Delays in the Department of Biotechnology’s (DBT) Biocare Programme, leaving 75 women scientists without sanction letters or salaries, highlight flaws in India’s research administration.
About BioCARe Programme (Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation for Women Scientists)
- A scheme by India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to support unemployed women scientists in India, providing them their first extramural research grant in biotechnology and allied fields to enhance their participation and career advancement in science.
- The DBT, which is under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), has been running the Biocare programme since 2011.
- Objective: To empower women scientists by providing them with opportunities to pursue independent research in biotechnology and allied areas.
- To specifically support women who are in the early phase of their career or seeking to re-enter research after a break.
- Key Features:
- Grant Size: Research funding support of ₹40–60 lakh for a period of 3–5 years.
- Target Group:
- Young women scientists below 40 years.
- Women who have had a career break due to family/caregiving responsibilities.
- Research Scope: Supports projects in biotechnology and allied disciplines relevant to national priorities.
- Fellowship Support: Provides salary, contingency, manpower, and equipment grants to enable independent work.
- Institutional Support: Projects are hosted in universities, national laboratories, and R&D institutions.
- Significance:
- Enhances gender equity in STEM by addressing the “leaky pipeline” problem.
- Encourages independent leadership roles for women scientists.
- Strengthens India’s biotechnology research base with inclusive participation.
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State of Research and Innovation in India
- Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD): India’s GERD is only 0.64% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2020–21), which is much lower than the global average of 1.79% and significantly behind the United States (2.8%), South Korea (4.2%), and Israel (5.56%).
- GERD is the total expenditure on R&D activities by all sectors in a country – government, higher education, public sector enterprises, and private industry.
- It is a key indicator to assess the intensity of R&D investment relative to GDP.
- Private Sector Role: The private sector contributes only 37% of India’s GERD, while in countries like the United States and China, the private sector contributes over 68–75%. This shows the heavy dependence on government laboratories and institutions in India.
- Applied Research: Only 13% of R&D funding in India is directed towards applied research, which limits innovation and commercialisation of ideas. A large share is still directed to basic and strategic research in defence and space.
- Human Capital: India has only 15 researchers per one lakh population, compared to 111 in China and 825 in Israel. Women constitute just 14 percent of the R&D workforce, which is significantly below the global average of around 30 percent.
- Research Output: India contributes around 4.8% of global scientific publications, which is only a quarter of the output from China and the United States.
- Global Innovation Index: India ranked 39th in 2024, indicating modest progress but still far below its potential.
PWOnlyIAS Extra Edge:
Status of Women in Indian Research
- Key Data & Trends:
- Low Workforce Participation: Women constitute only 14–18% of India’s R&D workforce, much lower than the global average of ~30%.
- High Dropout Rates: Despite forming 43% of science graduates, very few remain in active research.
- Positive Growth: The share of women researchers increased from 13.9% (2000–01) to 18.7% (2016–17).
- Extramural Projects: Women’s participation in externally funded projects increased from 13% (2000–01) to 25% (2019–20).
- Underrepresentation in Academia: Women form only 16.7% of STEM faculty, 10% at top research institutes, and lead 25% of R&D projects.
- STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
- Research Density: The total number of researchers per lakh population remains low, limiting wider inclusion.
- Challenges Faced by Women Researchers:
- Leaky Pipeline: High dropout post-graduation due to family expectations, caregiving duties, and inflexible systems.
- Career Interruptions: Breaks due to childbirth or caregiving derail research careers, with limited re-entry opportunities.
- Leadership and Funding Gaps: Fewer women as Principal Investigators, less visibility in elite institutes, and slower access to grants/fellowships.
- Structural & Cultural Barriers: Persistent gender bias, male-dominated STEM culture, and weak mentorship systems hinder progression.
- Importance of Women’s Inclusion in Research:
- Quality and Innovation: Gender-diverse teams generate more creative and high-quality science.
- Equitable Growth: Women’s participation ensures holistic and socially relevant research.
- Global Reputation: Diversity enhances international credibility and rankings of Indian institutions.
- Role Models: Women leaders in research serve as inspiration for young girls to pursue STEM.
- Schemes and Initiatives Supporting Women in Science:
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- Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE–KIRAN) Programme: DST initiative providing fellowships, training, and grants across career stages.
- WOS-A (Women Scientist Scheme–A): Supports career re-entry for women after breaks.
- BioCARe (DBT): Provides ₹40–60 lakh grants to women scientists in biotech and allied fields.
- Science and Engineering Research Board- Promoting Opportunities For Women in Exploratory Research (SERB–POWER): Mitigates funding disparities in science and engineering.
- Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence (CURIE) Programme: Strengthens R&D infrastructure in women-only universities.
- Other Initiatives: Vigyan Jyoti, Indo-US Women in STEMM, DST scholarships, mentoring platforms like ACM-W Grad Cohort and IIT Kanpur initiatives.
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Why Timely Funding Matters?
- Time-sensitive Nature of Science: Many scientific experiments depend on seasonal cycles, biological processes, or the availability of collaborators and equipment. A delay of a few months can render years of planning ineffective.
- Credibility and Partnerships: When schemes that look progressive on paper fail in execution, India risks losing both domestic talent and international collaborations. This weakens the country’s credibility as a reliable research hub.
- Equity Concerns: Women scientists, early-career fellows, and researchers from underrepresented backgrounds are disproportionately affected by irregular funding, as they already face systemic barriers.
- National Priorities: India’s goals in healthcare, agriculture, energy security, biotechnology, climate resilience, and artificial intelligence require a dependable and responsive research ecosystem.
Challenges in India’s Research and Development Ecosystem
- Low Investment: India’s R&D spending is only 0.64% of GDP, much lower than global leaders. This creates a large resource gap for universities, laboratories, and startups.
- Government-Centric R&D: In 2020–21, private sector industry contributed just 36.4% of GERD, showing that India’s R&D remains heavily dependent on government funding and institutions.
- Weak Academia–Industry Linkages: Indian universities and industries often work in isolation. Unlike the Stanford–Silicon Valley model in the United States, India has not been able to foster such coordination, which limits innovation.
- Brain Drain: More than 85,000 Indian-origin researchers work abroad (OECD data) due to better facilities, funding, and opportunities, which reduces domestic research capacity.
- Fragmented Ecosystem: Research in India is spread across multiple public institutions such as Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with little coordination with universities or startups.
- Infrastructural Limitations: Many state universities lack modern laboratories, high-performance computing facilities, and international-level mentorship.
- Unbalanced Research Priorities: A disproportionate share of R&D investment is directed towards defence and space projects (e.g., Agni and BrahMos missiles), while sectors such as semiconductors, deep technology, and advanced manufacturing receive limited attention.
- Technology Transfer Hurdles: Even when DRDO, ISRO, or Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) develop advanced technologies, bureaucratic hurdles often prevent their transfer to industry for commercial use.
- Administrative Inefficiency: Complicated grant procedures and delays under systems like the Treasury Single Account create uncertainty for researchers and disrupt scientific progress.
- Policy Concerns: The promotion of belief-based themes such as panch-gavya or Indian Knowledge Systems, if prioritised over evidence-based research, may undermine scientific credibility.
Positive Policy Reforms and Budgetary Announcements in India
- Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): Established under the ANRF Act 2023, it will allocate about ₹2,800 crore annually to fund early-stage research in private institutions and build stronger academia–industry linkages.
- Union Budget 2025–26: Allocated ₹20,000 crore for private sector-driven R&D in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence, space technology, and advanced manufacturing.
- ₹1 Lakh Crore Corpus for Sunrise Technologies (Interim Budget 2024–25): A 50-year interest-free loan aimed at boosting private sector investment in emerging fields.
- ISRO’s Private Contracts: ISRO will now purchase launch vehicles from private firms, encouraging private participation in space research.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) AI Initiative: Procured 18,693 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to support AI research, offered to firms at a nominal rate of $1 per hour.
- Other Schemes:
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- Vigyan Dhara Scheme: To support early-stage researchers.
- Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP): National-level science awards.
- VAIBHAV Fellowship: International research collaborations.
- Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB): Funding for investigator-led projects.
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Setting up Atal Tinkering Labs and Incubation Centres.
- Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC): Funding biotech startups and collaborations.
- National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NMQTA): To position India as a leader in quantum computing and cryptography.
Global Initiatives and Best Practices
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA, United States): A CEO-led, flexible, project-driven agency that has produced transformative innovations like the internet and GPS.
- Horizon Europe (European Union): A €95 billion programme promoting interdisciplinary and equity-focused research.
- South Korea and Israel: Provide tax incentives and strong venture capital ecosystems to promote private R&D.
- Japan’s Universities: Enjoy autonomy in using research funds, which allows more effective utilisation.
- Stanford–Silicon Valley Model (United States): A classic example of strong academia–industry synergy that India has yet to replicate.
PWOnlyIAS Extra Edge:
Public Funding for Private Research: A Path to Global Competitiveness
- Why Should Public Funds Support Private Research?
- Private Sector Role: The private sector is already the second-largest contributor to R&D funding in India, and expanding its role is necessary to bridge the gap with global leaders.
- Universities and IP generation: Private universities often outperform public ones in terms of patents, prototypes, and intellectual property creation.
- Industry Relevance: Private research aligns better with market demands and can accelerate commercialisation of technologies.
- Collaboration Potential: Stronger industry–academia linkages in the private sector foster innovation and practical application.
- Global Benchmarks: With no Indian university in the top 300 of world rankings, greater private involvement is essential to raise India’s research output and international standing.
- Benefits of Private Sector-Led Research:
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- Efficiency and Innovation: Competitive markets push private firms to achieve faster and more practical results.
- Economic Growth: Private-led research supports commercialisation, startups, and employment creation.
- Education–Industry Collaboration: Industry tie-ups improve training, skill development, and mentoring opportunities for students and researchers.
- Risk Diversification: Engaging multiple private players reduces over-dependence on government laboratories.
- Societal Impact: Knowledge spillovers from private research contribute to GDP growth and technological self-reliance.
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Way Forward
- Raise GERD: India should aim to raise GERD to 1% of GDP by 2030, with a roadmap to reach 2% in the longer term.
- Strengthen ANRF: The foundation should follow a DARPA-style execution model with efficient programme managers, outcome-based monitoring, and reduced bureaucratic interference.
- Boost Applied Research: Increase applied research spending beyond the current 13% to promote commercialisation and innovation.
- Industry–Academia Collaboration: Establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs), innovation corridors, and research clusters that link startups, universities, and industry.
- Legal and Financial Reforms: Create a transparent framework for Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) in R&D, supported by CSR funds and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
- Talent Retention: Incentives for young researchers, tenure-track opportunities, and better research infrastructure are essential to reduce brain drain.
- Inclusivity: Promote diversity by increasing representation of women, rural researchers, and marginalised groups in science.
- Entrepreneurship and Startups: Expand incubators and accelerators in universities and provide grants for startups in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, green technologies, and quantum computing.
Conclusion
India’s R&D progress must reflect constitutional values of justice, equality, and fraternity. By fostering inclusivity, innovation, and scientific temper, India can achieve technological self-reliance while upholding its constitutional duty of promoting equitable national development.
1 Sep 2025
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