• UGI USER
  • May 29, 2024
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“OVERTURN CULTURAL PRACTICES AND DOGMAS TO SPUR R&D IN INDIA”

Syllabus:

  • GS-3- Innovation in India, challenges and steps needed , Government interventions to increase ranking in innovation index

 Focus :

  • The article emphasizes the need for India to overturn cultural practices and educational dogmas that inhibit innovation and critical thinking.
  • It highlights India’s current low investment in R&D, the dominance of rote learning, and the necessity for a cultural and structural shift to spur significant advancements in research.
Source - ET

Current State of Innovation in India

Global Rankings:

  • India ranks 40th on the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023.
  • Despite higher rankings compared to other BRICS nations (except China), India still struggles with hunger (111th out of 125), press freedom (159th out of 180), and sustainable development (112th out of 186).

S&T Clusters:

  • India has four notable science and technology clusters: Bengaluru (56th), Delhi (64th), Chennai (83rd), and Mumbai (84th).
  • When adjusted for research output per resident, the rankings drop significantly, highlighting inefficiencies.

STEM Graduates:

India produces the second-largest number of STEM graduates annually, only behind China.

  • Approximately 30% of Indian graduates are in STEM fields, but research output remains low when distributed across the STEM population.

Comparative Global R&D Spending

R&D Spending by Country:

  • India spends less than 0.7% of GDP on R&D, one of the lowest among countries with significant economic ambitions.
  • Comparatively, Israel spends over 5%, South Korea nearly 5%, China 2.43%, Japan 3.3%, Germany 3.14%, and the US 3.46%.

Public vs. Private Sector:

  • In India, about 60% of R&D expenditure is carried out by the public sector.
  • The private sector accounts for a mere 0.26% of GDP in R&D spending.

Venture Capital:

  • Venture capital in India often targets quick profits through business models proven elsewhere, rather than groundbreaking innovation.

Innovation in Industry:

  • Leading global companies spend a significant portion of their turnover on R&D, with leaders in software, hardware, and pharma industries spending close to 20%.
  • Indian companies rarely spend even 1% of turnover on R&D.

Cultural and Structural Barriers

Cultural Biases:

  • Traditional beliefs in finite knowledge contained in the Vedas inhibit the pursuit of new knowledge.
  • Social hierarchy, with the Brahmin at the top,discourages questioning established wisdom.
  • Social hierarchy and traditional educational practices inhibit critical thinking and innovation

Education System:

  • The Indian education system emphasizes rote learning over critical thinking and innovation.
  • Teachers impart knowledge without encouraging students to question or explore beyond the curriculum.
  • Indian companies are hesitant to invest in R&D, leading to low overall R&D spending.

English-Medium Education:

  • English-medium education creates a sense of superiority over non-English speakers but also inferiority compared to Western standards.
  • This dual inferiority complex hampers confidence in original ideas and innovations.

Capital Access:

  • Access to capital for innovative ventures is limited, with domestic finance often favoring proven models over novel ones.
  • Licensing existing technology is preferred over developing new technologies due to perceived lower risk and higher immediate returns.

Steps for Enhancing Innovation

Schemes of Government of India :

1.   Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):

  • Objective: Promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across India.

Key Initiatives:

  • Atal Tinkering Labs: Established in schools to nurture curiosity, creativity, and imagination among students.
  • Atal Incubation Centers: Support startups and entrepreneurs with necessary infrastructure and mentorship.

2.   Startup India:

  • Objective: Build a robust ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country.
  • Facilitating access to funding through various schemes like the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS).

3.   Make in India:

  • Objective: Transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.

4.   Digital India:

Objective: Transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

5.   Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE):

  • Objective: Attract talent to the study of science at an early age and foster a culture of research and innovation.
  • Scholarships and fellowships for students and researchers.
  • Research grants for innovative projects.

6.   National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations

  • (NIDHI):Support the development and commercialization of innovative ideas.

7.  Technology Development Board (TDB):

  • Promote the development and commercialization of indigenous technology.

8.  National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020:

  • Overhaul the Indian education system to foster critical thinking and innovation.Encouraging research through the establishment of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Encourage Critical Thinking:

  • Reform educational practices to promote questioning and critical thinking.
  • Develop curricula that encourage exploration and experimentation.

Increase R&D Investment:

  • Incentivize private sector investment in R&D through tax breaks and subsidies.
  • Establish public-private partnerships to drive innovation.

Cultural Shift:

  • Promote a cultural shift that values innovation and risk-taking.
  • Challenge traditional hierarchies and dogmas that inhibit new ideas.

Policy Support:

  • Implement policies that support startup ecosystems and provide easy access to funding for innovative projects.
  • Streamline regulatory processes to reduce barriers for new enterprises.

Global Collaboration:

  • Foster international collaborations to share knowledge and best practices.
  • Encourage participation in global innovation networks and forums.

Source:The Hindu

Associated article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/invent-in-india/

Mains Practice Question :

GS-3

“Discuss the cultural and structural barriers to research and development (R&D) in India. How can India overcome these challenges to enhance innovation and critical thinking within its education system and industry.” (250 words)