INDIAN SCIENCE AT A CROSSROADS: THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000100

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV SCUL TSPL PREL ENRG IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN SCIENCE AT A CROSSROADS: THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY


1. (U) SUMMARY: During the Indian National Science Academy's (INSA)
75th anniversary celebration, presenters raved over India's
extraordinary accomplishments in science and technology at the same
time they lamented India's lost scientific prowess, lack of
diversity, and failure to keep up with the rest of the world. The
celebration focused on the need to develop the next generation of
science luminaries, but the program was controlled by the "old
guard" of Indian science and neglected an opportunity to engage
young scientists in the dialogue. A major change in senior
personnel, or their paradigms, is needed to overcome the Indian
science community's inability to achieve its acknowledged need for
transformation. END SUMMARY


2. (U) One of India's oldest and most prestigious scientific
associations, INSA plays a critical role in advising the Government
of India on science matters, making decisions on science funding,
and promoting Indian science both domestically and abroad. The
who's who of Indian science attended to celebrate INSA's 75th year
and while most of the day's presentations simply glorified Indian
science and scientists, some risked a look into the uncertain realm
of the future.


3. (U) During his opening remarks, INSA president M. Vijayan began
by lauding India's scientific accomplishments, both ongoing and
past, such as the green revolution and India's pharmaceutical
industry. However, he quickly switched gears and said that India
was no longer a superpower in third world science and that "in the
global scenario, Indian science is in crisis." The first reason he
gave was the structure of Indian science - which needed to become
less bureaucratic, less hierarchical, more autonomous, and more
participatory - and the second was significant deficiencies in the
quality of higher education. (NOTE: A 2008 Ernst and Young report,
"Globalizing Higher Education in India," found that India had a 53
percent shortage of engineers and an 83 percent shortage of
scientists with doctoral qualifications. END NOTE)


4. (U) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh echoed Vijayan's remarks on the
state of Indian science, and said that India and INSA need to focus
on improving the quality of science education starting in primary
schools and progressing through to the universities, with a
concentration on attracting and retaining top-notch teachers. His
next priorities for the future of Indian science were energy and the
environment. He stated that in order to respect the world's limited
natural resources and reduce India's footprint on the environment,
India's growing need for energy must be met by focusing on energy
efficient systems.


5. (U) The only female speaker, Dr. Saman Habib of the Central Drug
Research Institute, pointed out that while she applauded efforts to
bring in young researchers, there remained a need for more diversity
in Indian science policy and project approval. She noted that
despite a recent availability of more funds, project implementation
was restricted by moribund decision-making committees comprised of
the same 25 to 30 senior scientists who enforced their will and
steered research based on personal agendas regardless of their
scientific expertise or disciplines. Dr. Habib was the only young,
and only female, scientist allowed to present. In addition, the
question and answer session designed for young researchers and
students was cut off for lack of time due to senior researchers
monopolizing the podium and in some cases, using twice their
allotted time.


6. (U) GOI principal Scientific Advisor Dr. R. Chidambaram indicated
that India needed to enhance its performance in basic sciences. He
said that present spending was focused on capacity building and
India-centric self-directed proprietary research, but in areas like
climate change, India had to work towards collaborative innovation
with the international community. Dr. Mashelkar, former Director
General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research,
highlighted India's need to expand its scientific base, draw as many
young people as possible into science, and work quickly on scale and
sustainability if Indian science was to ever help the nation move
forward.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: The true state of Indian science is often
difficult to ascertain amidst the self-congratulatory propaganda and

NEW DELHI 00000100 002 OF 002


false claims of credit for successes that were in fact brought about
by international assistance. In addition, it seems many younger
scientists feel unable to reach their potential under the current
hide-bound and hierarchical system. Based on multiple conversations
with visiting U.S. scientific delegations as well as site visits to
various labs and institutions, it appears the Indian science
community is often benefiting from U.S. expertise without offering
in return the innovative technology and research their pubic
statements suggest they can. A critical self-evaluation by the
scientific establishment is required to get India back on track in
science, though that is unlikely to come about until the next
generation of scientists begins to attain decision-making positions.
Recognition by PM Singh and senior scientists of the need for
reforms, and Dr. Habib's willingness to publicly address the lack of
diversity, are certainly good and vital first steps to that end.
END COMMENT

WHITE