Why Indian Research Ecosystem Fails- A student’s perspective.

My Background: Hi, I’m Abhay Shanbhag, a final-year Computer Science student at a tier-3 college with some research experience in the field of Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. (I’m actually writing this while preparing for my final engineering exam!)

So, am I an OG researcher with multiple citations to my name? Hardly. I barely have single-digit citations for my papers. Is my research groundbreaking or world-changing? Definitely not.

Do check out my google scholar profile :)

One might argue, “He doesn’t even have a substantial research contribution, yet he’s commenting on the entire research ecosystem.” And while that argument isn’t entirely wrong, the purpose of writing this article is to shed some light on how an aspiring researcher feels about the current state of research in India.

Firstly, who are the core researchers in India?

1. The PHD Scholars

In an ideal world, a PhD is the culmination of one’s academic passion, pursued by those deeply committed to research. Theoretically, a PhD scholar, having completed both undergraduate and master’s degrees, should possess profound knowledge and an insatiable curiosity.

However, in India, the reality often diverges from this ideal. Even in premier institutions like the IITs, the decision to pursue a PhD is frequently influenced by a lack of job opportunities post-graduation.

The PhD Scholar’s Dilemma: Between Academic Aspiration and Economic Reality.

This scenario isn’t uncommon. Many students, facing a saturated job market and limited opportunities, view a PhD not as a pursuit of passion but as a refuge from unemployment. The academic path becomes a default choice rather than a deliberate one. (refer business-standard.com)

This phenomenon raises concerns about the motivations behind doctoral studies and the broader implications for research quality and innovation in the country.

2. The IITians: India’s Untapped Research Potential

IITians are among the brightest minds in the country, known for their exceptional grasping abilities and adaptability. Even without prior exposure to a subject, they can quickly understand, implement, and contribute meaningfully to complex research problems.

During my stint as a summer researcher at IIT Ropar, I encountered second-year undergraduates working on advanced research projects, some even publishing papers at prestigious conferences like ACL and NeurIPS.

However, despite their capabilities and access to quality mentoring and resources, many IITians opt out of research careers. The primary deterrent? Financial considerations.

The Financial Dilemma

While research roles offer modest stipends, the tech industry promises significantly higher salaries. For instance, PhD stipends at IITs range between ₹3 to ₹5.1 lakhs per annum , whereas tech giants offer packages upwards of ₹25 lakhs for roles in competitive programming and software development. (source : *collegevidya.com)*

This stark contrast makes it challenging for passionate researchers to justify a career in academia, especially when similar efforts in the corporate sector yield substantially higher financial rewards.

A Call to Action

To harness the full potential of our brightest minds, it’s imperative to make research careers more financially attractive. By increasing stipends and providing better financial incentives, we can encourage more IITians to pursue research, leading to innovations that can propel India forward on the global stage.

3. Aspiring Researchers Beyond IITs: Navigating the Challenges

In the vast landscape of Indian academia, it’s often presumed that research is the exclusive domain of the IITs. For those of us from Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges, the journey into research feels akin to navigating a maze blindfolded.reddit.com

Many non-IIT students, having missed the JEE-Advanced train, grapple with a pervasive sense of inadequacy, questioning their worthiness to contribute to research. Yet, exceptions emerge — students who, driven by sheer passion, craft their own problem statements, dive into rigorous experimentation, and aspire to publish their findings.

However, the path to publication is strewn with hurdles. Often, official affiliations or endorsements are prerequisites for paper submissions. In some cases, professors, more focused on augmenting their own Google Scholar profiles, may overlook the genuine contributions of these students.

While I was fortunate to have mentors who supported me, many peers aren’t as lucky. Professors, even if unable to provide direct technical assistance, could play a pivotal role by connecting students with industry experts or facilitating access to essential resources like GPUs.

Even in Tier 3 institutions, there are brilliant students who possess deeper technical knowledge than some PhD scholars. However, due to a lack of guidance and resources — such as dedicated laboratories and access to GPUs — they often find themselves unable to advance their research.

Moreover, most research in low-tier colleges amounts to merely combining multiple existing concepts under one umbrella — like integrating simple CNN networks with federated learning and labeling it as novel research!

Placing a slice of cake and a scoop of ice cream together on a plate doesn’t create a new dessert; it’s simply two existing items served side by side.

In contrast, Baked Alaska is a dessert where ice cream is encased in cake and meringue, then briefly baked or torched. The meringue insulates the ice cream, preventing it from melting despite the high external heat — a culinary innovation that defies expectations.

Superficial Assemblage vs. Culinary Innovation: Understanding the Essence of True Research

Similarly, in research, merely combining a standard Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with federated learning doesn’t constitute innovation. It’s akin to serving cake with ice cream — pairing two known elements without introducing a novel methodology or insight. True research involves creating something new, much like the inventive process behind Baked Alaska.

In a nutshell, the right people with resources often lack the inclination, while those with the inclination lack the necessary resources. Then there are those who pursue research merely for the sake of it.

While education policies undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping the research ecosystem, that’s a discussion for another day. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, however, offers hope by aiming to inculcate a research mindset. Its emphasis on practical learning and inquiry-based education is poised to transform India’s research landscape. To conclude, I believe it’s the mindset, more than the infrastructure, that’s slowing down India’s research ecosystem.

Thanks for sticking around! Got thoughts or feedback? I’m all ears.