India’s efforts in scientific research face a significant challenge as the number of doctoral candidates in science remains low compared to global peers, despite its large population, experts say.
At the 7th Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotsav in Goa, Sunil Kumar Singh, Director of the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), highlighted that only about 10,000 people in India complete a PhD in science every year, even though the country’s population is approximately 1.4 billion.
In contrast, the United States—with roughly one-fourth of India’s population—has about four times as many science doctoral candidates, Singh pointed out, underscoring the stark disparity.
The gap in scientific output is also reflected in research publications. India produces around 2.8 lakh scientific papers annually, significantly fewer than China’s 10 lakh and the United States’ 7 lakh publications.
Singh explained that while more than four crore students are enrolled in higher education, only around 55 lakh are pursuing postgraduate degrees in science, and from these, only 42,000 register for PhDs, with about 10,000 finishing the doctoral program.
India does rank third globally in total annual publications, but the quality and scale of research remain areas of concern, Singh said. He emphasized that achieving national ambitions such as becoming a $3 trillion economy, a Vikasit Bharat (developed nation), and realizing goals like Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047 requires a stronger focus on knowledge creation and translation of research into technology.
Singh urged that young scientific minds need to be encouraged and supported to engage deeply in research to bridge the country’s innovation gap and foster a more knowledge-driven economy.
Author
Gagan Tripathi is an agripreneur, plant scientist, and author known for his work in agritech innovation and sustainable horticulture. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Plant Orbit, a horticulture-focused startup dedicated to making healthy, scientifically managed plants accessible to urban and institutional consumers. Born in 2000, Gagan holds a master’s degree in Agriculture Extension and Communication, blending agricultural science with entrepreneurship and community outreach. He is also the author of the bestseller “Roadmap to Your Healthy Succulents”. His work focuses on sustainable plant care, green entrepreneurship, and building impact-driven agri startups in India.
