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16 July 2015

India Science & Defence Research – Candid Assessment

AUTHOR: NITI GUEST 
JULY 13, 2015

Dr. Harshvardhan speaking at a Science Symposium in Goa called on Indian Scientists and Researchers to think out of the box. Perhaps it is also time for us to assess Indian Science and Research candidly thinking out of the box.

The Twenty First Century is being driven by Technology via Science through the conduit of Engineering. Engineering Professionals are making relentless endeavours towards the broader parlance of Humanity through Targeted Research, Innovations, Discoveries and Inventions, which have been exemplified over the last few centuries, making inevitable contributions to the cause of Societal Transformation.

This century has witnessed the explosive tangible benefits to mankind at large, where Knowledge and Technology continue to work in tandem. Today, the Power Quotient of nearly every country is judged on the basis of its Technological Prowess amidst Global competition.

Let us attempt to analyse India’s position candidly.

HIGHS

During the last six decades, the Nation under Government of India aegis has made considerable progress in Strategic /Frontier sectors, namely Space, Nuclear and Defence Technologies. ISRO deserves special mention, thanks to its recent success saga that has catapulted India to become a Global Player with Self-Reliance, Indigenous Strength and Make in India concept with focussed Vision and Missions coupled with highly qualified, dedicated Professionals displaying remarkable Team spirit and Technology Management par excellence.

Space Technology, through a gamut of Launch Vehicles and Satellites, has invaded Applications Scenario in Communications, Information and Broadcasting, Remote Sensing, Tele-education, Tele-Medicine, Urban Mapping, Disaster Management and Flood Forecasting, Surveillance, Navigation and so on, in addition to Inter- Planetary Expeditions that include Chandrayaan and Mars missions.

Furthermore, Nuclear and Defence Research have accomplished great heights in the context of National Security.

India’s phenomenal achievements in Medical, Information Technology, Aerospace, Communications, Nano Technology, Bio Technology, Pharmacy and others bear ample testimony to the fact that the nation has not just arrived, but also become a force to reckon with, that can purport as a shining light to other developing nations.

Large-scale Science Projects are on the anvil with India’s proactive and timely participation nationally as well as globally.

Government Research organisations are contributing significantly in a plethora of spectrums. Government of India encourages and sponsors financial grants to cutting-edge Research proposals pertaining to Science and Technology.

Meaningful Industrial Revolution has ushered in the Country over the past sixty years, modernising and revolutionising the Society in more ways than one. At the same time, we would do well not to lose cognisance of the invaluable Green Agricultural and Dairy Revolutions with an impeccable mark on the Common Man.

Besides above, the topic of Quality Higher Engineering Education and Research is a subject wherein IITs, IISc, NIITs, select Government Institutions and IISERs have established a hallmark in emerging cutting edge Sciences and Technologies.

LOWS

It is important to pinpoint the critical shortcomings in this endeavour in order to make a realistic revaluation of Science and Technology Frontiers that can lead to meaningful and practical output. Much more is desired to be said and done.

Notwithstanding DRDO’s meritorious Talent and Research output, the Military Establishment is yet to succeed in developing indigenous Weaponry and Equipment that in turn are forcing us to rely on heavy Imports, which are an Achilles heel for the Indian Economy and a subject of intense deliberations.

Another frontier topic relates to Medical Instrumentation and Products. While we have the developed the capability to fly first in the World – Mars Mission, creating an Agni V Missile deterrent and taken giant strides towards producing Clean Nuclear Energy, we have failed to indigenise even an ordinary Gluco Meter or an ECG Machine, which is a point to ponder about.

With the advent of Private Institutions and Universities, the Quality of Engineering Education is far from being adequate, which requires motivated Faculty Members with a passion of selfless Research and Innovation coupled with an aggressive Academia-R&D-Industry Fora to churn out efficient Technical Manpower.

Complacency and Mediocrity are two thorns that this all-important sector can do without.

While IT sector is an extraordinary class which, with its remarkable Software deliveries on the Global scale, has boosted Indian Economy with Digital India in the offing, there is a lot of scope to augment the Hardware/Core Engineering domain to attain sustainable development. An Engineer must be trained and asked to work with his own hands and create an Engine – this eternal fact needs to be nurtured and propagated among the fraternity by our Engineering Community.

The trend of completing Engineering course and then entering mundane professions just for the sake of little extra money is nothing short of demeaning the profession itself-this trend must be reversed.

We require classy technical power to meet the future demands of Infrastructural Development, Industrial Corridors, Smart Cities, Manufacturing and the dream of Make in India; on what basis do we expect ourselves to attain our elusive dreams?

Government does remain proactive on Research, but Private Sector/Industry must also be encouraged to augment R&D funding in order to survive and create Self-Reliance in the true Engineering sense, as opposed to Foreign dependency and merely indulging in the act of assembling; Technology demonstrators do not believe in short cuts; far-reaching R&D must be allowed to flourish throughout the Nation and many MNCs can play a constructive role here.

China’s technical calibre and indigenous strength, pride, hard work, discipline and dedication is a shining example for Indians to emulate, otherwise we will always find ourselves at the receiving end, given the fact that competent personnel inexorably leads to brain drain and continues to find solace outside in the aforementioned sectors.

ISRO’s story amply demonstrates that leading Nations like USA, China, Japan, Europe etc are clamouring to be equal partners with India on Space Technology with respect and dignity; something that was a distant dream not too long ago. When ISRO can achieve, why not others is a burning question that is to be addressed by all Stake holders.

Indian Government, Political Class, Private Sector and Bureaucracy are to introspect and rope in experienced Professionals and Intellectuals for deliberations and formulate a viable Action Plan in order to make the Nation, a Developed One by 2020/2025 [which is Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s Dream].

Otherwise, India shall continue to lag behind Global Standards which could bear catastrophic implications on its Technology Prowess in the long run.

(Author: A K Sinha, former Senior Scientist, ISRO & ex-Director [R&D], Bharati Vidyapeeth University Engineering College, Pune.)

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