News Excerpt: 

With 970 million Indians exercising their franchise in the ongoing general election, what do scientists look for in the polls? Who do they want to vote for, and what fundamental issues do they want to see their elected representatives resolve and implement?

More about News:

There are five fundamental issues that scientists want the new government to solve and their elected representatives to pay urgent attention to.

First: 

• An increase in the nation’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (currently below 0.7% of GDP), both from the government exchequer and private players (who contribute less than 40% of the current spending). 
• Government spending on research and development should increase by at least 50% year-over-year in the next five years. 
• Accounting for nearly 4% of GDP at the end of the incoming government’s term.
• The private sector should contribute to initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
• Although a legislative route to facilitate this is envisioned, the new government must execute a detailed plan and establish mechanisms like escrow accounts for funding guarantees. 
• Boosted funding necessitates expanding the skilled scientific workforce, allocating funds judiciously and timely, and fostering both new and existing human resources.

Second:

• Improvement of physical and intellectual infrastructure in public sector institutions like
  • Universities and research institutions.
  • Modernising science laboratories in undergraduate colleges. 
  • State and central universities and specialised research institutions are badly needed. Better infrastructure for students and scientists to stay and practise their trade is also needed. 
  • Upgrading infrastructure will require hiring more quality teachers and researchers to fill the sanctioned positions and effectively doubling that number over the next five years. 
• However, hiring more people to practise competitive science will only help if we have a robust and unbiased system to bring the best.

Third:

• Transparent, fast, and unbiased hiring process in educational and research institutions based on global standards and merit, free from any outside influence.
• The criteria for selection should be strictly based on merit, 
• A competent committee should be capable of choosing the right person for the right job without any outside influence. 
• Appointment letters are provided within six months of application. Adherence to established global norms for hiring quality educators and scientists.

Fourth: 

• A Robust science grant management system with less red tape, faster disbursal of grants and fellowships, no hard copy submission, and autonomy for individual scientists on spending for their research. 
• Robust systems and an expanded workforce are crucial for science ministries to use budgets efficiently and disburse funds to scientists promptly before the end of each financial year.
• Scientists should have the flexibility to purchase from places other than the government's e-marketplace and deviate from general financial rules if required.

Fifth:

• The freedom to speak and write on their subjects based on evidence and which is free from interference. 
• The true spirit of innovation will come when the incoming government provides full autonomy to individual scientists like:
• To take leave to form companies. 
• They have flexibility in hiring the right scientific staff in their laboratories without excessive paperwork and administrative processes. 
• The freedom to spend money where they deem fit.
• To travel to national and international conferences. 
• While doing so, Scientists must prioritise accountability for -
• The quality of their work. 
• They should focus on both the outcomes of their research and the knowledge they pass on to future generations rather than solely adhering to processes.

Conclusion:

In order for India to become the second-largest economy by 2050, the next administration needs to make research easier to do and give scientists the freedom to innovate without being constrained by needless paperwork and bureaucratic red tape. It is critical that the next administration invests in basic science and knowledge development in addition to helping our researchers generate money and jobs for society through innovation and entrepreneurship. Without the other, the one could not exist. Despite their modest number, scientists constitute a crucial voting group that can impact decisions for the greater good of society.