Homi Bhabha emphasised that science is integral to a nation’s development. The world is shifting into a winner-takes-all system, where those who lead in research shape the future. As we see with the AI example, the US and China currently lead the race. India has initiated key reforms — Anusandhan NRF, Industry R&D fund, InSpace and science missions. However, this remains a high-stakes catch-up game. We need to leapfrog and the time window is short
As we commemorate an Indian Nobel Laureate’s birth anniversary, we must ask how India can secure its first post-Independence science Nobel within five years. A series of coordinated reforms by the government can move the dial decisively in our favour. On National Science Day, here is a wish list of structural improvements, mechanisms to invigorate innovation cycle, and ways to make scientific research frictionless. These are not exclusively my ideas — I have distilled them from various discussions and readings.
Integrated body
First, on strategy and structures, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser should be strengthened into an integrating body that oversees science missions, ensuring coordination across ministries with a focus on outcomes. Establishing a Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology will enhance inter-ministerial collaboration, ensuring success of cross-sectoral programmes. To build world-class academic research ecosystems, government should competitively select 10 top universities, provide performance-based grants to increase their capacity five-fold, grant them financial independence, and encourage formation of strong professional teams to work alongside academic leaders. Additionally, government laboratories should be restructured to align strategically with industry and academia, focusing on mission-driven research and tangible outcomes.
Second, on funding and mechanisms to drive innovation, R&D budget for universities should be increased ten-fold to support large-scale projects and grand challenge, fostering an environment where breakthrough innovations can emerge. The government must also develop a robust framework to address major socio-economic challenges through S&T missions by enabling collaboration between line ministries, science ministries, industry, non-profits, and academia. To accelerate technological advancements, a structured approach should be adopted that integrates supply- and demand-side mechanisms, encouraging industry-academia collaboration, large-scale investments, and sustained momentum across entire innovation life-cycle.
Ease regulations
Third, on process and regulatory reforms, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, India must move away from an overly restrictive regulatory environment and adopt a more innovation-friendly approach. Governance structures for science and research should be redefined through a new, flexible framework — ‘General Innovation Rules’ — replacing rigid General Financial Rules. Grant-making and spending mechanisms should be fully digitised, made transparent, and subject to algorithmic approvals through standardised protocols. Additionally, procurement processes for critical technology products must be streamlined by reforming tendering system and reducing over-reliance on PSUs. Further, publicly funded scientific infrastructure should be accessible through open digital platforms (such as ONDC) to ensure fair and efficient utilisation.
Finally, India must set clear and ambitious targets for next decade. India should aim for at least one Nobel Prize, one Fields Medal, and one Turing Award to be awarded to researchers working in India. Five Indian universities should regularly feature among top 100 global research institutions. India must secure a position among top three nations in three substantive areas of pure science and three areas of engineering.
Industry R&D spending should rise to 1 per cent of GDP, with at least five major Indian corporations establishing large-scale basic research laboratories. Research philanthropy should account for 5 per cent of total philanthropy in India, fostering new models of innovation beyond academic and industry labs. India’s deep-tech investment should grow to 0.1 per cent of GDP, and high-technology exports should constitute 25 per cent of total manufactured exports. Additionally, India must achieve self-sufficiency in critical technologies and enhance value capture in manufacturing.
India must step up its game in next five years. We are second to none. It is now or never.
The writer is an entrepreneur, author and philanthropist
