
Focus on drought resistant crops;
Promotion of alternative agriculture along
Indias long coast and in the sea.

Indias problem is not of water availability
alone. There has been a steady decline in the
water quality ascribable to a number of
contributing factors. This can affect
agricultural productivity besides the impact
on humans and animals. The drinking water
standard set by BIS prescribes two limits:
one termed as Acceptable and the other

termed as Cause of Rejection. The latter
has been devised to accommodate the reality
that in many places drinking water quality
is not within the acceptable limit. 2000 ppm
TDS, 1 ppm Fe and 0.1 ppm Pb are
considered as tolerable limits though these
greatly exceed the acceptable limits. There
is a clear need to evolve suitable treatment
methods or identify alternative sources so
that people get clean water to drink in line
with the norms. Similar to other technology
driven areas such as electronics, water
purification is also seeing significant
technological advances and older
technologies are being abandoned (e.g., use
of chlorine for disinfection has largely been
discontinued in developed countries). There
is a strong focus on developing new
technologies for clean water (M. A. Shannon
& Co-workers, Nature, 2008, 452, pp. 301310, T. Pradeep & Anshup, Thin Solid Films,
2009, 517, pp. 6441-6478). Our country needs
to keep pace with technologies advances,
especially because we have to address wide
variety of water purification issues at
affordable cost.
Table 1 provides at a glance the different
types of contaminants in drinking water and
the options available for their removal.
WATER
drip irrigation systems;
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Table 1: Water treatment processes to obtain safe drinking water

Type of
contamination
in water
Suitable Treatment
Process
Nature of Action
of the Process
Alum treatment/
Microfiltration (MF)/
Ultrafiltration (UF)/terafil
clay based cartridges
Alum treatment followed by decantation or

filtration removes turbidity from water.
MF & UF & terafil remove turbidity through
physical barrier separation process from water
Turbidity +
Pathogens
Alum + chlorine tablet/

bleaching powder or Solar
disinfection (SODIS) or UF
membrane with 50-75 KDa
cut-off or silver nanotechnology
based composites
Removal of turbidity while killing the harmful

pathogens and retaining them in water.
UF removes both turbidity and harmful
pathogens from water through physical
barrier separation process.
Silver nanotechnology is essential for
preventing biogrowth in water
Hardness
Lime/soda treatment or resins or

nanofiltration (NF)
Removes divalent ions preferentially
Iron/Fluoride/
Arsenic/
Nitrate/
Chemical precipitation; Ion

selective resins or other adsorbents
Nanotechnology based composite
Selective removal of fluoride or arsenic but

retaining the same salinity of the water
Nanotechnology based composites are far more
effective than conventional adsorbents
Salinity with/
without
additionally the
above
contaminants
Thermal or membrane based

desalination
Removes practically all suspended & dissolved

contaminants which include salinity, fluoride,
arsenic, hardness, organics, pathogens, etc.,
from water
WATER
Turbidity
and virus, respectively, even without active

chemicals. A number of different
disinfection units are available in the market,
including units based on indigenous
knowhow. Hybrid units combining chemical
intervention-cum-adsorption or chemical
intervention-cum-controlled filtration have
also begun to be introduced to improve
disinfection efficiencies of units which
otherwise may not be foolproof.
Hardness is encountered in certain specific
areas and special membranes which reject
divalent ions selectively provide the simplest
and most effective treatment option. The
problem of iron is most acute in the eastern
part of the country. There are known iron
removal methods but the problem is one of
choking of units by colloidal iron hydroxide.
Separation through adsorption or rejection
while in dissolved state may be considered
as alternative solutions. New approaches
based on nanotechnology are also available
for choking-free removal of iron.
Two of the most severe contaminants in
water are arsenic and fluoride, the spread
of the latter being higher. In the case of
fluoride, precipitation technologies were
popular initially. However, these have been
replaced with alumina adsorbents,
WATER
Removal of pathogens is of greatest concern

given that water-borne diseases still afflict a
large number of people, especially those
consuming surface water. Boiling of water
was the most ancient wisdom and continues
to be popular in many households. It is,
however, energy intensive. Chlorine/
chlorine oxide/bleaching powder remain
the most prevalent means of mass-scale
disinfection but there are concerns given that
many of the water bodies have organic
impurities which can lead to formation of
dangerous chloro-organics. Alternatives to
chlorine are ozone, iodine-containing resins,
disinfection systems based on copper and
silver nano-particles, etc. UV treatment is
also common, the most cost-effective option
being solar disinfection which is in vogue in
some parts of the world although it is less
effective during the rainy season when
water-borne diseases are most prevalent.
Disinfection can also be effected through use
of adsorbents which separate out pathogens.
An alternative approach is to remove
pathogens by controlled filtration through
porous media. These operate without active
chemicals/radiation. Ceramic candle filters
work on this principle and have been around
for a long time. Ultra-filtration membranes
can achieve the international benchmarks of
log 6 and log 4 reductions for cyst/bacteria
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WATER
118
polymeric resins and membrane-based

separation. Precipitation is still useful, e.g.,
for fluoride removal from reject stream prior
to disposal. Arsenic in ground water is
another problem constituent which is no
longer confined to West Bengal alone. Most
such waters contain iron also and, in the
course of iron removal through precipitation,
much of the arsenic also gets removed. A
final polishing with adsorbents such as
arsenic-selective resin may be required to
achieve WHO norms (10 ppb). New
adsorbents based on nanotechnology are
available, which exhibit far more higher
efficiency in arsenic and fluoride removal,
thereby reducing cost of treatment and
reduced spent adsorbent. Domestic and
community scale units have been set up in
arsenic prone areas. High throughput
technologies will be required to cater to large
populations afflicted by arsenic. Wherever
feasible, the use of surface water after
disinfection can be encouraged for
consumption.
Organic impurities such as pesticides,
surfactants, etc., can also pollute sources of
drinking water. Noble metal nanoparticles
such as silver are highly efficient and
affordable for pesticide removal; they have
been extensively studied and demonstrated.
Specific adsorbents, TiO2 photo-catalysis,

and RO-based rejection are among the
various remedies. Other known impurities
include nitrate and heavy metals. Indeed, in
many waters there are multiple
contaminants which may necessitate
application of broad based, non-specific
separation techniques. Uranium is present
in the waters of Punjab causing serious
difficulties.
The problem of brackishness is being felt
increasingly in different parts of the country,
not in coastal areas alone but also in interior
locations. Water obtained in the course of
mining is a new source of water, which
however is brackish in many cases.
Seawater, of course, is the most abundant
source of water but is full of salt. All such
saline waters require desalination. Liquid
waste from industries, municipalities and
tanneries also require desalination for
recycle and reuse. Table 2 summarizes the
various options for desalination. Which
option one would choose would depend on
the specific context. For example, if waste
heat is available, as is the case in thermal
power plants and many other industries,
thermal desalination may be most
appropriate. Ocean thermal energy has been
utilized in specific locations, mainly in the
form of pilot projects, but additional energy

input is still necessary. Desalination at small
scale can be carried out effectively using
119
solar stills in sunny remote areas and waste

heat from diesel engines.
Table 2. Desalination Techniques

Processes Based on Phase Change (Thermal)
Liquid-vapor Processes
Multistage flash
distillation (MSF)
Permeation Processes
Others
Liquid-solid Process
Freezing
Gas Hydrate
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Biological
desalination
Vapor compression
distillation (VCD)
Ocean thermal
Membrane-based desalination has grown

rapidly in the last two decades and
overtaken all other technologies worldwide,
except in niche situations such as those
mentioned above. Both electro-dialysis (ED)
and reverse osmosis (RO) are viable options
although the latter has become increasingly
more popular be it for desalination at
domestic scale or in very large plants. This
may be ascribed to its compact and modular

nature, the improvements made in RO
membrane quality, performance and
robustness over the years, and the overall
advantages in terms of capital and operating
costs. The production cost varies from 2-25
paise per litre depending on the degree of
salinity of water, the scale of operation, the
extent of recovery, etc. The production cost
WATER
Multiple effect
distillation (MED)
Electrodialysis (ED)
(applicable to charged
solutes)
WATER
120
was estimated recently to be ~11 paise per

litre for a 6000 LPH community scale
seawater RO unit (data courtesy WASMO)
and the cost is expected to come down below
10 paise per litre with energy recovery from
the reject stream. For a 13 MLD RO plant
operating with brackish mine water, the
water pricing has been fixed at 4 paise per
litre. At present all commercial units are
using imported RO membrane but this
scenario will change shortly. It is important
to point out that RO is not just about
desalination, but is gaining in popularity as
a means of removing all forms of impurities
in water, be it arsenic or fluoride or nitrate
or pathogens or pesticides. The same would
be the case for thermal desalination as well.
Challenges and Opportunities

in Clean Water Segment
Water consumed by the people must be
potable and this guiding principle must
apply not just in urban areas but in small
towns and villages too. This means that
centralized purification and on-site water
quality testing facilities must be drawn up
in urban areas and community scale facilities
must be set up in villages where water
quality fails to meet the standards. This also

means that a separate line should be made
available for distribution of potable water to
minimize the quantum of water subjected to
purification treatment. Although many rural
water purification projects have been set up,
including several utilizing indigenous
technologies and some of these are
technically successful too a Business Model
for self sustainability is essential. This has
happened in a few cases in Rajasthan, West
Bengal, Tamil Nadu, etc. and the success
stories need to be paraded for others to
follow. Identifying local talent and training
them in the best practices of operation and
maintenance is another challenge. A good
example of this is the recent training of
women operators entrusted with operation
of six solar RO plants in Rajasthan. Besides
these logistics aspects there are several
technical challenges which need to be
addressed by the research community.
These are outlined below.
The strengths and weaknesses of competing
technologies for purification of specific
types of feed water as classified in Table 2
must be undertaken by independent
technical auditors. This is crucial for proper
advice to decision makers.
The two important criteria in terms of

performance are quality and productivity.
Benchmarks need to be set and research
efforts initiated to move up the learning
curve
continuously.
Disruptive
technologies such as those indicated in
Point #13 below will hopefully bypass the
traditional learning curve which depends
on incremental innovations and technical
improvements.
Some water treatments for disinfection do

not require any power whereas some others
do, especially to ensure adequate
productivity. Membrane-based desalination
technologies invariably require grid power

unless driven by renewable energy sources.
Thermal water purification units likewise
require heat energy which makes them less
popular unless driven by waste heat or
solar thermal energy. Designing costeffective units which take into account
erratic power supply or its non-availability
is a critical challenge.
Reject water management is yet another
important challenge in many water
purification projects, e.g., desalination units
which generate brine residues problematic
to discharge in inland areas and arsenic/
fluoride removal units which generate
sludge with high levels of these hazardous
impurities. New technologies as indicated
in Point #13 reduce sludge generation,
through use of far more reduced quantity
of material. It is essential that materials are
based on inorganic/natural ingredients and
they dont release the contaminants back
to the environment. There is much room for
innovative solutions. For example, projects
can be set up such that drinking water is
obtained from sources which would benefit
from concentration, e.g., seawater in salt
works and seaweed sap used as foliar
spray.
WATER
Most water purification units are prone to

biological and chemical fouling and require
scrubbing/back washing and, ultimately,
replacement. Suppression of fouling is an
important technical challenge. Maintenance
of purification units is a big challenge in the
field. A number of solutions fail in the field
because they are very difficult to clean/
maintain/backwash, and not because they
are technologically inferior. It is a common
sight across the country in both domestic
as well as community units. Simple
approaches for turbidity removal such as
terafil or approaches based on
nanotechnology are therefore far more
practical.
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122
WATER
Although desalination is intended to

eliminate excess salts, the extent and
selectivity of desalination cannot be easily
controlled and the product water can be
depleted of useful minerals. Cost-effective
strategies for retention of useful minerals
or for re-mineralization are required to
obtain nutritious water from desalination
projects.
Another important challenge is to minimize
wastage of water. No water is wasted, for
example, when water is chlorinated or
subjected to UV radiation or passed
through adsorbents which selectively
remove impurities. However, when there
is high level of dissolved solids in the feed
water, these water treatment options do not
work and a part of the feed water must
necessarily be discarded as reject water.
Many domestic RO units waste as much as
80-85% of the water and, likewise, many
community units waste as much as 70% of
the water. Improved operational protocol
and new technologies are required to bring
down water wastage.
Over-dependence on imported membranes
poses a future threat. The challenge is to
commercialize indigenously developed
membranes for diverse applications. Some
technologies have been licensed recently.
A frequently posed challenge is whether

water purification devices can be fitted to
hand pumps and made to work. Low
pressure processes may be feasible but
short residence time could pose a problem,
especially when ppm level impurities have
to be removed. The challenge has also been
put forth from West Bengal whether a
device can be fitted to a hand pump for
desalination of brackish underground
water. These will require radical thinking
and innovative solutions.
In many cases water purification is
inexpensive but analysis of the water is
costly and many times not instantaneous,
e.g., for detection of pathogens.
Inexpensive and swift detection techniques
are necessary.
Given that many water purification units
are set up in far flung areas, there is a need
to develop remote monitoring, operating
and troubleshooting systems.
There are opportunities to look beyond our
borders. For example, indigenous RO
plants have been installed and
commissioned in Afghanistan benefiting
50,000 Afghans. Indigenous technologies
can be suitably developed, packaged and
marketed in countries needing costeffective and robust solutions.
nanotechnology based solutions focusing

not only on proof of concept but also on
scalability.
Encourage cross-institute participation in
national water technology research
programs. For example, membrane
technology from CSMCRI can be combined
with nanotechnology from IIT Madras to
encourage new technologies, such as biofouling resistant membranes.
Thanks are due to Prof. T. Pradeep for useful inputs.
Pushpito Ghosh
WATER
There is an increasing belief that new

materials and nanotechnologies can lead to
the next breakthrough in drinking water
technologies. In several areas Indian efforts
are significant. There are already
commercialized technologies and a few are
being implemented. Some of these are
based on state-of-the-art indigenous
research. Central government support
(financial) and state government support
(manpower) are critical for extensive field
trials leading to widespread dissemination.
Research needs to be intensified on newer
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Energy crunch is a major threat facing humankind. It is imperative that we have a well-orchestrated
policy for renewable energy
1.2 Billion people in India constitute nearly

17% of worlds population. Its GDP is merely
7% of that of the worlds, but has been rising
steadily. Its per-capita electricity
consumption (at 733 kWh in 2008-09) is less
than a third of the worlds per-capita
consumption. Though rising steadily, Indias
per capita consumption constituted a mere
one eighteenth of that of USA, a tenth of that
of Germany and UK and a third of that of
China. Even though the growth rate of
Indias electricity generation is close to 8%
and matches with its GDP growth, its high
power-shortage is quite evident for those
who live in India; power-outage is the norm
all over India. While cities may have a few
hours of cuts during the day, the rural areas
may get power only for a few hours a day
or none at all.
Power-generation in India primarily relies

on coal, contributing close to 55% of installed
capacity (and even much higher percentage
of annual power generation); the percentage
has been growing in recent years with large
proven coal reserves in the country. Hydro
contributes to 22% of installed capacity (but
only 14% of yearly generation), amounting
to less than 25% of its potential; but with
growing
protests
and
potential
environmental impact, hydro-power
generation has been growing at a very low
rate. Gas and diesel contributes to a mere
11% of installed capacity and with very little
local availability, India has to largely depend
on imports in this sector. Nuclear contributes
to less than 3%. Renewable energy
generation is 10% of Indias installed
capacity, but contributes to only 2.4% of
power generation because renewables like

wind and solar have no more than 25%
plant-load factor.
There is little doubt that India requires a

huge increase in its electricity generation
over the next couple of decades. Increase in
hydro-power generation would be difficult
due to environmental implications; gas and
oil based power-plants would mean higher
import bills and nuclear growth is likely to
be small. Coal-based plants are a definite
alternative, but increasing use of coal would
increase greenhouse gas emissions and
impact environment adversely; further
increasing mining of coal has become a
nightmare in India. Because of this, the use
of renewables for power-generation
becomes highly important.
Even-though some work has been done in

this area in the recent past, one has barely
begun to scratch the surface. So far, one has
merely used in India what has been
developed elsewhere in the world. With
Indias needs, Indias potential of each
source and keeping in mind Indias
affordability and price-points, the R&D has
to be carried out afresh; it would involve
developing technologies which would make
a difference in Indias context. It is indeed
possible. India has to aim big with
renewables - something like 50% of Indias
electricity requirements being met from
renewables, and that too without subsidy.
Also, one has to beware of straining limited
land-resources for generating renewable
energy. An R&D program which takes us in
this direction is needed today. One of key
focus has to be R&D in power-storage.
Renewable energy, like wind or solar,
requires energy generation as and when
available and if it cannot be used
immediately, requires energy to be stored
and used at a later point. The storage today
is a weak link for such renewables, with price
of available storage being far in excess of
generation. One will start seeing results in
short-term. In ten years, the society will start
feeling the impact in a big way.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
The huge shortage has meant that industrial

sectors set up their own captive power
plants. In 2008-09, captive generation
capacity in industry was 27 GW (nearly a
fifth of Indias total generation capacity). The
business and residences often are compelled
to use diesel generation and battery-backup, even though they cost over Rs 15 per unit
(three times that of grid-power cost to a
residence, which is pegged at Rs 5 per unit
or less).
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
126
However, a national policy on alternative

energy will be incomplete without covering
alternatives to liquid transportation fuels.
India is heavily dependent on oil-imports,
especially to feed its transportation sector.
Similarly, chemical sector requires imports.
It is imperative that we focus on R&D to
generate alternatives.
Another major area where work is needed
is energy-conservation and use of energyefficient processes, systems and appliances.
Unfortunately, there is huge waste of energy
as inappropriate techniques are used in
industry, offices and homes. This however
is a subject of another study and is not being
taken up here.
R&D focus on Solar

Technologies
Background
Solar energy has been identified by the
MNRE as a thrust area for India, given that
India has an extremely high solar reception
capacity (600 TW per year). The grid
connected capacity is still minimal, but there
are many big projects in the pipeline, since
the launch in 2009 of the Jawaharlal Nehru
National Solar Mission (JNNSM). The
JNNSM has a strong emphasis on increasing

manufacturing capabilities inside the
country. Transfer of technology is actively
sought for:
Solar collectors for medium and high
temperature applications
Thermal devices and systems (including
thermodynamic)
Thin film modules in silicon
Special Incentive Packages (SIPs), involving

fiscal and customs benefits as well as
infrastructure facilities, are provided to set
up manufacturing units for solar
components and devices which use
technology not available in the country.
Priorities in the R&D sector have been given
to:
Improvement of efficiency in existing
materials, devices and applications
Reducing costs of balance of systems
Integration and optimization
Cost-effective storage technologies targeting
space-intensity through the use of better

concentrators and nano-technology
R&D strategies are currently oriented

towards
Long term research for new materials and

processes
Improvement of existing processes and
technologies
Pilot and demonstration projects

Development of R&D infrastructure in PPP
Support for incubation and start-up
Recasting R&D focus in Solar

The price of solar PV has been falling rapidly.
It amounted to (taking into account Indian
interest rates) over Rs. 20 per unit just two
years ago at generation point (DC power
generation), taking into account life-time
costs but without taking into account land
costs; this has fallen to Rs. 5 per unit today
and is likely to fall further. Thus solar PV
plants supplying power to the grid at Rs.
7.50 per unit are now being built; but if one
uses solar power in a distributed and
decentralised environment (for example
on roof-tops), complimenting grid, then the
impact is even higher. For homes, one can
get solar power at the same rate as gridpower and for commercial establishments,
one can get grid-power at rates lower than
the current rate. Further, solar power is

available at the peak-hours during the day
(when the power demand is at the peak and
the shortage is maximum) and the highest
solar radiation coincides with the hottest
part of the day; when air-conditioners or
air-coolers guzzle up maximum power,
solar provides natural supply-demand
match. If one goes one step further and
starts directly using the direct current (DC)
power that the sun provides, instead of
converting it into AC, one further cuts the
conversion losses. Since India is generally
a hot country (temperature-wise) and
cooling (using fans, air-coolers, airconditioners and refrigerators) consume a
significant amount of energy, Indias bright
sunlight could be a great asset. This is very
different from many other countries, say
European, where sun shines much less
brightly and cooling is not as important a
requirement.
Thus, significant R&D is needed to work
out technology for decentralised solar PV
based power generation and DC power
usage for cooling, motor-based systems and
lighting. Electronic gadgets, another
increasing user of electrical power, anyway
operate on DC power and one has to figure
RENEWABLE ENERGY
modes
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
out the best way of powering all these

devices directly from solar PV systems.
The other key system will be electrical
storage to take care of evening peak-hour
demand, which anyway takes in and gives
out DC power. The major challenge with
solar power is non-uniformity of energy
source during the day. Fortunately, peak
of solar radiation coincides with at least one
of the peak demand periods (i.e. during the
day peak). However, the other peak period
is during the evening hours at a time
when solar radiation is non-existent.
Therefore a successful solar energy storage
program will make solar PV power
appropriate as a peaking power. This
will be discussed in more detail later. The
storage options for solar PV v/s solar
thermal could be very different and
therefore there is a need to look at two
subprograms one for solar thermal and
the other for solar PV. There is also a need
to look beyond the more conventional
storage options (battery materials). The
program could be positioned as a national
mission perhaps put out as a challenge.
Solar thermal technology for industrial
process heating applications up to a
temperature of 250C holds good potential.
Deployment of appropriate solar

technology for these applications has the
capability to replace expensive and limited
fossil fuels and also to reduce the overall
carbon footprint of the country. With
limited projects currently being
implemented in the country due to low
acceptance among industrial and
commercial consumers, it is recommended
that investments be made in creating
demonstration showcase projects across
industrial processes to ensure successful
proliferation of such systems.
Simultaneously, solar cooling is another
vital area that must be focused upon.
Working configurations of solar cooling
systems have been demonstrated in the
country such as the 100kW solar cooling
system at Solar Energy Centre by Thermax
Limited. It is important that the right
ecosystem be created and a few more such
projects be supported in order to ensure the
successful propagation of this technology.
There is also a need for standardisation and
certification of available solar thermal
technologies in the country.
R&D Focus on Decentralised

Wind-Energy
Wind is likely to remain for years one of the

largest sources of renewable energy in India.
The potential capacity can be further
expanded with improvement of turbines. In
this segment there could be an important
demand for technologies, either through
R&D or technology transfer, to support

installation in lower wind regime and
Storage Solutions.
The R&D priorities set by MNRE for windenergy currently are:
Indigenous design, development and
manufacturing capability for MW-scale

Wind Electric generators (WEGs)
Design, development and manufacturing
of small WEGs up to 10 kW capacity, that

can start generating power at very low cut
in speeds (~ 2 to 2.5 m/sec).
Design, development and manufacture of
submersible direct drive wind pumps in

different capacity ranges (up to 10 HP) for
low wind regimes.
R&D on carbon fibre and other new
generation composites etc.
R&D on high efficiency electronics for
protecting, controlling, optimizing

performance, power management &
conversion and establishing connectivity
with the grid to export or import power.
The above areas of research are priority areas

and progress in these can certainly ensure
further successful proliferation of wind
RENEWABLE ENERGY
In 2008, India had 6.58% of the worldwide

energy generated through wind. India has a
gross potential of generating 48,561 MW of
power through Wind Energy while at
present we are generating just over 16000
MW. This will continue to increase over time.
But far more interesting would be a
distributed and decentralised wind-power
generation of 2 kW to 200 kW capacities, as
they could ideally supplement decentralised
solar PV generation (as peak solar radiation
may not coincide with peak wind speeds).
WiSE estimates Indias micro-generation
potential at about 83 GW. The number
however requires validation, and if correct,
could be a major boon if appropriate
technologies are developed. Costs are a
major hurdle and new designs are needed
to create simpler mounts on top of the
building.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
energy systems in the country. However a

special focus on decentralised wind energy
and hybrid systems where wind-energy is
combined with fossil-energy or solar PV
plants or even small coal-plants is needed.
R&D for Biomass Energy

Generation
Low-cost of production (between Rs. 2.25 to
3.25 per unit) and wide availability
throughout the geography makes biomass
as an attractive alternative energy source,
especially in a decentralised environment.
It could be an excellent complement to
decentralised solar and wind-power
generation. However, one should sound a
word of caution. Biomass generation could
compete for land resources with food and
oil-crops. In India it could create a severe
problem. So unless waste bio-mass is used,
(which is already used by poorer households
for cooking), the resource will not be
available. Further, feedstock supply is not
always constant, price security does not exist
and it is a less concentrated form of energy
and therefore not easily transportable. There
may be some land, which is otherwise of
limited value; R&D is needed to promote
technology development (typically
biotechnology based) that will improve

yields in energy crops (e.g. grasses) in such
lands.
There are three ways to convert biomass to
power. The first is Combustion, where
biomass replaces fossil fuels to run steam
turbines. Combustion of biomass for power
could either be in the form of co-firing (when
it is burned along with coal) or biomass
based combustion. The second involves
Gasification, a process in which biomass is
first converted to gas and the gas produces
power in a gas engine. Anaerobic Digestion
is usually applied to biomass that typically
has a high amount of water in them
(anaerobic digestion is commonly used for
treating organic waste such as kitchen waste
and sewage waste into energy). Under this
route, microorganisms act upon the organic
matter present in the biomass under
anaerobic (absence of air) conditions and
convert it into biogas. An emerging route for
biomass based power is pyrolysis. In this,
the biomass is rapidly heated to 450 - 600C
in the absence of air, and results in a bio-oil
called the pyrolysis oil, which in turn could
be used for firing the boilers. Typically, 50 75% (by weight) of the feedstock is converted
into pyrolysis oil. Advantages of pyrolysis
when compared to other forms of using
biomass to generate power are that being in

liquid form it is easy to store and transfer
and has high energy content. R&D is needed
to make each area cost-effective.
Similarly, the use of marine-algae to capture

solar energy and its conversion to fuels has
significant potential. India is blessed with
right climatic conditions, high solar
radiation, uniform temperatures and many
rain-free days in a year, besides having a
large coast line for scaling this.
A Road Map for Fuel cell and

Hydrogen
Hydrogen energy is considered to be an
important component of the renewable
energy strategy in India, both as stationary
and portable energy sources. Research,
development and demonstration efforts are
to be undertaken in the country for bridging
the technological gaps in different areas of
hydrogen energy, including its production,
storage, transportation and delivery,
applications, safety, codes and standards.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
has consistently supported R&D for
development of hydrogen fuelled internal
combustion engine at IIT Delhi, which
resulted in the development of a single
cylinder hydrogen fuelled engine for a three
wheeler, jointly by IIT Delhi and Mahindra
& Mahindra. Recognising this development,
UNIDOs International Centre for Hydrogen
energy Technologies at Istanbul in Turkey,
provided partial financial support for
development and demonstration of 15
numbers of hydrogen fuelled three wheelers
in 2008-09. The focus of the Fuel Cell
RENEWABLE ENERGY
NISARGRUNA technology, developed by

BARC, for processing of biodegradable
waste resource materials originating in
kitchens, markets and abattoirs is a biomethanation process involving aerobic and
anaerobic phases, which ensures complete
degradation of bio-waste. There are two
useful by-products: (i) Nisarg-jyoti (biogas)
rich in methane that can be used for cooking
or electricity generation; (ii) organic manure
generated in the degradation process that
can be used for fortifying soil fertility.
Availability of kitchen waste may limit its
large scale deployment; however, the
technology could have huge potential, when
combined with solar PV, to generate
electricity in decentralised applications.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
132
programme of MNRE is to mainly support

RD&D activities on different types of fuel
cells namely Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
Fuel Cell (PEMFC), Phosphoric Acid Fuel
Cell (PAFC), Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
(DMFC), Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DEFC),
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) and Molten
Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC). The emphasis
of research has been on further
improvements in fuel cell related processes,
materials, components, sub-systems and fuel
cell systems.
The earliest market entry is likely to be PEM
fuel-cells. 3-10 kW capacity systems have to
be the first focus. The work includes
development of materials and components.
High temperature PEMFC would be another
focus. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) could also
provide a break-through.
Nonetheless, fuel-cells will succeed only if
low-cost electrolysers for hydrogen
generation are available. A number of
catalysts have been developed for steam
reforming of various hydrocarbons (natural
gas, LPG, alcohols). Fully integrated
compact reformers are not yet available in
the country. Hydrogen generation from
chemical hydrides has also been
investigated. However efficient conversion

of the by-products (for example, the borates
to borides) needs to be established.
Hydrogen generation by biological routes is
another possibility. R&D work on hydrogen
generation by photo-electrochemical
methods using visible light needs to be
accelerated.
At the same time one needs a focus on DCDC convertors and system engineering.
Hydrogen dispensing stations need to be
developed. Development of different
materials for hydrogen storage is also a
priority.
New technologies in Bio-fuels

In the Indian context Hydrogen Energy, Fuel
Cells, Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles,
Geothermal Energy and Tidal Energy are
new and emerging technologies. MNRE is
implementing a broad based research,
development and demonstration (RD&D)
programme for development and promotion
of these technologies through research,
scientific and academic institutions; national
laboratories, universities, industries, state
agencies
and
non-governmental
organizations.
Hydrogen Energy & Fuel Cells
Hydrogen Production
MNRE has a programme focussed on
development of hydrogen production
methods mainly from renewable energy
resources. In this context, R&D efforts for
hydrogen production by way of splitting of
water through photo-electro-chemical and
photo-catalytic methods using solar energy;
and thermo-chemical method using nuclear
energy are underway. In addition, efforts for
hydrogen production from the microbial,
catalytic reformation and gasification routes
of biomass or biomass based feed stocks are
being pursued in the country. RD&D
projects for hydrogen production by
reformation of biomass derived glycerol;
decomposition of hydrogen sulphide and
non-thermal plasma reformation of
renewable and fossil fuel based liquid and
gaseous hydrocarbons are also being

implemented. R&D projects on prototype
demonstration of wind hydrogen based
stand-alone electrical generation and for
production of hydrogen are also being
carried out. BARC is committed to the
development of Nuclear energy assisted
hydrogen production as long term solution.
Hydrogen Storage
Storage of hydrogen in solid-state materials
is considered to be safe in comparison to
high pressure gaseous and liquid hydrogen
storage and is, therefore, one of the focus
areas of research in the country. MNRE is
presently supporting five R&D projects on
hydrogen storage through development of
metal, inter-metallic and complex hydrides
and carbon materials.
Applications of Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen fuelled three wheelers using
hydrogen stored either in metal hydride or
in pressurized form in cylinders are being
developed in the country. Work on
development of multi cylinder internal
combustion engine for automotive
application has also been supported by
MNRE. R&D efforts for blending of
hydrogen with diesel for use in a utility
RENEWABLE ENERGY
MNRE has been supporting a broad based

RD&D programme on different aspects of
hydrogen energy technologies including
hydrogen production, its storage and
utilization for stationary, motive and
portable power generation applications
using internal combustion engines and fuel
cell technologies.
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134
vehicle and blending with straight vegetable

oil for stationary engine are also under
progress.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Harnessing Geothermal
Energy
Geo-thermal energy generation involves
generating electricity from heat trapped
within the interior of the earth. GSI estimated
thirty years ago that India has a geo-thermal
energy generation potential of 10,000 MW
at a depth of 2-3 km. However it is believed
today that one could comfortably cross the
20,000 MW level. The running-cost of such
a plant is very small. Environmental impact
of the geothermal power plant is almost
negligible. Greenhouse gas emission is
nominal as well. No consumption of fossil
fuel is involved. Additionally, CO 2 and
sulphur emissions are 80% and 64% less in
geothermal power plants as compared to
fossil fuel based power plants. Land
requirement is small as compared to that in
hydro, thermal and nuclear power plants.
Furthermore, waste material is almost zero
and it has no dependence on meteorological
parameters unlike wind or solar energy.
There are several techniques and

technologies to recover geothermal energy.
R&D could first focus on electricity
generation using substantially low enthalpy
geothermal resources having temperatures
between 75oC to 180oC through a binary
process at a suitable location in the
geothermal belt. Such a development task
would be the first attempt in the country
towards the development of a deep drilling
(2-3 km) and could also contribute to
harnessing deep seated helium resources
and to develop large scale helium plants.
Furthermore, the deep drilling will
contribute significantly in the earthquake
precursor study and various research fields
in earth sciences in the region.
R&D Focus Required on

Storage
With environmental impact of some
conventional forms of energy generation
being serious, alternative energy sources like
solar become a clean and natural source. The
biggest problem of solar generation is the
limited hours (as sun is available in varying
intensities for just nine to ten hours a day)
of generation (photovoltaic or thermal) and
Policy Imperatives
In any development and deployment of new
technology, and more particularly the
renewable technology, Technology and
Policy engines need to synchronize if it has
to get impregnated in the society.
Policy changes to encourage installation of

rooftop systems (allowing households/
commercial installations to export excess
electricity into the grid) and connecting the
financial incentives provided to the
electricity that they produce to time-of-theday tariff concept will hugely encourage
installation of decentralized solar PV
systems.
Solar PV panels have a life of 20 years. Credit
availability at preferred long-term rates is
critical to the success of such systems.
Various state electricity boards have prices
fixed for buying electricity produced with
biomass from IPP and this varies from
Rs. 3.55.0 per kWh in India. Moreover, the
Government of India through MNRE gives
a subsidy of Rs. 1.5 Cr per MW up to a
capacity of 2 MW if the power produced is
connected to an 11 KV grid. As we move to
difficult bio-mass (for example paddy straw,
wheat straw, agricultural trash, switch grass),
the biomass power generation requires policy
support in terms of preferential tariff and
financial instruments in the form of reduced
interest rates and faster depreciation.
Simultaneously R&D must also be
accelerated to bring down the costs of all
sub-systems from feeding to power
generation.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
the storage of energy. All current forms of

energy storage are highly inadequate. For
example, while it is possible to generate solar
PV energy at Rs. 5 per unit (kWh), current
electrical storage costs (in addition to
generation costs) may be closer to Rs. 15 per
unit, taking into account lifetime costs and
losses. While PV generation cost will reduce
to below Rs. 3 per unit in a few years and
come at par with thermal power generation,
there is no clear path for storage. It is
therefore recommended that a major R&D
program on energy storage be taken up. The
program should be a multi-institutional
program (with five to six centres) and
Rs. 1000 Crores (this may be low) should be
allocated towards this over the next five
years. This would include electrical battery
storage as well as other forms of storage. It
should be monitored by a high-powered
committee headed by a reputed scientist. In
five years, we should aim to be amongst the
leaders in the world in this area.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
136
Policy support is also required to recognize

solar-biomass hybrid as one of the most
credible renewable energy system and
hence the policy support in terms of
generation based incentives must be
properly defined to maximize the content
of both solar and biomass. The current
restriction of biomass hybrid to 25% must
be removed.
renewable energy source (viz. solar energy,

wind power, bio-mass, etc.) for meeting the
power demands of domestic as well as
commercial / industrial establishments has
been one of the thrust areas of the policies
formulated by Govt. of India to offset the
rising demands of power generated by using
fossil fuels like coal, diesel etc. and also for a
cleaner environment.
As new renewable technologies stabilise,

policies have to be evolved to promote their
usage. It may be desirable to help set up a
few policy-centers in the country which
bring policy-makers and practicing
technologists together.
India has enough resources to generate 50%

of her energy-needs using renewable sources
of energy. However research on these
renewables must be carried out so that they
are altered and transformed to suit Indias
needs. Of course, a single renewable energy
source on its own cannot be the solution to
Indias energy crisis but an optimal
combination of the available renewable
sources (solar playing a vital part) will be
the key to solving the existing power
problem. One of the key areas that need
major focus is energy storage including
battery. Most renewables provide
intermittent and varying power; storage will
be the key to use them effectively.
Conclusions
India is facing significant challenges in
energy security, responding to the call for
action against climate change and also
addressing the issue of inclusive growth
within the country. Indias coal import
requirement is expected to exceed 30% of our
coal demand by 2017 and will need to show
some action towards its voluntary target of
20-25% reduction in carbon emission
intensity of GDP by 2020; and look at ways
to electrify over 40% of rural households
with reliable electricity. Utilization of
Thanks are due to Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Dr. R. S. Sonde

and Dr. M. Phadke for their inputs.
Ashok Jhunjhunwala
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CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
The Chemical Industry (CI) is a sciencebased and an essential industry. No industry

has made such an impact on the quality of
life as the CI. The food security, health,
apparels, communications, mobility, etc.
depend critically on the produce of the CI.
It is the first industry to go global and the
first one in the world where organized
research in industry was carried out, notably
in Germany. It is more than three trillion
dollar per annum industry globally. China
although made strides after India, but today
it has the largest CI in the world.
Chemicals and Polymers

Chemicals and polymers are intimately
linked. We need to have phosgene-free
polycarbonates technology for a large scale
plant in India. Super Absorbent Polymers
(SAPs) are essential for diapers and sanitary
napkins and are even more important for

economically weaker section of the society.
SAPs are based on acrylic acid and we need
to develop technology based on propane,
rather than propylene (and even with
propylene it will be welcome). We lack
production of both polycarbonates and
SAPs. We also need technology for elastic
fibres.
Thermoplastic
Elastomers,
particularly Styrene- Butadiene- Styrene,
need to be produced on a large scale so that
injection moulded canvas shoes, required for
all school going children, can be made
without vulcanization and waste of
materials. In terms of renewable raw
materials based polymers we need to give
attention to cellulose based plastics, such as
cellulose acetate and ethyl cellulose (which
can also be used to make fibers for apparel
wear). We have a large amount of bagasse,
from the cane sugar industry, which is burnt
Over-all progress of a country has often been measured by the status of its chemical industry.
We have done well, and have yet far to go.
138
that too in wet conditions. There is a need to

dry wet bagasse with supercritical steam,
readily available in sugar plants, harvest
water and save a large amount of bagasse to
produce steam and power through
cogeneration and yet make it available,
through different technologies, to make high
grade cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose.
Lignin is required to make super plasticizers
for cement- concrete. Hemicellulose can be
converted to xylose and/or fermentable
sugars which can be used in the molasses
based alcohol plants.
Olefin crackers
Gas crackers and naphtha crackers to make
olefins (ethylene and propylene) require to
use co-product hydrogen more usefully (e.g.
for fatty alcohols) rather than burn in their
crackers furnaces. (In the case of caustic
soda-chlorine plants, spread throughout
India, hydrogen can be usefully employed
in fuel cells to cut down power consumption,
which is an important cost component in the
manufacturing cost). There is a need to
develop catalytic process for olefins. The
utilization of C4 and C5 olefins to value
added products from existing naphtha
crackers and future planned units need to
be taken on priority. This includes butene1, butenes-2, isoprene, isoamylenes,
dicyclopentadiene, piperylene. Even C8-C9

fractions also need to be upgraded. The
utilization of the Light Cycle Oil (LCO) from
cat-crackers needs to be improved via novel
technologies to make naphthalene and alkyl
naphthalenes.
LNG import based industries and syn-fuels

India is going for large scale import of LNG
at different locations and here methane
comes with 6 to 8% ethane. All LNG plants
should have ethylene plants, like the plant
in Dahej, and even smaller facilities can
provide decent size ethylene for ethylene
dichloride/PVC plants. Even equally
important is to exploit the refrigeration
potential of the LNG and at port locations we
can have large oxygen plants, at low cost, to
support IGCC to make syn-gas from coal, pet
coke, biomass, etc. or steel plants in the vicinity.
Fischer-Tropsch Process
It has become essential for us to go for synfuels via Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis
where the syn-gas comes from coal; pet coke,
heavy crude oil based bottoms, with high
sulphur and organometallics like Vanadium,
Nickel, etc., thus enabling recovery of much
needed sulphur and vanadium, nickel. F-T
gives diesel with cetane number exceeding
Batteries
Batteries are essential right from mobile
phones to hybrid vehicles and yet we have
no source of Lithium and therefore
developing sources and recovery from
wastes need to be undertaken. Other types
of batteries also need to be developed.
Titanium dioxide
This pigment is essential for the paint
industry and we need both titanium
tetrachloride and titanium sulphate based
routes on a large scale and aim at nanosize
[Titanium metal production is also essential].
Fertilisers
We have not seen new ammonia/urea plants
in last 13 years and this has, apart from many
other problems, resulted in imports of urea
at close to 7 million tons per annum and a
distorted application of N,P,K due to the
policy of subsidies. This has adversely
affected the soil health. We need to adopt
slow release urea and examine the best
combo-fertilisers to be used.
Potash and Phosphatic Fertilisers

Our potassium (as chloride) and almost all
our phosphate rock are imported. We need
to convert them more usefully. Thus
Potassium Chloride should be converted to
nitrate and hydrochloric acid so generated
be used for acidulation of the phosphate rock
to give phosphoric acid. Nitrophosphate,
which is good in so many ways, production
technology needs upgradation and no
country in the world is really enthusiastic
and we can seize this opportunity.
70 and becomes an excellent blending stock

for our large appetite for diesel. Technology
to operate F-T in petrochemical mode needs
to be developed to give olefins, alcohols, etc.
with catalysts having high productivity.
Even expertise in Process Engineering of
these plants needs to be developed. In this
context, we should hasten development of
Underground Coal Gasification of unmineable
coal, at depths of more than 1 km, as in the
large, close to 60 billion ton, deposits, in
Mehsana, Gujarat, and this environmentally
clean technology will provide syn-gas for
power, fertilizers, hydrogen plants, F-T
plants, etc. Equally important is rapid
development of coal bed methane. From a
longer perspective the exploitation of Natural
Gas Hydrates, whose deposits are extensive
in India around the coast, and which can be
very valuable source of much needed methane
(natural gas) need exploitation. Here
technology is very demanding and yet not
available in a proven way globally.
139
140
Catalysts for ammonia and adiabatic

reforming of methane
There is a need to look at improving catalysts
for synthesis of ammonia and catalysts for
adiabatic reforming of natural gas at
temperatures like 11000C, so that energy
efficiency can be substantially improved and
cost of producing such gas reduced. This can
be coupled to the oxygen plant attached to the
LNG plants to carry out rewarding integration.
Pharmaceuticals
We have made rapid progress in this
Industry for generics and formulations and
a number of units have sale of more than one
billion dollar per annum and yet the scope is
phenomenal, including biopharmaceuticals.
Almost all APIs need crystallization and we
have serious shortcomings in this area and a
national center e.g. in a CSIR Lab like NCL,
for crystallization needs to be established. A
much higher level of expertise is required in Chiral
Engineering as many new drugs, and even
agrochemicals, are Chiral. Fluorochemistry needs
serious inputs. The exploitation of natural
products needs a major push more so as plants
can be developed, through the known systems
of breeding, to boost the content of the desired
component. The technology for recovery of the
desired components needs upgradation.
Biopharmaceuticals
We have made good progress in vaccines but
still the one required for TB is not yet proven
and needs more concentrated attention. The
protocol for biosimilars needs to be
developed. We still dont have technology
for COQ 10 (an antioxidant), hyaluronic acid,
and even L-Lysine. All heparin, required for
blood thinning, is of animal source (Pig
based products) and is a taboo in India and
need to develop a biotechnology route as it
would be most desirable (like what was done
for renin in the world instead of getting it
from the stomach of calves). L-cysteine is
another example. There is a need to pursue
more vigorously monoclonal antibodies.
Recovery of Solvents and Process

Engineering
A variety of solvents are used in very large
quantities in pharmaceutical plants and
often end-up as mixtures and separation and
recycling becomes important. Expertise in
this area needs to be developed. Further
nanofiltration membranes need to be
developed, for aggressive solvents, to make
processes cleaner and more economical.
Continuous plants (microreactors) need to
be designed in an astute way.
M. M. Sharma
141
METALS AND MINERALS
While India has made notable progress in

large-scale production of several metals as
well as in development of products based
on metallic materials, the performance of the
minerals sector has not been quite as
satisfactory and requires considerable
improvement.
manufacturing products based on metallic

materials to achieve global standards in
regard to carbon emissions. At the same
time, with respect to Indias mineral base,
intensification of exploration efforts to find
new resources of clean energy and strategic
materials is an emerging priority.
This brief note on metals and minerals

highlights the current challenges that
confront these two sectors, namely
minimizing environmental impact and
enlarging the resource base.
Rare earth elements (REs) have attracted

particularly
increasing
attention
internationally making the present an
opportune time for India to place a major
thrust in carefully identified segments to
make its mark in RE based products. REs
also provide a relevant case study with the
strategies suggested with respect to REs
being equally applicable to other critical
materials.
The worldwide concern about minimizing

energy consumption and environmental
impact imposes new demands on metal
production plants and on units
METALS AND MINERALS
Minerals are our wealth and are to be used to our advantage. We need to exploit metals and
materials technology for improving many facets of our industry, economy and life as a whole.
142
MeTALS AND MINERALS
Metals and Materials

Indias GDP has consistently grown at 7 to
8% in recent years and the country promises
to maintain these growth rates in the coming
years. Indias large scale metal production
plants constitute a major part of the
manufacturing sector and contribute notably
to the GDP. Compared to the present levels
of consumption, it is projected that Indias
demand for some of the commodity metals
could triple in the next 10 years. This
translates, for example, to nearly 120 million
tonnes of finished steel and over 5 million
tonnes of aluminium. The requirement of
copper and zinc is also expected to be around
one million tonne each. In the face of such
increases in the anticipated utilization of
steel and other non-ferrous metals, the
potential environmental damage during
their production inevitably becomes a major
issue. From this perspective the Centre for
Science and Environment, New Delhi, has
recently rated the steel companies in the
country that annually produce more than 0.5
million tonnes of steel. In their assessment
based on more than 150 parameters, the steel
sector in India fares poorly and well below
the global best (www.cseindia.org).
Significant improvements are therefore
called for in all aspects having a bearing on
environmental impact, in particular those

pertaining to energy consumption and
atmospheric pollution. Thus, developing
strategies for enabling sustainable
production processes assumes great
importance. This will essentially entail
minimization of pollution, conservation of
resources and the maximization of clean
energy supply.
Recognising this as the need of the hour, the
Government of India has launched a national
mission on enhanced energy efficiency as
part of the National Action Plan for Climate
Change. It devolves upon large scale metal
industries to contribute to this national
mission by undertaking studies to estimate
energy efficiency of each and every
production process in their integrated
operations. Since it is required to find costeffective solutions to achieve optimal energy
consumption, a major programme to revisit
what may have been regarded as established
production practices emerges as an
immediate imperative.
The world population is projected to rise
from the present level of 6 billion to about
10 billion by 2050. An inevitable
consequence of such a sharp population
growth is increased consumption of
Minerals
India produces about 90 minerals, of which
10 are metallic, 40 are non-metallic, four are
fuel and three are atomic minerals, the rest
being minor minerals. Mining and minerals
account for about 2.5% of the countrys GDP
(see report by AK Ghose et al on Indian
Mineral Industry published in 2012 by the
Indian National Academy of Engineering).
A policy pertaining to Indias mineral wealth

should be governed by whether a given
mineral falls in the abundant, medium,
insufficient or strategic category (see
Perspectives in Science and Technology vol
II brought out by SAC-PM 1989). Such
categorization is dynamic and hence requires
constant updating of data on the reserves,
rate of production, rate of consumption,
projected demand and international
situation. However, over the years Indias
minerals scenario has not substantially
changed because of two reasons: (i) no major
innovation in technology has happened and
(ii) dependence of the minerals sector on
small sized mines. Consequently, India is not
internationally competitive in the field of
mining and minerals and Indias record has
not been particularly noteworthy in any
aspect of the field, viz. mining, mineral
prospecting, mineral processing or
exploitation of the tailings.
In regard to mining, surface mining is the
predominant system resorted to in the
country, while performance in underground
and deep mining leaves much to be desired.
Areas such as structural integrity of mineral
walls and supports, deployment of robotics,
automation and safety technologies have
received less than the required attention
(INAE report refers).
METALS AND MINERALS
materials of every kind accompanied by

enhanced usage of energy. The key to facing
challenges associated with mounting
materials consumption lies in resorting to
eco-friendly materials development by
minimizing energy use at every single stage
of materials-based product development.
This will involve lowering energy
consumption and carbon emissions during
materials processing and product
manufacture, reducing product weight,
minimizing heat and electrical losses in the
course of materials usage in any form and
recycling non-toxic materials post product
manufacture
and
usage.
These
considerations define the path that R&D
should henceforth take in the areas of
product manufacture and application of
engineering materials.
143
MeTALS AND MINERALS
144
Mineral prospecting and exploration efforts

have to be considerably modernized and
expanded, particularly in regard to a number
of critical minerals having commercial and
military applications and in which India is
deficient: examples are the platinum group
of elements and a host of clean energy
materials including rare-earth elements,
lithium, indium and gallium. Some of these
elements have strategic applications, too.
Although these are invariably required in
relatively smaller quantities (among these
lithium is an exception as it is used in newer
light alloys which are required in tonnage
quantities), not producing them
indigenously renders India vulnerable. For
instance, platinum group of elements are
used in catalytic converters and are
irreplaceable as catalysts in certain
petrochemical applications. Similarly,
among the clean energy materials are the
rare earth elements required in substantial
quantities as they are used in lighting
devices, in magnets for automobiles and
wind turbines and in other high technology
applications while indium, gallium and
tellurium are used in solar cells. Lithium is
a key constituent material used in batteries.
With most of mica mining in the country
having come to naught, the technology
indigenously developed by BARC for
extraction of lithium from spodumene and

zinnwaldite has to be revisited for upscaling
production of the metal. Oblivious of their
obvious importance, India is yet to establish
assured sources for most of these critical
materials. With India investing heavily in
nuclear energy generation, exploration for
finding newer uranium resources has also
become expedient. Atomic Minerals Division
of the Department of Atomic Energy needs
to be supported in every way possible for
processing newly identified sources of
uranium as well as for recovering uranium
from low tonnage deposits.
It has been reported that, until a few decades
ago, mankind depended only on about 20
chemical elements. However, it has been
estimated that recent innovations, viz.,
newer electronic devices used in
telecommunication and in modern day
computers, incorporate over 60 to 70
elements (Nature Chemistry, 2011 p 688).
Similarly modern aeroengine superalloys
use traces of elements not thought of before.
It is a matter of particular concern that, with
many of the elements not being in demand
earlier, India has not been alive to the need
for finding indigenous resources for most of
them. This situation has to be corrected by
augmenting exploration. Further extensive
research should be undertaken for
recovering scarce and valuable elements

from the e-waste from entertainment, cell
phone and computer industry.
At the other end of the spectrum of mining

and mineral processing operations are the
tailings which are a by-product and should
be looked upon as a valuable resource. For
example the Hutti gold mine has accumulated
gold tailings over the past 25 years and these
can be treated as a valuable scheelite resource
since there is no domestic production of

scheelite (0.04 06% WO 3). Similarly
machining waste from the machining plants
to produce tungsten based ammunition
needs to be processed to recover tungsten
metal values. These steps are required
because India is dependent on imports for
its sizeable requirements of tungsten in steel
products and for armaments. Similarly, red
mud is considered a waste from aluminium
production but can be treated to derive metal
values such as gallium and vanadium. These
examples suggest that concerted efforts are
required to be supported by the
Government, after due techno-economic
evaluation, for analyzing and extracting
valuable traces from the tailings from Indias
mineral processing plants.
The R&D scene in the minerals sector
presents a dismal picture (see INAE report).
Barely 200 scientists work in this strategically
important area, mostly in two premier
national laboratories, namely Central
Institute of Mining and Fuels Research
(CIMRS) and National Institute of Rock
Mechanics (NIRM) and the overall R&D
investment is less than Rs. 50 crore. The R&D
investment and human resources will have
to be significantly raised in order to achieve
technology up-gradation required for greenmining and for bringing about marked
METALS AND MINERALS
Indias minerals resource base can be

enlarged by resorting to mineral processing.
A case in point is rock phosphate. The
reserves of chemical and fertilizer grade
apatite and rock phosphate in India are
extremely limited and of lower grade than
required. The importance of beneficiation
technologies to generate higher grade
phosphotic rocks becomes clear when it is
noted that, with growing agriculture
production, the projected requirement of
phosphotic minerals in the next ten years
may be as high as ten million tonnes.
Similarly the fast depletion of high grade
manganese ore and the so-far-unsuccessful
extraction of nickel from the chromite ore
burden are causes for worry and call for
fresh solutions to ensure that India is not
stymied in meeting its requirements of these
widely used industrial materials.
145
MeTALS AND MINERALS
146
improvements in productivity and in safety

performance. This requires enhancing the
capability of the two premier R&D
laboratories (CIMRS and NIRM) and of the
educational institutions like the Indian
School of Mines, Dhanbad and the teaching
Departments of Mining in Indian
Universities. Moreover, Centres of Excellence
should be set up in specific areas to be
identified by knowledgeable expert groups.
Rare Earth Elements

Rare earth elements present an interesting case
of growing current concern which is a typical
example of the unforeseen situations and new
opportunities that arise from time to time.
Rare-earths (REs) comprise a group of 17
chemical elements: scandium, yttrium and
the fifteen elements called lanthanides (the
periodic table refers). The fifteen lanthanides
are divided into two groups, viz. light REs
(LREs - from lanthanum to europium) and
heavy REs (HREs gadolinium to lutetium).
Some of the heavy rare-earths (e.g.,
dysprosium and terbium) have been found
to have profound influence on the properties
of RE based materials, which have become
critical in varied high-end applications.
Monazites, Indias major source for rare
earths, are unfortunately deficient in heavy

rare-earth elements.
The global distribution of rare-earth mineral
reserves is uneven (China 37%; CIS 19%;
USA 13%; Australia 5%; India 3% and others
23%). The country-wise exploitation of RE
resources for industrial production is
determined by governmental policies and,
as a consequence, RE material availability
has attracted international concerns. China
currently accounts for 97% world production
of rare-earth based materials and thus is in
a position to decide unilaterally both the
quantum and the price of exporting these
materials to other countries. The
consequences of such unilateral decisions are
reflected in trade related issues, which have
been brought up before the World Trade
Organization. Given this scenario, new
opportunities have surfaced for India and
as such it is imperative to review programs
and policies related to Indias own
reasonable light RE resources and address
resource gaps pertaining to HREs.
The following areas emerge as those
requiring particular attention
Intensification of exploration of RE minerals
in various parts of the country to augment
Indias resource potential, especially in
Substantial investment in scaling-up of

existing R&D strengths and production
capabilities. IREL (Indian Rare Earths
Limited) with its resource base, BARC with
its experience in ion exchange and solvent
extraction techniques for separation of
individual rare earth elements from mixed
RE compounds, DMRL, with its proven
capability to process high energy
permanent magnets, ARCI with its interest
in new materials and some of the private
industries engaged in one or the other
aspect of RE products are to be brought
together for coordinated action. India has
generally not found a viable mechanism for
effectively networking capable institutions
functioning under different agencies to
achieve defined goals. The need to identify
and overcome difficulties in this respect
cannot be over-emphasized
R&D to recover precious metals and alloys
from high end products. Hard disks, cell
phones and other electro-technical devices

are examples of products made in large
volumes from which substantial quantities
of RE materials can be extracted.
Evolving appropriate policies for (i)
stockpiling of high purity RE metals, (ii)
reducing import duties on RE metals,
products and devices containing major
quantities of REs and (iii) limiting export
of RE raw materials and products.
Summary
In summary, it can be stated that Indias
metals sector has done reasonably well.
Large-scale metal production plants have
been established and quite a few R&D
laboratories and educational institutions
have contributed to advances in the fields
of process as well as product development
in a way comparable to those achieved
elsewhere in the world. However, the
demands of the future will inevitably pertain
to energy savings and to minimizing adverse
impact on the environment, areas which
have not hitherto received the necessary
attention. These considerations have
therefore to be prominently factored into
R&D to be undertaken henceforth on
conventional as well as new materials.
METALS AND MINERALS
respect of HREs. For instance, it has been

recently reported (Brown University Crisis
Simulation, March 2012) that Arunachal
Pradesh may have RE reserves of about 7
million tonnes, nearly 20 times the current
annual global usage of REs. Can India
establish the veracity of this claim and
quickly unearth the precious RE resource?
147
MeTALS AND MINERALS
148
Indias record in the minerals sector suggests

that there is considerable room for
improvement in every aspect of the field, viz.
techniques for exploration, engineering for
mining, technologies for mineral processing
and processes for exploitation of tailings.
Intensifying efforts for finding new
resources of clean energy and strategic
materials demands the greatest attention.
As far as rare-earth elements are concerned,
it is to be emphasized that the country must
work out effective mechanisms for bringing
together institutions possessing the required
expertise but functioning under different
agencies to collaborate to achieve the
avowed goals. Such collaborative efforts
should be appropriately funded and
effectively managed to quickly make
tangible progress in areas relevant to
production of REs which are in considerable
demand internationally. Although the above
requirements have been particularly
underscored in the context of REs, they are
equally applicable to pan-India science and
technology projects in the area of metals and
materials.
In order to move ahead with respect to the

aspects highlighted in this note, India
requires many more centres of excellence in
universities and in national laboratories and
far stronger linkages between academia and
industry: which means many more persons
trained in higher education and research.
Yet, it is worrisome that higher education
and research in geology (particularly
involving field work), mining and
metallurgy seem to have lost their attraction.
In the last 30 years the number of metallurgy
graduates as a percentage of graduates in
engineering has dropped from 2% in 1982
to less than 0.1% at present. The annual
outturn of students with M.Sc. degree in
geology may not be more than about 500 and
those with B.Tech. degree in mining may not
be more than about 200. The number of PhDs
in these fields is only a handful. A major
challenge therefore is to attract talented
youngsters to the fields of metals and
minerals for which special steps are to be
taken. Metals and minerals belong to sectors
that have considerable bearing on the
domestic economy and quality human
resources for these sectors are therefore of
paramount importance.
P. Rama Rao
149
EARTH SCIENCES
The Earth behaves as a single, interlinked

and self-regulating system. Its components,
viz. atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere,
geosphere and biosphere, function together
and their interactions are complex and
significant. The mass and energy transport,
within and across these components, occur
on local to global scale with varying time scale.
The scientific understanding of the Earth
System helps to improve prediction of
climate, weather and natural hazards, as
well as leads to affordable and sustainable
use of the natural resources. Thus, the
agenda for the earth system science in the
country are to encourage the discovery of
new perspectives on Earth System, their
understanding and application of this
knowledge for sustainability of the Earth,

and development of services for humanity.
To achieve these goals, we require:
Sustained long-term measurements of
various environmental variables which

would record the vital signs of Earth System
and changes;
Understanding the interactions between
human and Earth System as a whole along

with interactions between components of
Earth System at various spatial and
temporal scales;
Development of models of components of
Earth System and coupling them

appropriately towards building prediction
system for weather, climate, and hazards
EARTH SCIENCES
There is much to learn from heaven and earth.
150
as well as to locate new living as well as

non-living resources; and
Translation of the knowledge and insights
EARTH SCIENCES
thus gained into services for societal,

environmental or economic benefits.
For the next few years, the major goal is to

enrich our knowledge to develop improved
weather, climate and hazards related
services for sustainable and inclusive
development. The other major emphasis is
placed on the exploration of oceans and
development of technology for harnessing
the ocean resources. With these major goals
in sight, the following major activities have
been proposed.
Sustaining atmospheric and oceanic

services: While continuing the existing
services on weather, agromet, aviation,
hazards (cyclones, tsunami, earthquakes),
air quality, pollution dispersion, fishery,
ocean state, shoreline changes, productivity
of ecosystems, etc., it is necessary to
continuously improve them further at
higher time and spatial scales as well as on
their reliability and accuracy through the
augmentation of observing systems,
modeling and data assimilation. The
network of GPS stations to be further
enhanced to study crustal movements and

strain accumulation. It is proposed to
enhance the number of existing platforms
for atmospheric, ocean, geospheric and
cryospheric observations. All data are being
organized into data centres for easy
accessibility.
Himalayan Meteorology: The Himalaya
is one of the scarcely observed regions on

the globe. Focused observations on
meteorology, snow, ice and glaciers are
required to understand the interaction of
cryosphere with atmosphere and
geosphere. This understanding is required
to develop capabilities to forecast the
extreme weather events, and to understand
the changes in the mass balance. More
importantly, monitoring of glaciers is
integral to observing and understanding
the climate change. The role of Himalayan
ecosystem on the present and future
regional climate needs to be examined.
Cloud Physics: One of the major questions
is what is the role of clouds in the Earths

radiation and heat budgets? The cloudradiation feedback is one of the most
important uncertainties in the projections
of future climate. The understanding of the
interaction of aerosols with cloud
Forecasting Monsoon: We do forecast the
total quantum of rainfall over the country,

we still need to understand what governs
monsoons variability both spatially and
temporally. Also, we need to improve on
our skills in short-term, medium-range,
extended-range and seasonal scale
prediction of rainfall. To achieve such
objectives it is planned to build an Indian
Monsoon forecasting system on a mission
mode involving national and international
organizations.
Severe Weather Warning System:
Different parts of the country experience

severe weather such as thunderstorms and
associated lightning, dust storms, extremely
heavy rainfall, cloud burst, fog, cyclones,
etc. Often they are unpredictable due to the
lack of high density observation network
in the country and non-availability of cloud
resolving model/framework. Major plans

have been drawn to deploy a high density
observation network and to develop
warning systems for each of these hazards.
Ocean Modelling: The developments in
the recent past have emphasized the role

of oceans on weather and climate. The most
important issue is how do the oceans
interact with the atmosphere in storage,
transport and uptake of heat? Concerted
efforts are being made to study the complex
process through enhanced observations
and through coupled ocean and
atmospheric general circulation models.
The current Regional Ocean Modelling
Systems used to develop Indian Ocean
Forecasting System including water quality
also needs to be improved upon through
better parameterization of the processes,
higher spatial and temporal resolutions and
data assimilation.
Exploration of Ocean and Development

of Technology: The surveys carried out
earlier in the Exclusive Economic Zone

(EEZ) and deep seas have proven the
availability of
mineral resources,
polymetallic nodules, gas hydrates,
sulfides, etc. Geological and geophysical
observations of the Andaman subduction
EARTH SCIENCES
microphysics and rainfall process and to

develop the microphysical parameterization
schemes for numerical weather prediction
models is an outstanding issue. Another
important area of research is the role of
clouds in large scale circulation and its
variability. To address these issues, a cloud
physics lab is being established in
Mahabaleshwar.
151
EARTH SCIENCES
152
zone have been made to understand

tectonic framework. New technologies like
autonomous vehicles, remotely operable
vehicles, mining equipments, drilling
equipments, etc. are required to be
developed to understand deep sea
environments and to harvest the resources
lying on the sea bed at depths varying from
200 m to 6000 m. Experiments to obtain
sustainable energy from ocean through
ocean current, thermal gradient, waves, etc.
to be planned. Low temperature thermal
desalination technology to be scaled up for
getting freshwater from sea.
Microbial Oceanography: The role played
by microorganisms in biogeochemical
dynamics of marine ecosystems needs to be
understood to decipher the linkages
between biological processes and
biogeochemical cycles. It is proposed to
deploy large number of in situ ocean
monitoring systems to collect new data sets
to understand the biogeochemical
dynamics of marine ecosystems. Radioecology studies in the coastal waters to be
promoted.
Marine and Coastal Ecosystems and

Modelling: The marine and coastal
ecosystems are the most productive areas.
It is necessary to know sensitivities of

marine and coastal ecosystems to global
change and to assess impact of natural and
human-induced changes on marine and
coastal ecosystems. Constant monitoring of
physical, chemical and biological
parameters is required to understand
seasonal and inter-annual variability of
ecosystems and to model productivity to
assess their health.
Earthquake Research: The processes that
lead to earthquakes and the pre-cursors that

might indicate the impending earthquakes
are still not understood. It is proposed to
understand such process by making
observations in the interior of the earth by
placing instruments in a deep borehole in
Koyna, Maharashtra. The data is expected
to provide information of stress regime,
pore fluid pressure, heat flow, orientation
of faults, the chemical changes that happen
before and during the earthquake, etc. It
will also provide insight into Deccan
volcanism and mass extinction, thermal
structure and state of stress in lithosphere,
geothermal potential and record of climate
change in this region. Comprehensive
tectonic map, seismic zoning atlas and
microzonation of cities to be developed.
Hydrophone arrays to study and gain
knowledge about sub-oceanic earthquakes

to be deployed.
Evolution of Himalayas and Origin of

Monsoon: The Himalaya and Tibet
Exploration of Hydrothermal Systems

and Mid-Oceanic Ridges: Hydrothermal
vents on mid-oceanic ridges are the source

of metallogenesis for precious and strategic
metal sulfides. Our understanding of
hydrothermal vents and the processes
involved in the metallogenesis are still
inadequate to extract them for commercial
gains. It is proposed to carry out extensive
exploration of hydrothermal vents on the
mid-ocean ridge in the southwest Indian
Ocean.
Geoid Anomaly: Geoid is an equi-potential
surface of the Earths gravity field. It is not

known why the largest geoid low is centred
around south of India. Perhaps, it is due to
the depression in the core-mantle or due to
the density heterogeneities in the upper
mantle.
Detailed
seismological
observations are proposed to understand
the genesis of such deep seated earth
structure.
Polar science and Cryosphere: Changes
in the cryosphere impacts global climate

and also acts as an indicator of the changing
climate. Two major programmes are
designed to carefully monitor the changes
in the cryosphere and to understand the
issues related to polar weather in Arctic and
Antarctic and their linkages to Indian
monsoon and global climate. Emphasis is
also on reconstructing paleoclimate during
the last few thousand years as many
civilizations prospered and lost during this
period. The Southern Ocean absorbs huge
amount of carbon dioxide and transports it
to the deep ocean. Systematic and sustained
observations are required to understand
biogeochemical cycling and to understand
role of climate change in modulating the
absorption capacity of carbon dioxide.
EARTH SCIENCES
represent the most dramatic examples of

mountain building in the recent geological
past and has greatly influenced atmosphere
and climate, specifically in the evolution
and maintainability of the Indian monsoon.
To understand the evolution of monsoon
and the role played by the Himalaya, it is
proposed to study the sedimentary archives
of the Arabian Sea by taking out deep cores
of sediments. The sediment record will help
in reconstructing the history of climatic
variations and rate of erosion of continents.
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Water Cycle: Water is vital for our
EARTH SCIENCES
sustenance on this planet. It is important to

understand the changing water cycle from
the perspective of drivers like surface and
sub-surface interactions and human
actions. A programme is proposed to build
the insight into changing water cycle.
Climate Change Research: The warming
trend in recent decades has focused our

attention to the changing climate.
A programme has been initiated to address
the issues related to climate change, to
document its variability, understand the
effects on precipitation, agriculture, health
and the distribution of water and ice. The
emphasis on improvement of regional
climate projections as well as to build an
earth system science model and establish

framework of climate services.
Infrastructure Development: Finally,
adequate infrastructure like High
Performance Computing System (in peta
Flops), airborne and seaborne platforms
and facilities for geochronology needs to be
acquired in order to carry out the activities
mentioned above. Hence, the infrastructure
development activity is integral to all
projects.
Shailesh Naik
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In the last few decades, life sciences have made major advances which have had great impact on
living beings. There are still many frontiers to conquer, and greater things to happen.
Life Sciences and Biotechnology in India

must stand on four coordinated legs:
Broadening the reach of excellence in the
Life Sciences, biotechnology and
bioengineering across disciplinary
boundaries, society and industry.
Access for academia and industry to quality
scientific resources and emerging
technologies.
Development of human-resources in core
and emerging areas of life science and
technology through effective training
programmes.
Links to energy, environment, biotech,
agriculture, high-tech manufacturing and
pharmaceutical sector development to
address societal goals.
There have been three dramatic

transformations in the past decade. First,
Science-Departments of the Government of
India have dramatically increased support
for life sciences and biotechnology over the
past decade. This increase has been
accompanied by a broad range of new
departmental schemes to drive research,
technology development and application.
Second, there has been a major burst of new
life science and biotechnology institutes and
departments all over the country. Finally, the
biotech, agri-biotech vaccine and pharmaindustry have shown dramatic recent
growth.
Effectively linking the available increased
funding, through the many schemes for
research growth already in place, with new
LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
156
and older institutional structures across the

country and with industry and society, is the
urgent challenge we face. Only enhancing
such links, which are continuously renewed,
can transform our research and
technological quality and quantity.
To reiterate: The past decade has seen many
of the necessary ingredients for success put
in place, we must now urgently link funds,

institutions, society and industry effectively
to see catalytic change.
We list below some key recommendations
for such renewal and transformation in the
life sciences and technology sectors.
Recommendations and agenda for action:
i) Broadening the reach of excellence in the life Sciences, biotechnology

and bioengineering.
Clinical Research: Amplify research in the
medical colleges and clinical contexts.
Agenda for action: Urgent structural

changes in medical universities to put in
place a programme by which clinical
research as a career path is attractive and
feasible for the clinician and as well as their
institutions. Programs already articulated by
the Departments of Health Research and
Biotechnology can be used in these contexts.
Coordination between MHRD and Science
Departments essential here.
Radiation Biology: In view of the
expanding nuclear energy programmes,

new demands, opportunities for research
and applications arise.
Agenda for action: Research in radiation

biology of cancer and normal cells,
improvement of outcome in radiotherapy,
radio-sensitivity and radio-resistance of
tumors, development of novel radioprotectors and sensitizers, assessment of low
level radiation effects in human population
including development of appropriate
mathematical models for risk assessment
should be given encouragement.
Agriculture and Plant Sciences: Research
in plant biology and agriculture are

potentially amongst the most rewarding in
answering basic questions as well as in
speed of translation. There is an urgent
need to broaden and strengthen the link
between agriculture research and basic

plant sciences in the university environment.
Bioengineering:
Agenda for action: Bringing the best in

engineering, physical-, chemical- and
materials-sciences, along with theory, into
addressing challenging questions in the life
sciences is a tractable goal which will also
invigorate life science departments. The
many inter-institutional and infrastructure
development programmes in place and
planned by the science ministries could be
readily used for this purpose. Collaborative,
cross-institutional Bioengineering and
bioscience initiatives that do not create new

departmental silos could be developed and
supported. The IITs in particular provide
significant opportunity here.
Conservation biology and Ecology: A
major thrust will be valuable in the area of

ecology research which will include
marine- and coastal biology, the biology of
tropical forests and other natural habitats.
Agenda for action: Research in conservation

biology and ecological sciences, essential for
sustainable development and for the
discovery of novel components and
mechanisms with broad applicability, will
receive a boost in the establishment of a
major marine biology laboratory in the
eastern seaboard. National programmes of
the science ministries for ecological research
urgently need to be well coordinated with
the ministry of environment and forests and
state forest departments to ensure effective
access. The North-East needs to be a centre
for focus.
ii) Access for academia and industry to quality scientific resources and
emerging technologies.
Technology platforms and their access:
Life sciences and biotechnology, across the

scale from the molecular to ecosystems
require a range of well-managed highinvestment technology resources. Well-run

technology hubs for clusters of institutions
Agenda for action: In a manner similar to

disease-specific grand challenges in
biomedical research, crop- and crop-disease
and problem-specific grand challenges could
be rapidly mounted. CSIR, ICAR and DBT
can play nodal roles here in developing
collaborative teams and announcing such
major grand-challenges.
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158
in each major location, with access for

industry are needed.
Agenda for action: A national policy that
facilitates the development of management
structures (such as an inter-institutionally
controlled not for profit company) that
effectively manages major technology
investments by science agencies in each
locale.
Technology-development and entrepreneurship initiatives: The many
available initiatives of science departments

could be better used by academia and
industry to develop innovation at the
cutting-edge of technology.
Agenda for action: A small number of large

investment Science-Technology-ClinicalIndustry interfacial virtual institutions (in
collaboration with CSIR, ICMT, DST and
DBT) for example. Similar to the Fraunhofer
institutions in Germany or the ITRI in
Taiwan, these institutions will be funded by
soft-money (i.e. no permanent positions)
and will straddle academia, CSIR/other
laboratories and industry. These institutions
will be melting pots of intellectual
engagement where injection funding for
exploration of novel ideas is provided (or
raised) proximal to, but distinct from an
academic environment. The access to
technology in the nearby academic setting

and the provision of space will allow these
high-end incubators to address innovation
at the cutting-edge of life-sciences
technology.
Biotechnology and Manufacturing: The
biotech sector is growing rapidly and

Indias success in vaccine manufacturing is
an example. This sector must be amplified
by a far-stronger link with research and
entrepreneurship. Without becoming a
leading technology innovator and
manufacturer, the centres of science and
innovation will always be elsewhere.
Agenda for action. By mutual coordination,

science agencies should have the flexibility
to set up science and technology application
and resource hubs for industry in cities with
major academic research centres. These
hubs will require an initial substantial
injection of funds, but will be self-sustaining
in a 10 year period. They will create a hightech innovation pool in small and large
industry that has the potential to grasp
opportunities that will make India a leader
in the manufacture of expensive molecular
biology reagents of highest quality and
likewise develop high-end technologies for
use the world-over.
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(iii) Development of human-resources in core and emerging areas of life

The diversity of undergraduate and Masters
training, poor access to advanced laboratory
resources and the requirement for continued
high-end teaching and training require a
major thrust in national programmes. These
programmes should be geared to two goals:
Bring the leaders from the centres of
excellence from India and abroad and
connect them to our undergraduate and
research population. Second, at this
advanced level, the training should not be
only pedagogical but bring all participants

to explore new frontiers and define new
areas of research.
Agenda for action: Establish one major
advanced meetings and practical workshop
centre, possibly as part of the marine
laboratory suggested above. This hub will
have spokes that reach out to a well-defined
and small number of less capital-intensive
centres across the country.
(iv) Links to energy, environment, biotech, health, agriculture, high-tech

manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors to address societal goals.
The Indian ecosystem and our society
present a range of problems and
opportunities that are unlikely to be the
centerpiece of approaches by scientific hubs
abroad. Linking available national programs
and funds to scientific questions of the
highest quality, but defined from our
environs, remains a challenge. Yet, inspiring
our researchers from across the country to
address these kinds of issues can be
transformative.
Action items: Work with the CSIR, DST and

DBT to define a set of Prime Ministers
National Challenges which could be called
Challenges in Health, Food and Sustainable
Ecology. Challenges in public health,
disease diagnosis and treatment, green
energy, epidemiology, ecology, etc. will be
articulated and a seed fund given to develop
novel collaborative directions to new
problems with a local fulcrum.
K. VijayRaghavan
science and technology through effective training programmes.
REVITALIZING MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
160
REVITALIZING MEDICAL AND HEALTH

Research
Providing good health care to all citizens is an important social responsibility. In this context,
relevant medical and health research assumes great significance.
A healthy, disease free population

particularly at critical stages of the life cycle
is established as a driver of any national
economy. A high level of absenteeism in our
work force provides evidence of the
productivity loss. Healthiness and freedom
from disease are even more important for
the happiness and contentment of our
people.
The World Health Organization has amply
documented the impact of the medical and
health research on human health in the last
century. Despite this irrefutable evidence,
Indias investment in research in this sector
is extremely low. Indeed the investment in
medical and health research is lowest among
all such sectors in the country.
Medical and health research contributes to

many aspects of human health. This includes
understanding the genesis of major diseases
and the new emphasis on the origin of
healthiness. Medical research should
provide elaborate epidemiological and social
data to form a basis for data driven discovery
through creative integration of information
from agriculture, nutrition, livelihood,
animal husbandry, human behaviour and
others in the way they impact human health
and nutrition and to enable policy making.
Medical and research system should have
the ability to translate basic science
knowledge into tools and concepts for
prevention of disease, early detection of
disease, treatment modalities and
The biological science is creating

phenomenal knowledge but without strong
base of clinical and translational research in
the country, it cannot be translated into
useful commodities for patients and
populations. Further, in the absence of
effective health research, the fruits of clinical
and translational research cannot be
effectively delivered to our population,
particularly those at the bottom of the
pyramid. The lack of clarity of our
understanding of the unyielding nature of
the nutrition problems in the country, even
in states that are economically progressing
illustrates the need for quality expansion of
our medical and health research.
The emphasis of biomedical research must
be on both communicable and noncommunicable disease as our large
population and the economic transition
make us extremely vulnerable on both
fronts. We cannot make choices. Within

these two areas the investment for research
must be clearly driven by disease burden.
As human live longer, the need for
affordable technology will grow manyfold.
Open innovation collaboration mechanisms
and consortia engaging public sector,
industry and government within the country
and wherever relevant internationally is the
only way to achieve impact rather than
fragmented, ineffective contributions.
In health research issues related to the health
system and innovation in delivering of
existing and future programmes and
commodities must receive high emphasis.
Far too many of our programmes have no
research components built in for error
detection and correction and investments are
increased without clear evidence of impact.
Finally, research must be broadly
interdisciplinary and not focused only on
direct health interventions as non health
inputs often have greater impact on human
health.
commodities that minimize consequence of

potentially crippling diseases.
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Core Strategies for strengthening Biomedical and Health Research

Capacity in the country
The existing capacity with regard to quality
human resource, institutional framework
and infrastructure, communication between
stakeholders within and outside the
government are grossly inadequate to
effectively address above challenges and
seize available opportunities. We propose
a few core approaches to remedy this
situation.
Core strategy 1
Programmes for science education and
research and training for medical
background people must be expanded. The
term science is used here in very inclusive
sense to cover all disciplines relevant to
biomedical as well as health research. These
programmes need to be at Post Graduate
and Ph. D level; Masters in Science, in
Biomedical Science, in Public Health, Health
Economics, Medical Social Science,
Translational Science and MD/Ph. D
Programmes directed at either biomedical or
public health research. Schemes on the
model of INSPIRE must be introduced
through Department of Health Research in
the country, ensuring that the financial

packages are attractive enough to attract top
medical talent into research arena against the
lure of highly rewarding clinical practice. To
attract the best talent, a career path for
medical researchers and health researchers
is critically required in medical schools,
health universities and research institutes,
public health institutes etc. Without the pull
of the career path for biomedical research
we have little hope to catch up. Something
is to change in the way we do things for a
real improvement in our medical and health
research arena. The lack of priority in health
matters at national and state level is a
concern. While recognising the great
importance of producing enough doctors for
the country, the human resource needs for
medical research cant be ignored in such a
large country as ours.
Core strategy 2
Translation research capacity and
infrastructure must be strengthened through
a special mission in the top 20 percent of the
medical institutes of India during the next
Core strategy 3
Centres of Excellence for major infectious
disease such as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV,
emerging viral infections, anti microbial
resistance, zoonoses and for chronic
diseases, neurological, cardiac, diabetes,
liver, kidney and bone diseases must be
established to complement the existing
department based structure in apex medical
schools and centres of biological research.
The current segregation of molecular and
cell biology and clinical and translational
research is detrimental to impact on human
health. The recently approved Inter
Institutional Centres by the Planning
Commission can be effective wherever inter
institutional capacities need to be
sustainably connected. Each centre must
have research faculty; population and
clinical sites, high class technology backup
and dedicated core resources.
Core strategy 4
Programmes for health systems research and
population based science must be an
essential component of major medical

schools of the country while several health
universities have been established in the
country, there research contribution is of
little note.
Core strategy 5
Department of Health Research must be
generously funded by the government to
revitalize medical research through medical
school and other not for profit entities
dedicated to research and selected general
universities
that
have
medical
establishments. This is crucial because
resources are needed to build afresh to make
for a decade of relative inattention.
Core strategy 6
An innovation system for affordable health
technology development and diffusion must
be nurtured by
Established open innovation centres.
Strengthening the relatively weak regulatory
system for health technology in the country.
Establishment of standards and validation
system for health technology products/
commodities.
plan. This should apply to translation in

biomedical research as well as for public
health research.
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164
Strengthening the science based policy

system for introduction of new technology
into practice and public health system
based on careful assessment of safety and
efficacy.
Emphasis here should be on vaccines,
diagnostics, biomarkers, bio and
pharmaceutical drugs, devices and implants,
nutrient bio fortification, assisted devices for
disabled, ICT for the health care system and
technologies for sanitation, safe water and
for health care in remote locations.
For population based science and health
system research selective nongovernmental
organization must be nurtured as centre of
excellence, linked to medical schools, as they
have the needed community connectivity.
Research based innovation in health care

delivery requires a synthesis of technology
and programme design skills. Large scale
clinical trials must be deployed to generate
evidence of what works and does not work
to avoid wasteful investment in health care
delivery. The clinical trial capacity must be
strengthened to command Public trust.
Overall, we seek a transformative change in
the capacity and programmes of the medical
and health research system to achieve a
healthy society, one of the keys to a
sustainable economy.
M. K. Bhan
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AERONAUTICS AND AVIATION
Civil aviation in India is currently going

through a very turbulent phase, only one
major airline being profitable. Among the
others one is operating only a third of its
fleet, and is unable to manage its debts;
another has mounting losses, and is asking
Government for concessions on its obligation
to fly in the North East. The lone example of
profitability suggests that poor business
models are partly to be blamed for the
turbulence. At the same time very high taxes
on fuel, excessive competition among
different airlines for the same traffic, and a
government policy of mandatory services by
all airlines to certain remote parts of the
country all these have made their
contribution to the turbulence. On a flight
to London, the fare on British Airways is
twice as much on the Bangalore-London leg
as it is on the return journey explicitly
attributed by BA to Indian taxes. A recent

audit by the DGCA which declares that all
airlines in India are going through a critical
patch, and lists safety concerns regarding
many of them including the only profitable
airline, would indicate that the situation is
critical. The global presence of Indian airlines
has declined over time, and the best of them
have been reduced to playing regional roles.
Singapore, Hong Kong, the Emirates all of
them have a vastly bigger global presence.
Given that domestic airline traffic rose by
17.6% in the first eleven months of 2011, the
country is now in a situation where this
growth is unable either to sustain a healthy
airlines industry or to trigger civil aircraft
development within the country. Before an
action plan can be formulated, it is useful to
review briefly the current global scene.
Indias requirements for civilian and military aircraft will continue to increase. India is expected
to become a major aviation hub. There is need for a clear-cut policy for aeronautics in India.
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The Global Scene

As both aircraft and airline industries are
globalizing rapidly, it is essential to see the
Indian situation in the context of the rest of
the world.
Civil aviation
In civil aviation the bulk of the legacy
international airlines across the world are
unprofitable or failing. Air India is an
extreme example. There are several reasons
for this situation.
Volatile fuel prices and high fuel taxes: In
much of the western world fuel accounts
for about 30% of the direct operating cost;
in India it is more than 50%. In the airlines
run from the Gulf countries the fuel taxes
are often zero. This accounts in part for the
birth and rapid rise of many airlines from
the region, and their increasing presence
and ambition in India and elsewhere; some
of them are now buying up European
airlines as well.
Climate change concerns: Aviation accounts
for some 3% of green house gas emissions
and is under pressure to do its bit for
cutting emissions. The European Union is
proposing an Emissions Trading Scheme
on all airlines flying in, irrespective of

country or origin. Russia, China, India and
the United States have protested against
this unilateral move by EU, and some of
them have threatened retaliation through
other mechanisms (e.g. on aircraft orders).
These factors have totally altered transport
aircraft design objectives, and the parameters
that define the design. The current slogan is
Cheaper, Greener and Quieter; for the first
time flight speed has ceased to be a major
parameter, and is in fact quietly but slowly
going down. (However some research on
supersonic and even hypersonic aircraft is
continuing, in search of solutions to basic
problems that characterize the high-speed
flight regimes.) The biggest aircraft now
operating have reached the limit of
permissible size, not because of S&T but
because of airport restrictions. These
factors will drive future technology
development in engines, aerodynamics,
structures, controls, navigation and, in fact,
even in flight entrainment. NASA is
looking at civil aviation in 2025-30, and has
set up research programmes on
Environmentally Responsible Aviation
(ERA) and Super Ultra-Green Aircraft
Research (SUGAR), with targets like
reductions in fuel consumption of 70% and
noise levels lower by about 70 dB.
In much of the world (China in particular,

and East and South-East Asia more
generally, being exceptions), R&D budgets
in aeronautics are going down, partly in
response to the prevailing recession, and
perhaps partly also reflecting a long-term
trend.
Military aircraft
In general military aircraft are getting ever
more complex and more expensive to buy
and to operate. They also need longer
development cycles and suffer from
increasingly higher cost over-runs (so the
LCA is not alone in having to face this
problem; witness the F35.) The point is being
reached where the world is getting changed
substantially, in technology as also in
geopolitics, during the time that it takes to
develop a truly advanced modern military
aircraft. It is getting to be realized that this
will not be sustainable for long, and there
has been some thinking about the changing
role of aircraft in current conflict situations.
Simultaneously the concerns of the major
military forces of the world with respect to
future conflict are changing. It seems as if
the era of long world wars is over, and that
regional conflict in which non-state actors
play a key role (often working with the state),
are going to be among the difficult problems
needing to be tackled. (This has been Indias
own experience, now shared by an
increasing number of countries.) There is
even one school of analysts (including me)
who are saying that the days of manned
Interestingly the market remains relatively

robust, but it is changing in character. It
now demands low fares, and greater
comfort in travelling directly from point A
to point B (without stopovers). (The hub
and spoke system is becoming unpopular.)
The reemerging markets of Asia East,
South and West are rapidly getting to
dominate the global civil aviation scene. In
West Asia the agenda is dominated by the
needs of commerce, utilizing its vast
resources of cheap, untaxed (for them) oil.
In East Asia it is dominated by Chinas
desire to become an aerospace super power
in the next decade or two as part of its
unrelenting and determined drive towards
accumulation of comprehensive national
power. India has most of the ingredients
necessary to become a major power in
global aerospace, except the driving
ambition and will to do so (in this sense
presenting a stark contrast to China).
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combat vehicles are now numbered, and it

is likely that unmanned combat air vehicles,
medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft
and a variety of UAVs with many other
applications, will find increasing use. The
first UCAV designs are now being tested,
and with the increasing precision of attack
weapons, the US has drawn the conclusion
from its experience with conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan that the future will be
dominated by UAVs. (The public claim made
by a well known US scientist in the year 2000,
that the US will soon be able to pick out any
individual anywhere in the world and kill
him if it wants to, is now being realized.)
There is also a revolution in manufacturing.
A combination of IT, globalization, 3-D
printing (additive manufacturing), new
materials, fuel-efficient engines, dragsensitive aerodynamics, lighter structures
and precision weapons will significantly
change the air forces of US and Europe.
The Indian scenario

Military aircraft
The LCA was a major technological effort
whose full benefits for the Armed Forces,
for research, development, design and
manufacture and for the professional
community have not been realized fully.
This is not the place to analyse why, but it is

only necessary to point out that as far as the
RD&D groups are concerned the question
of What after the LCA? does not seem to
have been answered in any definitive way
yet. Questions have been raised about the
future of the Aeronautical Development
Agency, for example; this question is now
being considered by a special committee. In
spite of much discussion about projects on
the Fifth Generation Fighter with Russia and
on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft,
one thing that seems certain is that the
knowledge-base that was acquired during
the LCA effort has not been built upon; the
national teams that were put together from
the different organizations in the country
have now retired or dispersed, and there is
great concern in all R&D organizations about
the difficulty of getting qualified and
motivated engineers for any future aircraft
development project. The increasingly
strong presence of many R&D centres set up
by aerospace MNCs from elsewhere in the
world, in part to meet offset commitments,
have driven away much experienced talent
from the national agencies and attracted
young new talent. It is most discouraging
that a country that was hailed as the hottest
aerospace technology centre in Asia in the
late 1990s (thanks to the LCA programme,
One conclusion that may be drawn from the

LCA experience is that, when there is a well
defined national programme and a
committed and capable leadership, the
aeronautical institutions in the country are
capable of successfully running a national
collaborative programme in technology
development and deliver the promised
systems and products (for example the
carbon fibre wings and flight control systems
on unstable aircraft for LCA). At the same
time the fact that the programme has been
so long drawn has led to the conclusion, in
India as well as elsewhere, that a major
national weakness is a credible and effective
decision making system, committed to a
nationally agreed vision for the future of
aeronautics in India. It may be recalled that
proposals have earlier been made by SACPM and other bodies in this regard, but the
lack of decisive action following these
proposals has confirmed that the decision
systems in India are weak.
But meanwhile it is becoming clear that the

sole major aircraft industry in India, namely
Hindustan Aeronautics, is now overstretched, and a committee headed by Mr.
Vijay Kelkar is looking into the question of
restructuring the Indian aircraft industry.
There seems to be wide agreement that it is
important to bring the private sector into the
picture, not just as vendors but as partners.
Although there are several interested private
players, they seem to be still waiting to see
how the government proposes to work with
private industry. Public-private-partnership
(PPP) seems to have many advantages, and
the idea has been discussed widely, but it
must be recognized that there are also
serious problems. Recent experience in
projects where public and private
institutions have sought to work together
with shared budgets and technological
responsibilities has been discouraging, with
businessmen, industrialists, entrepreneurs
and scientists reluctant to take any initiative
in an area that is proving to be particularly
dangerous to operate in.
Manufacture
Another area of weakness is manufacturing.
This has not been the centre of much
attention, and it does not seem to have been
realized that advances in manufacturing
the beginning of a civil aircraft programme

and the advances in space) has now slid well
below China, and may find itself unable to
compete with Japan and South Korea.
Singapore has made a niche for itself, and
Indonesia is once again thinking of new
aeronautical projects, to be carried out in
collaboration with China.
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170
techniques require the same kind of attention

as R&D in the classical academic disciplines
that constitute aeronautical science. Some
more initiatives like for example the one in
IIT Bombay, jointly being operated with
Boeing, are badly needed.
the question of identifying a private partner

and more generally to examine how industry
must be restructured to enable an
appropriate civil aircraft development
programme for the country. The report of
the committee is awaited.
Civil Aviation
The HPC deliberations highlighted the

issues that would have to be faced in any
successful civil aircraft development
programme. These include the following:
The Saras project at NAL represents a major

initiative in design and development of
aircraft that was of interest to the Indian Air
Force and could be a short-haul aircraft of
considerable potential for shorter routes
with thin traffic across the country. After the
loss of one of the proto-types, the
construction of a new proto-type is
proceeding, but the pace of progress is such
that early entry into service is unlikely.
A major new initiative was taken by CSIR in
setting up a national civil aircraft
programme which was to be defined by a
High Powered Committee assisted by a
design team based in NAL. HPC has
recommended that a 90 passenger turbo fan
aircraft should be taken up, with the close
involvement of private industry in India and
possibly also of interested foreign
companies. After the submission of the HPC
report a committee was constituted to go into
How important is commercial success of

the aircraft as a goal for the project?
Is it intended that the aircraft will be sold
globally, in competition with those that are

already available or are being currently
designed?
What importance should we give to the
peculiar problems associated with a

country like India (and in fact the many
other developing countries as well)
between the demand of meeting the needs
of tier-2 and tier-3 cities and towns, and
those of the metros?
Will there be competition with the railways?

How important is it to have a launch
customer?

The difficulty of selling any Indian civil
How will whatever organization that is set
up attract both bright young engineers and

the capable and committed leadership that
are essential for the success of the project?
How will intellectual property rights of

design and development efforts,
manufacturing, sales and financial services
etc. be shared between the public and
private companies that will have to form a
consortium for the project?
Given that the regional jet market has
already many players in the field whereas

the regional turboprop market has far
fewer, how best can an informed and
potentially rewarding decision be made in
determining which would be the best
course for India?
Can an aircraft be conceived to serve dual
needs, namely for both the Armed Forces

and for civil transportation needs?
Will partnership with foreign companies,
whose brand value will be essential to sell

a new aircraft from a country that has no
legacy in the area, be given priority?
The above list is drawn up chiefly to indicate

the large range of questions that need to be
tackled. The purpose is not to suggest that
the list is formidable but rather to indicate
that management of the project will call for
considerable skill in a wide variety of fields.
Action
The Planning Commission must set out a
well-defined policy regarding the future of

civil aeronautics in India, recognizing its
importance in enhancing security and
creating wealth, and establishing an
economic environment that will make it
flourish (e.g. by declaring it a high-tech
industry). While military aeronautics is the
province of the Defence Ministry, working
on civil and military projects will enhance
technical capabilities in industry and R&D
and can be mutually beneficial. A mechanism
for doing this must also be set up.
aircraft to the airlines unless it is

internationally competitive on all factors
that airlines will want: low first cost and
operating cost, financing arrangements
including leasing and sale, systems for
maintenance, repair and overhaul,
organizations that will have experience of
operating in national and global services
with a presence wherever it has been sold
over a period of decades
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172
The regulatory regimes in civil aviation
must be thoroughly re-examined: we need

a successor to the Naresh Chandra
committee that ushered in the deregulation
of Indian civil aviation.
Guidelines for public-private partnerships
A concerted effort to project a national
commitment to the growth of aerospace in

India that can attract private industry into
the field.
A well-defined programme to identify and
nurture leadership qualities in all agencies

connected with the project.
must be laid down in order to dispel the

fears hat have grown on the ability to
manage the complex issues that arise in
PPP through present national mechanisms.
A scheme for the close involvement of
Private industries looking for opening in
A set of initiatives in manufacturing to
civil and military aeronautics must be

encouraged to do so by a package of
policies that will assure a robust base over
a period of at least a decade.
A credible decision making and conflict-
resolving mechanism through an apex

body transparent to R&D, design and
manufacture as well as to both private and
public agencies that may be partners in the
project.
Encouraging the maximum commonalities
in any project that has a potential interest

to both Armed Forces and the airlines.
Policy guidelines for encouraging partners
from abroad on the project to the mutual

benefit of both sides.
academic institutes in identified areas.
induct new technologies.
An upgradation of DGCA capabilities to
improve certification processes.
Encouragement of faculty and students in
management institutes to look at the

problems associated with PPPs, and in
identifying systems and products that will
be successful internationally.
A mechanism to identify and define niche
markets in which India has particular

strengths and can exploit the current global
scenario to its best advantage.
This is only an illustrative list.
R. Narasimha
173
ICT AND SCIENCE
Amongst the sectors that have done well

over the last two decades, Information
Technology (IT) stands out as an exemplary
success. In the early 1990s, the total turnover
of this sector was hardly a billion dollars;
now, it has crossed the US $ 100 billion
milestone. IT software and services have
scripted a particularly successful story, with
exports alone being over US $ 60 billion, and
accounting for a direct employment of 2.5
million persons (along with the indirect
employment, this segment now provides
livelihood to about 10 million). IT has
transformed Indias image abroad, with
important spin-off commercial benefit to
other sectors, and positive geo-political
implications. It has made substantial
contributions to a number of other sectors
within India, notably banking and

telecommunications, and is beginning to
play a major role in dramatically changing
the governance paradigm through the
National e-Governance Programme (NeGP)
and initiatives like Aadhar (UID).
The scenario, however, is changing rapidly,
and the continuing success of this sector will
depend on its ability to meet the challenges
and to grasp new opportunities. The market
and technology are both evolving at
considerable speed, and serious competitors
are emerging. Indias ability to continue
being a major player in global sourcing of
IT software and services will require it to
strengthen and broaden the basic
foundations of the industry. Also, it must
ICT AND SCIENCE
Success in the IT sector has made India internationally famous. We can reach even greater
heights with a strong base in science and engineering.
174
ICT AND SCIENCE
become a major player in the area of IT

hardware, requiring that decades of neglect
be quickly bridged through special steps in
capability-development.
Like IT, the telecom sector mainly mobile
communication has seen extraordinary
development. The ubiquity of mobile
phones, across geography and socioeconomic categories, is a testimony to the
success in this field. However, this has been
a success of policies and business models,
and not of technology. While mobile handset assembly is now substantial in India,
manufacture of telecom equipment is
practically non-existent. The dependence on
imports is both an economic drain and
strategically worrisome.
It is clear that the sustenance and growth of
the overall ICT sector including all aspects
of software, services and hardware will
depend upon a strong base in engineering,
mathematics and science, the key underlying
disciplines for all aspects of information and
communication technology.
A brief summary follows of emerging
possibilities in ICT and consequent actions
to tap these.
Development and Manufacture of

Electronics Hardware
The growing use of IT in all sectors and the
telecom revolution have together created a
huge demand for electronics hardware in the
country. Projections indicate a demand of as
much as US $400 billion by 2020. On a
business as usual basis, an overwhelming
bulk of this will come from abroad, making
this the second biggest if not the biggest
import for the country. Therefore, for reasons
of economics - as also from a strategic
viewpoint it is essential that most of the
electronics be made in the country and that
it be based maximally on indigenous knowhow/IP. This objective has been articulated
in the proposed New Telecom Policy as also
the Electronics Policy and the National
Manufacturing Policy. While domestic
manufacturing may accelerate (thanks to the
large Indian market and other economic
factors), the far more difficult part is knowhow and IP. Realizing this goal will require
a massive, on-going and focused effort,
involving materials science, electronics
engineering
and
communications
technology, amongst other fields. It will also
require a great deal of inter-disciplinary and
inter-institutional collaboration. Researchers
(from both academic institutions and R&D
facilities) will have to work closely with

industry right from understanding and
defining needs, to the manufacturing and
testing stages.
Strengthening Manufacturing in
Specific Areas
Science and technology efforts will have to
be undertaken to strengthen electronics
manufacturing in India. One example of a
specific area of work is next-generation
wireless technology. The objective will be to
enhance the number of bits that can be
carried per Hz spectrum with much less
power per bit. Short term goals (within the
next five years) could include:
i
Increase bits / Hz by double
ii
Decrease power per bit by a factor of three
The R&D work should result in patents

(besides publications) which can be driven
into standards (India has just started its own
TSDO called DOSTI, which can be used
for this). Also prototypes need to be built
along with industry, requiring close
interaction between academia and industry.
The design of an Indian processor has been
talked about. Obviously, this requires very
high levels of sophistication, not only in
design, but in silicon wafers and microelectronics. The investment required for such
fab plants can run to billions of dollars, and
the design effort and cost is of huge
magnitude too. Yet, this is a project that may
well be worth undertaking, given its
strategic significance. Since the 1990s, work
in this area has languished; it needs to be
revived with new energy, commitment and
resources,
Setting Standards
As a major global market, especially for
telecom, India has an opportunity to create
and specify standards, rather than merely
following/meeting them. This, as is well
known, gives a competitive edge to
companies/countries that originate the
standard and creates entry barriers for
ICT AND SCIENCE
While regulatory and mandatory

requirements (indicated in the policies
NTP, NMP, NEP -mentioned earlier), may
act as a push factor, sustainable and
competitive manufacturing can best come
from the pull of an attractive and
conducive framework, fiscal incentives, topquality infrastructure, and very
importantly an abundance of suitable
human talent.
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176
others. For India to begin to at least influence

if not set standards, it must have active
participation from knowledgeable
academics, who will have to work in close
cooperation with industry.
ICT AND SCIENCE
High Performance Computing

Over the last two decades, India has lost its
standing in high performance computing.
Others, including China, have gone far
ahead. There is now a concerted effort to
regain the lost ground (a specific
programme, with a substantial allocation of
funds, has been proposed in the XII Plan).
This will require large and dedicated teams
in both hardware and software. Further, to
make full use of the capabilities of HPC
systems, there is need to mount a major
effort to develop applications software in
different areas. Industry, which is currently
hardly in the picture, needs to be involved
in the effort both as a contributor (given
its strong skill base in software) and as a user
(in this context, the point below on big
data is also relevant). Work in this area will
need involvement of both hardware and
software experts, while development of
applications will need high-calibre domain
(discipline) skills, software expertise and
mathematicians.
Man-machine Interaction
Man-machine interaction is an area of
growing importance in industry and
research. It is also relevant in education and
skills-training, where the use of IT is yet to
achieve its full potential, and is constrained
by the lack of full understanding of how best
computers can be used to enhance or
accelerate learning. Work is also required on
related areas like artificial intelligence and
the confluence of neuroscience, psychology
and computers.
Machine to Machine Communication

Machine to machine communication has
already assumed great importance. It is
likely that in the near future such data
transfers will overtake voice and other
human interactions on communication
networks. A key part of M-to-M will be
sensors that collect data of various kinds.
Indias telecom networks are already very
extensive, but work will be required to create
next-generation high-speed data networks
as M-to-M grows rapidly. All kinds of
exciting possibilities are being envisaged
(and even experimented with) with M-to-M.
With even a few of these, the gains to the
economy - through increased efficiency and

productivity can be very substantial.
Integrating Hardware and Software

Capabilities
Big Data
There is a big boom emerging over the
horizon on so-called big data. This
emanates from the massive amounts of data
now available, and the possibility of
processing/ analyzing it to provide insights.
Some of this with huge commercial
potential relates to individuals: their
consumption patterns, tastes, choices,
demographic and psychographic profiles,
etc. It is also of interest to government
planners as well as security and intelligence
agencies. The handling and analysis of the
massive amounts of data is seen as the next
big business opportunity in the IT area. This
requires high-order capabilities in
Mathematics and Statistics.
Cyber Security
Cyber security has, particularly of late,
become a major concern for countries,
companies and individuals. While there are
many facets to this issue, cryptography is
one of the vital areas. Pattern recognition (for
various applications from biometrics to
analysis of satellite imagery) too like
cryptography and data analysis requires
ICT AND SCIENCE
Increasingly, sophisticated software in

combination with the latest electronics
capability is being used to create new
products. Some are meant for consumer use
(smart phones and tablet computers, for
example), while others are for business and
industry use. In many of these, development
of rugged, low-cost sensors for various
applications will be a vital need. Medical
devices is an area of great promise and need.
Sensors integrated into simple systems that
can provide testing and diagnosis, through
appropriate software, of a range of healthrelated parameters, would be invaluable.
Integration into cheap, rugged and portable
equipment or ideally into a hand-held
(mobile phone) device which can collect,
analyze and transmit such data can help
transform health-care, while also initiating
large commercial opportunities at the global
level. This will require collaboration and
team work of health-care / life-sciences
experts with those from IT / computers,
sensors and communication.
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ICT AND SCIENCE
178
Mathematics / Statistics, and is another

wave of the future. Globally, cyber security
is getting great attention from governments,
industry and even concerned individuals,
with worries about data theft, cyber attacks,
hacking, etc. Testing, certification and
assessment of hardware and software are
important. Vulnerability and penetration
testing will require ethical hackers to be
trained. Awareness is a key facet of cyber
security, and large-scale awareness
programmes beginning at school level
are necessary. Capability building in this
area, as also development of software
products for security, are key areas which
incidentally also offer a great global
market. Industry, government and
academics/researchers will have to work
closely together to meet the challenges,
needs and opportunities in this field.
Data-driven Discovery
Increasingly, data is driving scientific
discovery. The very ability to collect, store
and analyze humungous data streams
made possible by sensors and computer
technology has opened up new
opportunities for science. However, to
capitalize on these there must be
complementary and deep capabilities in
science. If, therefore, we are to leverage fully

the new possibilities emerging from big
data, it is mandatory to ensure the
availability of researchers in all areas of
science. Incidentally, this is not limited to the
physical and biological sciences; in fact some
of the most exciting new possibilities are in
the social sciences in psychology and
sociology. In economics, it is not just the
more traditional number-crunching area of
econometrics that is seeing great
possibilities, but the newer fields like
behavioural economics. Sociologists are
working on subjects like mob dynamics,
which could among other things help to
predict and dissipate stampedes before they
occur (sadly, a frequent problem in India).
Apart from the need for producing a large
output of competent researchers in these
fields as in physical and life sciences these
persons must continue their discipline
knowledge with a fair degree of competence
in IT. This may require appropriate
modifications in curriculum and pedagogy.
IT Software and Services

Indias tremendous capabilities and success
in this area needs to be further developed.
As noted earlier, studies have indicated a
huge growth potential, both in the country
Software platforms that facilitate and add

value to e-governance and UID need to be
developed. Widespread use of these whether for citizen services or financial
inclusion, or other purposes will need the
creation of mass (IT) literacy through
appropriate initiatives; the development of
easy and cheap access facilities (low-cost
access devices, in addition to free publicaccess facilities like CSCs being set up by
DEITY); and Indian language software as
well as sites (in addition to automated
language translation systems).
Development of operating systems, realtime systems and other specialized software

is an ambition that is within the countrys
reach, if it sets itself to such objectives.
As elsewhere in the world, a lot of
innovation, new ideas and products will
come from start-up ventures. Experience
indicates that these need a conducive ecosystem and one critical component is a
nucleating organization - which typically is
a university or R&D centre.
Conclusions
While each of the above would have
differing requirements, involving different
participants, there are some common aspects
that all of them need. First is a major thrust
on Mathematics and the sciences.
Mathematics is at the very root of
information science, from which ICT takes
birth. Over the years, there is an apparent
drop in the quality of math graduates. At the
same time, the requirement of
mathematicians for the IT sector has vastly
increased. Even the IT industry, which was
initially interested mainly in people who
could do coding and then moved to
programmers, is now increasingly looking
ICT AND SCIENCE
and globally. However, to meet emerging

needs and face competition, India will have
to take a number of initiatives. While some
of these are in the realm of industrial and
fiscal policy, a number of other steps will be
needed to ensure that India captures more
of the value chain (through development of
IP and software products, and high-value
services work). IT-based manufacturing in
areas like electronics design, engineering
design and services, architectural and civil
design, even textile and jewelry design: all
these offer great opportunities and leverage
Indias competitive advantage. Sophisticated
software and platforms for health-care and
education sectors is a need in India and also
has great global demand.
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ICT AND SCIENCE
180
for higher level skills. Today, many

engineers are yet used as programmers, but
growing numbers are now working as
domain experts (where they utilize their core
domain skills as a necessary part of the job).
Post-graduates and doctorates are being
sought after, particularly in Math and
Statistics. These new requirements
necessitate a revamping of curricula.
Science is a key contributor, especially
through materials science and Physics (for
electronics) and biology and life sciences (for
health-related areas). Producing highquality researchers, in large numbers, in
these fields will be a determinant of success
in ICT.
As industry moves to capture higher value
work, the need is not only for higher skill
levels, but also for a mindset that is
innovative and solution-driven. Promoting
these is not a particular strength of our
education system today, and this is an area
that needs to be urgently addressed.
Also required is an emphasis on
entrepreneurship. While there are some
schemes, there is need to look at how to
facilitate even encourage technologists,
scientists and academicians to become
entrepreneurs.
An underlying problem is the lack of

interaction between the three critical players:
educational institutions, R&D centres and
industry. Despite wide acknowledgement of
this need and much lip-service as to its
importance, not much has happened by way
of specific actions. This is certainly one area
that needs immediate attention.
As noted earlier, ICT is not only one of
Indias success stories, it is also an area with
great potential for further growth (a
Nasscom study sees exports of software and
services alone going to over US $ 225 billion
by 2020; the potential for a large hardware
industry is equally promising). This sector
can be a major contributor not only to Indias
economic growth but also to social
transformation and inclusion. If we are not
to lose this opportunity, it is essential to act
quickly to strengthen the sci-tech base on
which it will depend.
It is recommended that a small sub-group
(including industry representatives) prepare
a road-map and chalk out a concrete action
plan.
Kiran Karnik
181
EDUCATION
Education holds the key to our performance in science, technology and innovation.
feature. In view of the crucial importance

of the higher education sector for the overall
development of the country, it is useful to
highlight the most essential aspects which
need to be given due importance in taking
various steps for improvement and to ensure
that the steps are the right ones. In preparing
the following short checklist, we have
subjected the numerous action points and
important issues to distillation, and it is
possible that few of the items of concern to
some colleagues have not received due
importance.
With several million additional students
likely to come up for higher education in
the next two to three decades, it is
necessary to make a serious manpower
EDUCATION
The education sector in India is facing

serious problems and challenges which
include the big rush of young people
aspiring for good education, declining
quality of institutions, serious problems
related to the administration and
governance of the education sector and
increasing global competition. Learning
science should be a joyous experience, but
the ground situation is far from it. The
problems that we face today in the education
sector will get even more severe in the near
future when an explosive increase in the
number of young students aspiring for
higher education is likely to occur. In spite
of the variety of problems, India is also a land
of opportunities with certain advantages,
young India being a specially noteworthy
EDUCATION
182
planning effort so that young people get

directed to different areas of study, instead
of all of them going for standard university
courses in science, engineering and other
subjects. How are we going to handle the
surge of young students? There is
manpower mismatch in many countries
with too many professionals in some of the
subjects, with employment opportunities
getting fewer. It is not unlikely that there
will soon be excessive production of Ph.Ds
in some of the countries. At the same time,
there could be shortage of people in some
sectors.
Equally serious is the problem of poor
quality of the graduates and postgraduates that we produce. We should
find ways of improving their professional
abilities with suitable inputs and
innovative programmes.
It is widely recognized that quality upgradation requires the greatest attention if
India has to become a global leader in
science and technology, and other creative
endeavours. Today, there is not a single
educational institution in India which is
equal to the best institutions in the
advanced countries. It is important that in
the next 10-15 years, several of our
educational institutions are in the top 100
in the world. Much effort is needed if India

has to emerge as a major contributor of
higher quality research. As a step forward,
the government should provide all the
required support to equip a selected few
universities and other educational
institutions to enable them to compete with
the best of institutions in the advanced
countries.
It is also necessary that a large number of
(small) centres of excellence in science are
established in educational and research
institutions. The centres should not be big
buildings but small groups of scientists
working together in chosen areas. These
centres should be manned by high caliber
scientists and be globally competitive.
It has been said that we have an examination
system but not an education system.
Examinations have got increasing
importance in the last few years. One is not
talking about the final annual examinations
alone. Entrance examinations have become
a menace. IIT entrance examinations have
the reputation of being difficult and
purposeful, but they have also had a
negative effect on young minds. Young
people suffer so much while working hard
to succeed in these entrance examinations,
and in the process lose excitement in
education itself. Those who do succeed

would have got exhausted and are not able
to perform as well as young people with
fresh minds.
Administration of the education system

requires a serious overhaul. There is
urgent need for restructuring institutions
and reforming administration. This is
specially true of state funded institutions.
The indifferent manner with which

educational institutions are being handled
may destroy even the system that we have.
What is unfortunate is that educational and
research institutions are administered by
people with administrative backgrounds,
many without any real interest in
education. Even technical education is
administered routinely by administrators
trained in bureaucratic practices. Unless
this situation is changed, it will be difficult
to improve the quality of educational
institutions. Even more serious is the direct
intervention of governments in
administering institutions, particularly
those run by the States. For example,
governments choose vice-chancellors of
universities. Universities are overloaded
with work related to the conduct of
examinations. Some of them are too large
because of the affiliated colleges. There
should be guidelines as to the maximum
number of students in educational
institutions.
State governments should be persuaded
to support higher education with greater
care as well as investment.
Administrative autonomy, dedicated
budget for R&D, recruitment and
promotion of faculty are some of the other
issues that require attention.
EDUCATION
Even after getting a good degree,

students have to take ever so many
entrance examinations to go for higher
studies. For example, one hears of a
proposal to have a qualifying or
accreditation examination for medical
graduates and postgraduates. When will
young people stop taking exams and do
something worthwhile? It is important
to relook at the entire examination system
including the system of final
examinations, entrance examinations,
qualifying examinations, selection
examinations, and so on. For entrance
examinations related to admission to
higher education institutions, there
should be only one national examination
which should be able to assess the
eligibility of the candidates. Note that US
institutions take young people from India
based on one GRE examination.
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EDUCATION
Considering that there are already many

colleges of engineering, management and
so on, how do we plan for educational
institutions in the future? How many
university type institutions should/can be
there in the country? It would seem
thoughtless to keep increasing the number
of government-supported colleges and
universities without careful consideration
of manpower requirements.
How, where and with what specialization
should the central government establish
the so-called quality institutions?
What should be the criteria for
appointment of Chairmen of Governing
bodies of institutions, Directors of
national institutes and VCs of Central
Universities etc.
Promotion of scientific research in
universities and educational institutions is
largely considered and funded by science
agencies such as the DST, DBT, DAE, DOS,
DRDO, DSIR and DOD. Although research
support is also provided by MHRD and the
UGC, the extent of their support is not
considerable. There are in the country
today over 630 universities and more than
33000 colleges. There is a huge untapped
potential for training of research personnel
and for significantly enhancing research

output from Indias numerous educational
institutions. In order to realize this
potential, it is imperative for the MHRD
and the UGC to set up more effective
mechanisms than what they have at the
present time, and to considerably raise their
allocation of funds from the current level,
for extending research and infrastructure
support to academic institutions across the
length and breadth of the country.
There are nearly 3400 colleges of engineering
and technology in India today whose
annual intake into undergraduate courses
is over 1.5 million. Over 95% of this annual
intake is accounted for by private, self
financing institutions. At least 50 of the
3400 colleges possess academic strengths
comparable or better than those of state
funded colleges. Government funding to
the top ranking private institutions as well
as Government involvement through
distinguished scientists and engineers is
required for improving post-graduate
teaching and advanced research in these
top ranking private colleges. This initiative
is likely to prove to be a worthy example
of public-private-partnership in higher
education and research in technical fields.
The examination system as well as the

reward system seem to have destroyed
creativity in young people. We need highly
creative and innovative people to take up

challenges in science and other subjects and
also to tackle problems related to national
and global needs. It is therefore essential
to see that everything we do in the
education sector promotes creativity. It is
noteworthy that many of the advanced
countries (e.g., U.K.) are making serious
efforts to promote creativity and
innovation amongst the youth.
We need to create an atmosphere where
there are barrier-free connectivities
amongst educational institutions within
the country as well as internationally, to
promote fruitful collaboration and
cooperation, quality upgradation and
synergy in performance. Higher
educational institutions such as IITs, IISc
and IISERs should be organically linked to
several colleges to provide the assistance
required for quality improvement of the
latter.
We should seriously consider a possible
scenario wherein the young India
advantage enables India to emerge as the
provider of trained manpower for the
entire world in the next 20-30 years. This
could be a worthwhile national objective.
EDUCATION
It is well established that education is

effective only when teachers get the
prominence and recognition. A country
which has succeeded in making the
teaching profession an important one in
society is Finland. If India wants to succeed
in education, it should give greater
importance to the teaching profession and
accord due respect to teachers. This would
involve providing good emoluments and
amenities as well as continuing education
opportunities to teachers. Teaching
profession should be sought after by
young people. We need the best talent for
many of our efforts in the country. It is
likely that some of the most talented young
people are in rural India. In order to tap
this talent and provide opportunities to
young children in rural India, we must
increase the number of fully supported
residential schools up to higher secondary
level in rural India. Best of these students
should get opportunities to pursue higher
studies in the best of our institutions. ICT
should be used to take the best of teachers
to the door steps of the large community
of young students all over the country.
185
EDUCATION
186
It is possible that planners, policy makers, administrators and the general public
may react to these suggestions by saying that one is already aware of these issues
and that there are agencies and committees looking at them. What is required is
a serious application of mind to these and other related issues, to ensure that
major transformations are brought about in the country that would create a
healthier higher education scenario. In order to prepare ourselves to face many
of the problems and challenges in the higher education sector, it is important
that a national vision document on higher education is prepared as early as
possible. Such a vision document should be able to provide a roadmap for the
higher education sector in the years to come. It is hoped that the Ministry of
Human Resources Development will set up a task force to prepare the vision
document. It is desirable that such a document becomes available in the next 12
or 18 months.
187
SCIENCE-LED INNOVATION
It is interesting to see the evolution of science

related policies in India. The pathbreaking
Science Policy Resolution (1958) was
followed by a robust Technology Policy
Statement (1983), which was then followed
by the Science & Technology Policy (2003),
which took a more integrative view.
Presently Indian Science, Technology and
Innovation Policy (2013) is on the national
drawing board.
The power of the idea that science,
technology and innovation need to be
seamlessly integrated has been driving the
strategies around the world for over a
decade now. Even the names of the
ministries of science and technology in
Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Malaysia,
South Africa, Spain, UK, etc. have been

changed over the last decade with the word
innovation explicitly included. In fact,
Argentina now has a Ministry of Science,
Technology & Productive Innovation!
But why this emphasis on innovation?
The power of innovation to create social and
economic transformation has been well
recognized. In fact, Innovation has become
a tool for competitiveness as well as
accelerated inclusive growth. European
Union (EU) had declared 2009 as the year of
creativity and innovation for EU. Indeed,
European Union is building itself as
Innovation Union now. India has declared
the decade 2010-20 as the Indian Decade of
Innovation. There is a growing realization
We need to create a robust national innovation eco-system to foster science-led innovation.
188
in India that research and innovation must

go together. After all, research converts
money into knowledge. But it is innovation,
which converts knowledge into money. The
introduction of the University for Research
and Innovation Bill 2012 by the Government
of India is one indication of this.
Innovation
An often used definition of innovation is
Innovation is a process that translates
knowledge into economic growth and social
wellbeing. It emphasizes a series of
scientific, technological, organizational,
financial and commercial activities. There
are different types of innovations. These
include technology innovation, business
process innovation, workflow innovation,
delivery system or supply chain innovation,
public policy innovation and so on.
The Indian way of doing innovation has led
to the introduction of new nomenclatures in
the dictionary of innovation with phrases
that did not exist just five years ago! These
include phrases like frugal innovation,
Gandhian innovation, MLM ( more from less
for more), reverse innovation, nanovation,
and even Indovation! Some of the Indian
innovations were driven by the power of the
combination of scarcity and aspiration. Some

of these have been truly game changing and
are taught as case studies in the worlds
leading business schools. The innovation
leading to the cheapest mobile phone call
rates in the world by the Indian Telecom
companies is a typical case of game changing
`business process innovation. The fact that
Aravind Eye Care can do a high quality
cataract eye surgery at one by hundredth of
the cost in USA or the fact that Narayan
Hrudalaya can do a high quality heart
surgery at one by twentieth of the cost
prevailing in USA is due to the `work flow
innovation. However, when it comes to
technological innovation, India has not done
so well.
Science provides the base for technology,
which in turn triggers technology led
innovation. It was the science of precise
control of atoms in semiconductor materials
that eventually led to the creation of
microchips with billion transistors. It was the
science of creation of single crystals of silicon
carbide and gallium nitride that led to cell
phone displays. It was the science of laser
crystallization of amorphous silicon that led
to flat panel displays. It was the science of
hot electron injection in thin films of
insulators that led to digital cameras.
189
Paradigm Shifts in Science- led Innovation
Previously, it was not uncommon to have

firms participate in basic science as a part of
their grand innovation strategy. But the
purpose was limited to reinforcing their
absorption capacity. However, modern
biotechnology start-ups led to a paradigm
shift in terms of new scientific knowledge
itself becoming a saleable product. Strong
science oriented drug discovery necessarily
required the firms to become participants in
science rather than just the users of known
scientific knowledge.
Industrial firms dealing with strongly
science based sectors of economy realized
that much of the generation of new scientific
knowledge is done outside their firms that

means within the universities and public
research institutions. Therefore, they started
shifting the strategy from just the R&D
(Research & Development) mode to C&D
(Connect and Develop) mode, the new
connections being with access to new science
generated within the academic institutions.
Small and medium size firms are getting
more and more specialized in the sale of
scientific knowledge rather than the finished
product in the marketplace, Creation of such
firms was made possible by the design and
implementation of new laws, where the
intellectual property rights ( IPR ) could be
used as the starting capital. Some key
institutional measures and extension of the
scope of patent system were concerning
what could be patented (not only inventions)
and who can patent (not only individuals
and firms but also academic institutions).
Thus, the prevailing division of labour of
research between public and private
institutions changed dramatically in the new
landscape of science led innovation.
The advent of modern biotechnology

industry is a classic case of science based
innovation. The scientific breakthrough that
led to the elucidation of the structure of DNA
led to genetic engineering and subsequently
the creation of modern biotechnology as we
know it now. The advent of strongly science
based industry such as biotechnology
changed the rules of the game.
190
Why is India lagging in Science-led Innovation?

Why is it that India has not done well in
science based innovation as against other in
forms of non-science or non-technology
based innovations that we referred to
earlier? First, before 1991, in a protected
economy, import substitution was the
objective and, therefore, there was no
incentive for creating new science-based
products. The easy path was to copy the
known products in the global market. First
to the world product was a distant dream.
First to India products, based on the existing
body of scientific and technological
knowledge was all that one aimed for. So
new science based products did not get
developed.
Second, the Indian intellectual property laws
also led to this aversion to doing science led
innovation, even in areas which are strongly
built on science, such as drugs and pharma,
biotech, etc. For example, in the area of drugs
and pharma, India became a leader in the
production of generic drugs by copying the
known molecules already researched and
productionized elsewhere in the world. But
once the patent laws, which recognized
product patents were introduced in the year
2005, it led to several Indian drugs and
pharma companies going for discovery

research, or in other words science led
innovation to put new molecules, not just
copies, into the marketplace.
Third, the journey from a scientific invention
to innovation can be complex and arduous.
The fact that a nation does great science does
not mean that it will automatically lead to
great innovation. The Raman Effect was
discovered in India. But Raman scanner was
created outside India. The iron-mercury-ion
coherer, which formed the basic platform for
wireless technology was created by Sir J.C.
Bose, but the wireless technology is
attributed to Marconi in Italy. In order to
monetize the knowledge, one must own
that monetisable knowledge. It is not often
recognized that it is not patenting or
publishing. It is patenting before
publishing. One can cite several cases of
Indian science, leading to potentially
monetisable knowledge. But that science
was monetised by others outside India, not
in India and by Indians.
Fourth, it is only the monetisable
knowledge that is converted into money.
When scientific breakthroughs take place,
even to recognize that the new knowledge

that is generated is monetisable, requires a
special attribute of mind. Even when one has
created monetisable knowledge, to convert
it into money requires the presence of a
191
robust innovation eco system. India is sadly

deficient in this today. In this Indian Decade
of Innovation, we must make an all out effort
to dramatically change this.
The essential elements of a powerful national

ecosystem comprise physical, intellectual
and cultural constructs. Beyond mere
research labs, it includes idea incubators,
technology parks, a conducive intellectual
property rights regime, balanced regulatory
systems, strategically designed standards,
academics who believe in not just publish
or perish, but patent, publish and prosper,
some scientists, who have the passion to
become technopreneurs, potent inventorinvestor engagement, adventure capital,
and passionate innovation leaders.
Here is an agenda for Indian leadership in
science-led innovation.
For science led innovation to flourish, there
should be incentivisation for those who
create monetisable knowledge. The
current systems are based on recognitions
that rest on excellence in science alone. No

doubt these are very important, because
without cutting edge science, there cannot
be breakthrough technology and impactful
innovation. But side-by-side, there should
be rewards and recognitions for those, who
excel in science led innovation too.
Simultaneously a new value system must
be built that respects science that solves
problems, technology that transforms and
innovation that impacts the society.
Successful innovation is not a solo effort.
The journey from mind to market place
involves a `team effort. The current
systems reward individuals. India must
move over to awards for teams, who
orchestrate different parts of the puzzle of
innovation, and finally assemble a
successful marketable product or deliver a
solution to a vexing problem.
Setting an Indian Agenda for Leadership in Science-led

Innovation
192
Ideas need to be incubated. Therefore, we

should build incubators across every Indian
university, clusters of colleges, etc. These
should be innovation clusters, which are
sector specific, which bring all innovation
players with domain expertise from
academy, from industry, from finance, etc.,
together. There should be Research or
Technology Parks. China has 300 Research
Parks. Indias Research Parks cannot be
counted beyond a single digit. Such parks
should be funded by the Centre, by the State
as well as through innovative publicprivate partnerships.
A conducive intellectual property rights
regime needs to be designed and deployed.
In the classical model, publicly funded
academic research is done with a public
interest character, whereas industrial inhouse R&D is primarily done by industry
for private good. In USA, the Bayh Dole act
(1980) opened up the way for a new
direction for the results of the basic research
produced in academic institutions, by first
creating the right of patent results of the
publicly funded research and second, by
granting these rights to exclusive licenses
provided to private for profit firms. This
significantly changed the relationship
between the agents involved in the
innovation eco-system. The bill Protection

and Utilization of Pubic Funded Intellectual
Property Act, 2008 is still pending with
Rajya Sabha. Now the Government has
introduced another bill, The Research and
Innovation Bill 2012. Chapter 5 of this bill
deals with Protection and Utilization of
Intellectual Property emerging from Public
Funded Research.
The intellectual property proposals in this
bill are far more balanced and nuanced in
comparison to the 2008 bill, which had
proposals for some unwarranted punitive
measures. We do not have the luxury of
unending debates if we are serious about
making a difference in this Indian decade
of innovation itself. This bill should be
passed after a due debate as soon as
possible and the necessary provisions put
in place that will promote the creation of
wealth from the science done in academic
institutions.
Rigid and obtrusive regulatory systems,
which are also non-efficient at the same
time, can cause impediments in moving
science led innovation forward. For
example, it is new science that can lead to a
new cure for a difficult disease. But the
delays in the regulatory authoritys
In science-led innovation, when a new idea

is born, which leads to the design and
development of a new product, that the
present market has not seen before, a
hassle-free provision of early stage
financing is crucial. Risk financing in the
form of venture capital, which acts as an

intermediary for long term investment, and
which supports young startups, becomes
critical. Such ad venture capital created
must support the young firms from their
creation till they mature. India lacks such
funds. The Governments elsewhere are
known to take bold initiatives. For example
in the USA, every department has to set
aside 5% of the funds to support innovative
programs, SBIRI initiatives by NIH and
DoD are classical cases. These grants run
up to $ 1 million or more. Many small startups are catalysed through such funding.
Some excellent initiatives by DBT, DST, etc
need to be revisited to introduce systems
that will support really high risk cutting
edge science based innovation. The New
Millennium Indian Technology Leadership
Initiative launched by CSIR in the year
2000, which funded entirely new
technology leading to new products with
an aim to create new markets was Indias
biggest public-private partnership in postindependent India. It has many successes
to its credit, but also some failures. Learning
from the lessons, a new initiative to support
truly cutting edge science led innovation
should be designed and delivered at a
national level.
approvals (may be partly arising from the

fact it is dealing with new science based
innovations for the first time in India) has
meant that companies have had to shift
such clinical research abroad, thus losing
altogether the advantage of using Indias
cost advantage in clinical trials. Similar is
the case in other areas of life sciences, for
example, in plant science, the research
leading to the GM crops is getting held up
due to the lack of a precautionary but a
promotional regime. Lack of clarity on
foreign direct investment in drugs and
pharmaceuticals and new biotech is
starving the new biotech startups of the
much needed foreign direct investment.
Strengthening of these regulatory systems,
such that they do not compromise on
standards and safety of people (patient
first), but at the same time recognize the
importance of maintaining Indias
comparative advantage (India first) should
be always borne in mind.
193
194
The Government must create the support

structures for creating the Indian leadership
in science based innovation. That requires
financial resource input as well as
investments in capacity building. Patenting
is expensive. So there must be dedicated
national funds as well as special allocations
to institutions. Skills in patent related
endeavours are very special. For example,
interpreting patent data for identifying the
areas, where there is a freedom to operate,
writing patents professionally so that the
competitors will not easily bypass them,
assessing the potential current and future
value of an intellectual property, etc. are all
highly professional jobs. We cannot expect
our top class scientific inventors to either
master or spend time on these. The same is
the case with technology transfer and
licensing offices, which should be staffed
with smart professional individuals They
need to be incentivized suitably by linking
their variable pay to their performance in
successful technology transfer and
licensing.
Science based innovation will invariably
lead to products that do not presently exist
in the market. The Government must have
tax exemption policies, excise duty

reductions, policies to provide massive
public procurement support for the early
stage market seeding and market expansion
of such products. Such inputs on public
procurement in China for products based
on indigenous innovation, for instance, run
into billions of dollars! We have to design
our own smart intelligent support systems
to accelerate and promote science based
innovation.
We need to ensure that different components
that comprise and influence the innovation
ecosystem need to synergize together as an
integrated whole. For instance, an audit
system that insists that each patent should
be commercialized, would inhibit the
patenting initiative. On the other hand, an
overdrive on patenting systems will lead
to unwarranted secrecy amongst the
scientific community in free idea exchange,
which is the hallmark of true spirit behind
open science. Therefore, a National
Oversight Board with wise thought leaders
of eminence, which is able to look at such
issues holistically, should be put in place.
195
We feel confident that during this Indian Decade of Innovation, the adaptation
and execution of this ten point national agenda can catapult India to be amongst
the top leaders in science led innovation. The time to take the first bold steps is
here and now.
R. A. Mashelkar
Most importantly, we must develop a new mindset at the individual,

institutional and national levels. This means a change of attitude from risk
averseness to risk taking, from from safe venture capitalists to daring adventure capitalists, from mistrust of the private sector for public funding to
trust with a generous government support in a public-private-partnership mode,
especially for the risky science led innovation based new product development.
It is only science led innovation that will lead us to move away from the
syndrome of first to India products to first to the world products. More than
ever before, the private sector must realize the potential of new value creation
for it through new science based new business, rather than investing only in the
use of the existing scientific knowledge. It must become an active partner in
science led innovation as an act of faith.
196
197
EPILOGUE
Indias emergence as a global leader in science and technology would require:

Unstinted support for good basic research, and Science-led innovation,
Judicious choice of main R&D areas,
Unhindered knowledge (technology) transfer,
Massive scientific effort to solve pressing national problems, and the use of scientific advice in
socio-economic sectors.
All this can be accomplished.
The challenges facing us may appear formidable, but they afford

many opportunities for scientists to contribute in a big way.
EPILOGUE
The future of India is closely tied up with science. Science-based development is essential not only in
competitive sectors, but also to improve the quality of life of common citizens. Pressing needs such
as affordable health care, good education, and safe drinking water can only be provided by making
use of our scientific capabilities. We have several advantages. For example, we have a large human
resource, not available in many parts of the world. We have some natural advantages as well, and we
have to fully make use of these. While it may seem a daunting task, we have to compete at the very
frontiers in science and technology with the advanced as well as emerging nations. Even as we are
contemplating, many other nations seem to be making big strides in scientific and industrial outputs
and achieving greater economic prosperity. We need to hurry carefully not losing sight of our goals.
In order to do so in a country where social justice has to prevail along with economic prosperity, we
have to give more importance for science-based innovation. We have to be conscious of the fact that
science and the way one does it are changing and accordingly we need to change the way science is
administered. Funding modalities have to undergo a major change. We need to properly identify a
few of the grand challenges. We should promote close collaboration between the private and the
public sectors, and between academia and industry. We have to develop critical competitiveness in
mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.
198

(2004 - 2009)
C. N. R. Rao (Chairman)
G. Madhavan Nair
P. Balaram
Roddam Narasimha
Baldev Raj
M. Natarajan
M. K. Bhan
Swati A. Piramal
S. K. Brahmachari (w.e.f. 12 Nov.2007)
Mangala Rai
R. Chidambaram
T.V. Ramakrishnan
Sanjay G. Dhande
V. S. Ramamurthy
N. K. Ganguly
(Mem. Secretary till 30 April 2006)
P. Rama Rao
P. S. Goel
T. Ramasami
S. E. Hasnain
(Mem. Secretary w.e.f. 25 May 2006)
Ashok Jhunjhunwala
E. A. Siddiq
Anil Kakodkar
M. M. Sharma
Kiran Karnik
Bikash Sinha
Satish K. Kaura
V. Sumantran
R. A. Mashelkar
K. VijayRaghavan
Goverdhan Mehta
Secretariat
R. C. Srivastava
Milind Kulkarni
Department of Science and Technology
199
200

(2009-2013)
C. N. R. Rao (Chairman)
Roddam Narasimha
S. Ayyappan
Swati A. Piramal
P. Balaram
K. Radhakrishnan
Baldev Raj
Sujatha Ramadorai
S. Banerjee (till 30 April 2012)
T.V. Ramakrishnan
Mustansir Barma
P. Rama Rao
M. K. Bhan
T. Ramasami (Mem. Secretary)
S. K. Brahmachari
Vijay Kumar Saraswat
R. Chidambaram
M. M. Sharma
S. E. Hasnain
V. K. Singh
Ashok Jhunjhunwala
Bikash Sinha
Kiran Karnik
R. K. Sinha
V. M. Katoch
A. K. Sood
D. V. Khakhar
Venu Srinivasan
R. A. Mashelkar
B. K. Thelma
Goverdhan Mehta
K. VijayRaghavan
Shailesh Naik
Secretariat
Milind Kulkarni
Department of Science and Technology
201
202
Design: Jatinder Kaur, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore
Printers: Parishree Printers, Bangalore

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Science in India

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SCIENCE IN INDIA

Decade of Achievements and

am happy to learn that the Science Advisory Council to the Prime

Minister is bringing out a volume Science in India (2004-13): Decade of

Decade of Achievements and Rising Aspirations

India as a Global Leader in Science

Major Recommendations and Accomplishments

Challenges and opportunities in Science and Technology

A Vision for India

n the next two decades, India is likely to become an

economically prosperous nation and move significantly

Part 1: India as a global leader in science

The gathering storm?

Our vast but unrealized potential

Indian basic science has spawned new technologies

Millimetre waves and J C Bose

Mathematics and technology

The new wave

Science at the core of national development

What science should we do?

Science outside the science departments

India as a global leader: The way forward

Making India a global leader in Science

How to run the best schools in the world

How many scientists do we need?

A framework for higher education

The innovation eco-system

Can NSERB be an engine of change?

The individual and the institution

A way to get good advice

Liberating science from bureaucracy

s we near the end of the first decade

spoken about young people in China and

Indias Place in the World of science today

INDIAS PLACE IN THE WORLD OF

Indias Place in the World of science today

2 India as a global leader in science

The gathering storm?

Economic studies conducted even before

the information-technology revolution have

of other nations whose economies are

[We] are worried about the future

prosperity of the United States. Great minds

Thanks to globalization, driven by modern

The recommendations of the NAS Committee

From a recent survey (Nature 2004)1 of

several more ambitious countries like

communications and other advances, workers

India as a global leader in science 3

Graphic 1: The Geography of World Science2

Two-thirds of the national R&D

relative to GNP (0.38% of GNP in 85-86,

Indias Place in the World of science today

Global distribution of number of papers produced

Indias Place in the World of science today

4 India as a global leader in science

Graphic 2: Gross domestic expenditure on R & D by area, 1996 - 2006

India as a global leader in science 5

At the school-leaving level there is great

OUR VAST BUT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

Our Vast but Unrealized

OUR VAST BUT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

6 India as a global leader in science