Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani on Friday said good research was possible even with less funding, responding to allegations that unds for research in basic science had been slashed heavily by the BJP-led government at the Centre.
Addressing students at a unction organised by Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), rani said “two myths need o be broken“. “First, that no ndian institute has achieved a high position in world rankings, and that a huge amount of money is required for good research,“ she said. “Bigger money does not mean better science. Mil ions of dollars are being spent on a fusion experiment n Orange county (US) but the same experiment is being carried out in Bengaluru with just Rs 2 lakh. Youngsters should concentrate on better science with less money ,“ the minister added.Bharat Ratna CNR Rao was one of the many scientists who had criticized the government for cutting funds for fundamental research.
On the global ranking of Indian institutes, Irani said, “The myth that Indian institutes do not measure up needs to be broken. The world rankings only take into account research in English and not in Indian languages.“
She said an Indian ranking system was being evolved to counter the bias, and that 3,500 higher education institutes had already become participants in the framework. Irani also held up IISER-Oune alumnus Kaustubh Deshpande as an example for students. “Kaustubh had started remedial teaching for underprivileged children in the nearby areas, and now one of them is a student of IISER-Pune. Those who come from disadvantaged categories are often left behind. I appeal to students to take along one child who can live the life you are living now,“ said Irani. – Source : TIMES NEWS NETWORK
