To stem the exodus of scientists and researchers from India, the Central Government is initiating a policy initiative that will encourage the return of prominent scientists and technology figures settled abroad. The Indian government plans to provide them with all research facilities in India. Furthermore, the government is developing a policy to bring scholars from this field back to Indian higher education institutions, enabling them to teach in Indian universities. India has not forgotten how the renowned scientist Har Govind Lal Khurrana was neglected in the 1960s, and after settling in the United States, he won the Nobel Prize in Science. The government is developing a concrete plan to stem the exodus of scientists from India to the fields of science and technology. There is a severe shortage of high-quality faculty in Indian universities, so the Indian government wants Indian-origin experts in this field to return and offer their services. To ensure their well-being, the government is working on a comprehensive policy that will ensure high-quality research facilities, from salaries to other research facilities. But all this is being done because the current Trump administration in the US is cutting aid to its prestigious universities and limiting their financial and academic autonomy.
In this regard, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India has held high-level consultations with the Higher Education Department, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Biotechnology of the Ministry of Education to formulate a new policy. Under this policy, Indian scientists and professors living abroad will be encouraged to come to India and offer their services. While India boasts thousands of universities and higher education institutions, they are not ranked among the top 100 in the world. The shortage of qualified professors in Indian universities is felt because the most qualified individuals migrate abroad. Indian students also travel abroad in large numbers seeking higher education. Indian teachers in foreign universities receive better salaries and other facilities, which India cannot match, but establishing a better system for such teachers can certainly motivate them to serve their country. Researchers in the field of science are in a similar situation. Therefore, the Indian government wants to break the prevailing red tape and create an inspiring environment for researchers.
The reputation of universities is measured by the quality of their faculty. Similarly, researchers face a similar problem. They too have to navigate bureaucratic hurdles to find a favorable environment in India, which leads them to migrate abroad. Therefore, the government is formulating a policy to hire prestigious researchers working abroad in prestigious positions in Indian institutions like the IITs, and to set salaries accordingly. Under the new plan, the government will select at least 12 faculties in science and technology that require highly talented scientists. This includes engineering and mathematics, as these are strategically important for enhancing national capabilities. Clearly, when institutions like Harvard University are being eroded by the financial and academic independence of institutions like the United States, and the Trump administration is cutting millions of dollars in aid to them, migration from the US to European countries could increase. Keeping this in mind, European countries have announced plans to strengthen the autonomy of their higher education institutions. In light of this, work is rapidly progressing on a policy to bring back top Indian-origin academics and researchers working abroad. Recently, European Commission President Ursila Vander Leyen stated that all European countries would strengthen academic autonomy to the point of integrating it into their legislation.
On the other hand, China is also spending heavily to bring back its scientists and distinguished foreign researchers residing abroad. Even a small country like Taiwan has announced the opening of six new research centers. While many Indian institutions are encouraging distinguished academics working abroad to work in India on a short-term basis, this does not meet India’s long-term needs. Although the Indian government’s Department of Science and Technology has been running a short-term collaboration program with foreign talent since 2016, its results have not been particularly encouraging. One reason for this is that salaries and benefits in India are very low compared to global standards. While a professor in India earns $38,000 per year, in the United States their salary ranges from $130,000 to $200,000 per year, while in China their salary is $100,000 per year. Therefore, this area deserves the utmost attention.
