What India can do to end science Nobel drought

Abstract

It’s Nobel Prize season. Since their inception in 1901, only 12 individuals of Indian origin have been awarded the Prize, with just five being Indian citizens. Among them, Dr C V Raman remains the sole Indian to have won in the science category, with his 1930 Nobel in Physics for the discovery of the Raman Effect.

The 94-year gap since Raman’s achievement is concerning, especially when there have been Indian scientists who have made significant discoveries that went unrecognised. To position Indian scientists for future Nobel recognition, we must act now to foster an environment where ground-breaking research thrives.

Science is the foundation of all technological advancement. The mobile phone which everyone uses today would not have been possible without at least a dozen Nobel Prize-winning discoveries behind it. Be it the transistor (1956, Physics), laser technology (1964, Physics), information theory (1965, Physics), integrated circuit (2000, Physics), conducting polymers (2000, Chemistry), semiconductor heterostructures (2000, Physics), fibre optics (2009, Physics), LED technology (2014, Physics), lithium-ion battery (2019, Chemistry), etc., each of these discoveries and several others were critical for the modern revolution we see in consumer electronics.

It’s vital to remember that countries don’t invest in science because they are developed; they become developed because they invest in science. Here are five steps to improve India’s scientific output and pave the way for future Nobel laureates.