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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 
 
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