Recession blues?
Most scientists and institutes abroad have been asking me this question very frequently these days. How bad has the economic slowdown hit Indian science? Many seem to believe that science funding in this region is less affected since it is longer term and much of it is government funded.
I haven't really heard of any major cuts in funding or grants by the major science policy makers of this country till now. On the contrary, prime minsiter Manmohan Singh did make an announcement at the recently concluded Indian Science Congress reiterating the government's stand to double investment in science from one per cent to two per cent of national income. Budget outlay for the ministries of science and technology and earth sciences have been trebled for the last four year period 2004-08, relative to the previous four-year period, 2000-04.
Alongside this, the country has just passed a bill to set up a National Science and Engineering Research Board to be responsible for major scientific research funding in the country. The autonomous board would have the freedom to establish new modalities of funding research as well as creating facilities and structures to improve the quality and quantity of scientific research.
Doesn't look like we have been badly hit, does it? I am just curious to know if there are any examples contrary to this apparently rosy picture.
