Despite a strong legacy in science, India has not secured a Nobel Prize since C.V. Raman’s win in 1930. This highlights the need for a robust research ecosystem and enhanced support for innovation.

Indian Nobel Laureates in Science

• C.V. Raman is the only Indian to win a Nobel Prize in science while working in India. He received the Nobel Prize  in Physics(1930).
• Other Indian-origin Nobel laureates include Hargovind Khorana (Medicine, 1968), Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (Physics, 1983), and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Chemistry, 2009), but they did their work abroad and were not Indian citizens when awarded.

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Challenges Hindering Scientific Advancement in India

• Inadequate Focus on Basic Research: India prioritises applied research that offers immediate results, while fundamental or Basic research, which is key to scientific breakthroughs, receives limited attention. This imbalance hinders long-term scientific progress.
• Low Public Funding: This leads to inadequate infrastructure and research resources, further curbing innovation and development.  
• Bureaucratic Red Tape: Excessive administrative procedures, including cumbersome paperwork for permissions and approvals, stifle creativity and slow down the research process, making it difficult for scientists to focus solely on innovation.
• Limited Private Sector Involvement: Indian private companies lack strong incentives for investing in research and development, primarily due to fears of high risk and uncertain returns. This reduces the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
• Decay in Research Institutions: Indian universities emphasise teaching over research, with even institutions having world-class labs underperforming compared to global leaders like MIT or Harvard. 
• Low Number of Researchers: India has relatively few institutions engaged in cutting-edge research, and the number of researchers per capita is five times lower than the global average. This small talent pool reduces the likelihood of producing Nobel-worthy scientific contributions.

Also Read: Nobel Prize Winners 2024 List

Nobel Prize Nomination Process 

• Not everyone can be nominated for a Nobel Prize. Each year, a select group of hundreds to thousands of individuals — including university professors, scientists, and past Nobel laureates — are invited to nominate potential candidates. 
• The names of the nominees are not made public for at least 50 years. Even after this period, the data is updated only occasionally. 
  • For example, nominations for the Physics and Chemistry prizes are available up to the year 1970, while the nominations for the Medicine prize are revealed only until 1953.
• Among the Indians nominated, six were prominent scientists. 
  • Meghnad Saha, Homi Bhabha, and Satyendra Nath Bose were nominated for the Physics prize, while G N Ramachandran and T Seshadri were nominated for the Chemistry prize. 
  • The only Indian nominated for the Medicine or Physiology prize was Upendranath Brahmachari. 
  • All six were nominated multiple times by different individuals.

Notable Omissions of Indian Scientists from Nobel Consideration

• Jagadish Chandra Bose: Despite being the first to demonstrate wireless communication in 1895, Bose was overlooked when the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Marconi and Braun. 

• K.S. Krishnan: A collaborator of C.V. Raman and co-discoverer of the Raman scattering effect, Krishnan was not nominated for the Nobel Prize, despite his significant contributions.
• C.N.R. Rao: Though the nominations after 1970 have not yet been revealed, CNR Rao’s work in solid state chemistry has long been considered worthy of a Nobel, but the honour has eluded him so far.

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Global Landscape of Nobel Prize Winners in Science

• Struggles of Emerging Scientific Powers: India is not alone in its challenges to secure Nobel Prizes in science. Countries like China and Israel, despite significant investments in research, have surprisingly low numbers of laureates:
  • Israel: Despite significant advancements in science, Israel has garnered only 4 Nobel Prizes in the field (all in Chemistry), while over 150 laureates from the Jewish community have been recognized worldwide
  • China: Four times more researchers per million than India and three times higher R&D expenditure, yet only three Nobel winners in science.
  • South Korea: A strong research capability but has not won any Nobel Prizes.
• Western Dominance in Nobel Prizes: The Nobel Prizes in science are largely dominated by the U.S. and Europe:
  • Of 227 Physics, 197 Chemistry, and 229 Medicine Prize winners, only 13, 15, and 7, respectively, are from Asia, Africa, or South America.
  • Outside North America and Europe, only nine countries have Nobel laureates in sciences, with Japan leading at 21 awards.
• Factors Behind the Disparity:
  • While claims of regional or racial bias exist, the unmatched research ecosystem in the U.S. and Europe—characterised by substantial resources, a high number of researchers, and top-ranking universities—remains a critical factor. 
  • However, with China’s heavy investment in new technologies like clean energy, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence, its prospects in the Nobel landscape may improve soon.

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Conclusion

For India to improve its Nobel Prize prospects, it must prioritise building a strong scientific ecosystem focused on basic research and increased funding. Enhanced research incentives and innovation will bolster India’s global scientific standing and boost its chances of future laureates.

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