Indian Science Policy Parlysis [Repaired]

Reward System In Indian Science February 5, 2016

Rishabh ShuklaM Tech Fellow, NCSM, Kolkata

Outline:1. Mertnonian Ethos of Science

2. Science - Pre & Post Independence

3. Awards Instituted in India

4. Science And Beauracracy

5. Conclusion

Mertonian Ethos of Science:

CUDOS

Communism = Scientific knowledge should be communally owned

Universalism = The criteria used to evaluate a scientific claim should not depend on the identity of the person making the claim.

Disinterestedness = Scientists should disengage their interests from their actions and judgments.

Organized Skepticism = Scientific ideas should be subject to community-wide tests and challenges.

Science - Pre & Post Indepndance:Pre Independence (1900-

30)

1. JC Bose

2. Meghnand Saha

3. Satyendra Nath Bose

4. Sir CV Raman

5. S Ramanujam

Post Independence

1. Government took over and mismanaged research.

2. No Nobel or Novel Work

3. We Follow but not lead

4. Imitating things doesn’t lead to Nobel.

{Work Done Entirely outside India}1. Hargobind Khorana (1968)2. Subramanyam Chandrashekhar. (1983)3. Venkerraman Ramakrishnam (2009)

1.Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award2.Infosys Prize3.Indian Science Award4.SASTRA Ramanujan Prize5.Vigyan Gaurav Award6.Padma Awards7.& Various Chairs at Univeristies.8.Promotions in Dept can also be assumed as

appreciation/award

Scientific Awards Instituted In India:

Indian Science has been hamstrung by a bureaucratic mentality that values administrative power over scientific achievement.

Science and Beauracracy:

Dept of Atomic Energy

1. Created in 1954

2. Bhabha was Secretary, gained credibility but couldn't foster innovation.

3. Science was measured by administrative position

4. Good Science was accidental.

DRDO

1. Sitting on enormous funds

2. Hirrerchial system

3. Technologiest slotted into administrative grades

4. Case of AJ Paulraj (Marconi Prize Winner) from Indian Navy.

Policies framed by Indian Government are violating Mertonian Principles.

Science and Beauracracy:

Other Research Institutes

1. Promotions on the basis of years of service, rather than achievement.

2. Unresonable rules like limited foreign travels

3. No travel support for research students limits the exposure.

4. Lateral movement is not encouraged. internal promotion

These policies either directly or inderctly violating Mertonian Norms .

Thank You!