Page 101 - DCAP405_SOFTWARE_ENGINEERING

Software Engineering

Notes

Caselet Securing India’s Science Future

n 2004, while reviewing the science and technology policy of the Government of
India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said: “In a world where the powers are determined by the
Ishare of the world’s knowledge, reflected by patents, papers and so on…it is important
for India to put all her acts together to become a continuous innovator and creator of
science and technology intensive products.” The importance of scientific and technological
advancement in today’s highly globalised environment cannot be overstated.
If we are to go by an observation in a report by India’s Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade that “the health of a nation depends, among other factors, on the health of the state
of its science and technology,” we have cause to be concerned about the health of our
nation. In an increasingly competitive global economy, knowledge-driven growth powered
by innovation is a critical imperative. While India is uniquely positioned to use technology
for progress, it has in the recent past lagged behind considerably in the quality and spread
of science research. This is a critical lacuna that could well determine the fate not just of our
scientific and developmental future but, more importantly, of our progress as a nation.
Status and Challenges
A recent study by Thomson Reuters titled Global Research Report: India concluded that,
given ideal conditions, India’s research productivity would be on a par with that of most
G8 nations within seven to eight years and that it could probably overtake them in 2015-
2020. In the last decade, India has seen its annual output of scientific publications grow
from roughly 16,500 in 1998 to nearly 30,000 in 2007. Before we pat ourselves on the back,
it would be good to consider things in perspective. Although India produces about 400,000
engineering graduates and about 300,000 computer science graduates every year, just
about 20,000 master’s degree holders and fewer than 1,000 PhDs in engineering graduate
each year.

In 2007-08, India had about 156 researchers per million in the population, compared with
4,700 per million in the United States. In terms of sheer numbers, in 2007 China had
1,423,000 researchers, second internationally to the United States, which had almost
1,571,000. India by comparison had 154,800. India’s spend on R&D in 2007-08 was about
US$ 24 billion compared with China’s investment of about US$ 104 billion back in 2006
and the United States’ US$ 368 billion. These comparative allocations, which have not
changed much since then, reveal the gross inadequacy in India’s commitment to research,
considering our scientists’ potential and our aspirations as a nation.
A survey of 47 universities conducted by the University Grants Commission in 2007-08
revealed vacancy levels as high as 51 per cent. It is evident that the majority of India’s
graduating engineers, particularly the cream, are going directly into the job market –
affecting the number and quality of those available for research. This trend is partly
because of the widespread notion that remuneration in a research career is below par and
partly because of the lack of adequate encouragement and direction for young potential
researchers.

Not enough PhDs graduate in India — be it in number or excellence — to meet the
growing staff requirements of its universities. As a result, even the quality of faculty has
shown a declining trend and this is bound to have serious repercussions on the country’s
intellectual edge. Add to this the issues of politicisation of the Indian scientific establishment,
Contd...

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