The problem with India’s science management
- India aims for sustained economic progress driven by scientific advances translated into deployable technologies.
- Government initiatives include setting up the National Research Foundation (NRF) and restructuring the DRDO to overhaul India's science establishment.
Challenges in Current Science Administration
- Low overall expenditure on research and development (around 0.7% of GDP) constrains scientific outcomes.
- Lack of focus on critical themes like genomics, robotics and artificial intelligence.
- India's science is dominated by the public sector, leading to generic bureaucratic issues and challenges in long-term funding commitment for critical projects.
Administrative Challenges for Scientists
- Individuality vs. Organisation: Scientists driven by individual attribution may struggle with organisational-driven administration.
- Skill Set Mismatch: Attributes associated with good scientists may not align with administrative requirements such as tact, realism, flexibility, and firmness.
- Conflict of Interest: Being an academic within the same institution where one has administrative control can lead to conflicts of interest.
- Lack of Training: Scientists lack comprehensive training in selecting appropriate metrics and prioritising between time, cost, and precision.
Roots of the Problem
- Historical factors, such as concentration of high-end equipment in specific institutions, led to a system of gatekeepers.
- They began to capture positions, government patronage and institutional power on the back of their monopoly over critical equipment.
- Inherent system of paying tributes to gatekeepers, created a network that stifles competition and genuine scientific outcomes.
Proposal for Administrative Reform
- A separation of administrators and scientists is crucial, similar to the US model, where science administrators are selected and trained separately.
- Creation of an all-India pool of a science administration central service for training and selection is recommended.
- The need for administrative training should be recognised, similar to the establishment of the MBA course in business.