QUESTION 12
GS3
12.5 marks
Scientific research in Indian universities is declining because a career in science is not as attractive as business professions, engineering or administration, and universities are becoming consumer-oriented. Critically comment.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Critically comment on whether career choices and consumer-oriented universities explain falling research in Indian universities.
Critically commentAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Agree: better pay and status in business, engineering and civil services; long uncertain PhD path, delayed fellowships; universities chasing fee-paying professional courses≈35 words
- 2Structural causes beyond the statement: low R&D spending, research concentrated in national labs and IITs not state universities, teaching load, faculty vacancies, weak industry links, separation of research from teaching since independence≈35 words
- 3Counter-view: India is third in scientific publications, rising PhDs and patents, strong ISRO and IISER ecosystem≈35 words
- 4Fixes: funding through ANRF, research-teaching integration, industry partnership, merit-based autonomy, attractive fellowships (PMRF)≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Accept the career argumentAdd structural causesCounter-evidenceReformsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only discussing career attractiveness and missing funding and institutional design
- No figure on R&D spending
Draw this
- Bar chart: R&D as % of GDP for India, China, US, Israel, South Korea
Value addition
- DataIndia's gross expenditure on R&D is about 0.64% of GDP, and private sector contributes only about 36% of it.DST R&D Statistics 2022-23
- LawAnusandhan National Research Foundation Act 2023 aims to seed research in state universities, with major funding expected from industry.Parliament, 2023
- SchemePrime Minister's Research Fellows scheme (2018) offers higher fellowships to attract top students to PhDs.Ministry of Education, 2018
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.