Modi speaks, but budget ignores him on science

 

Recently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Nobel Prize travelling exhibition, titled Ideas Changing the World, and it is a part of Nobel Prize Series India 2017. 

 

The exhibition is being hosted in Ahmedabad's Science City, and PM Modi also made a statement that science was a solution to poverty and unemployment. 

 

"Our government has a clear vision of where we want India to be in the next 15 years. Science and technology are the pivots on which that vision will translate into actions,” he said.

 

The PM made a crucial point by saying this. However, the government's focus on science and technology is not reflective of this statement. 

 

Until last year's budget, science and technology did not witness any substantial or encouraging fund allocation to these areas. The Modi government came to power in 2014, and apart from last year's budget, the previous two budgets were a big letdown for these two areas which are major aspects of development for any country.

 

The budget allocations are made as per the inflation rate of that financial year, and according to a computer scientist of IIT, science should receive 14% to 15% increase in the fund allocation to match the national inflation rate, facilitating high-quality research, and to allocate grants for higher number of research in elite centres of IITs. 

 

As science is a competitive field, it requires better facilities, and this is where funds play a critical role. Also, another area that requires attention to give a push to science and technology is infrastructure which needs to be carefully planned and executed without delays. 

 

Last year's budget did show signs of the government's changing approach towards science and research with 16% rise in fund allocation from 2015. But, due to the national inflation rates, 5% of this was lost. Renewable energy received a good boost in last year's budget, and overall, science and research received a good score in the annual budget. 

 

This year, it has to be seen what allocations are made to science and technology since PM Modi on multiple occasions has emphasised its importance. 

 

Government support and infrastructural improvement are much needed in science and technology to encourage more and more people to work in these areas. 

 

Grants, fellowship, scholarship, and funding can be gained from universities across the globe, but without government backing and proper facilities young minds will not be motivated to work on scientific research, technology and innovation. 

 

Also, to ensure continuous growth in these two areas long-term commitment is required from the government.