Institutional Intention:
Galgotias University in the explanation on the situations cropped out of a disputable technological display, mentioned on their “Institutional Intention”. It cannot be taken as an inadvertent natural manner of expression, instead depicts the core sets of the philosophical basis of the University. More than an explanation, the timing used to apply such a phrasing indeed raises a question on the entire Institutionalism in the education system of the country. In another way, it raises a question on the entire governmental structure and policy approaches in the education and technology development in the country.
Visibly, the personnel of the Galgotias University who explained the controversial display was not giving details out of her own knowledge or working experience on the Project. She was addressing the camera in the language of a preconceived written material, that probably would have been in tally with the description of the item given to the Organizers of the event and description of the item in the booklets for the visitors. The sudden jump into conclusions and actions led to loss of material construction on the course of the events, including why a government recognized institution entered into such a misadventure, or, is it a calculated cake walk for a show piece and technological expertise of the faculty or a fabrication crystallized in the limited faculties of some student or teacher? Or is it a well calculated collective decision on such a venture by the management of the University? Who gave clearances from the university for the article and the description? Equally important is the question on the conventions adopted by the Organizers of the AI Summit who gave clearance for the ‘Exhibits’ ?
What has come to the fore before a vast international audience is the audacity of the faculties of the university and the organizers. The trust deposed on the Indian Institutions and development centres cannot be drawn to infirmities in original thinking with such an incident. India, not limiting the glorious and outstanding graduates from Engineering and other science and technological disciplines would be rolling out not less than a few thousand innovative brains, who land up as mere workforce in some PSUs, Manufacturing segments or even get strayed into lucrative other professions. There may be few brilliant ones who dropped out of the monotony of the academic system and lost in the crowd. But who cares?
In between looms the aspirations and high ambitions of the managements and Faculty leaders of the Institutes who may leap over any norms to prove the excellence and the investments they have lured into their centres. The Pressure mounted on the students and faculties lead to disasters of the kind reflected in the February AI Summit. If it was so, Idia would never have achieved self reliance in Chemical technology. The country remains indebted to the calibre and high quality of technical expertise created by the Faculty of the University Department of Chemical Technology created in 1933- set into motion by two stalwarts -Sir Visweswaraya and KM Munshi. The linkage of technical education to industrial production stemmed from the vision of VN Chandravarkar, the then Vice Chancellor of the Bombay University. If the beginners of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research had not set a the cardinal foundations of Ethics in Nuclear applications, the country would have been different. They had to first make gadgets and tools for experimentation as the country dis not have much investments or keen interest in innovative Research. The beginning of Computational Research in the 1960s and Physical research were all carried out under the stress of financial constraints and the limited technological expertise. The state or the political governments cannot take much claim on the vision behind these massive structures that stand tall today.
Yet, the question of ethical practices and the Institutional Intent” need to be looked into with a deeper perspective. How serious are Research Establishments, Universities and their regulatory mechanisms in the government on the Institutional Intent and Ethics of technological education and research. The country seems to have turned its face away from the voluminous malpractices in this segment in which both the Government owned and Private institutions are equal contributors. The retraction of research papers by the Scientific and Academic Personnel are a regular feature. Recently reports on the retraction 43 papers by a former CSIR Scientist were reported. After retirement, the same scientist through successive extensions continues as an industry sponsored scientist- a strong signal enough for the Government to employ a rigid regulatory mechanism to stream line the Emeritus Professors under the Research Development and Innovation Schemes.
Publications by the Universities of India is a booming sector. By the turn of the century, the number of published papers were little over a quarter lakh, in the first decade a steady progress was made reaching the count little less than a lac and then by the period between 2010 to 2020 the figures cross 3 lac publications. Between 2020 and 2025, the tabulation may seem difficult somewhat over 16 lac papers!
There has to be some restraint and regulation on the nature of publications as it will affect the reliability of High Impact Researches of the country. Retraction of research papers from the International Journals will raise questions on the overall credibility of the R&D Sector. Duplication of Data, unreliable Data, Euphemisms, Duplication, falsification and Fabrication of Images, errors in data analysis and interpretations, issues about authorship, doubtful inferences and results are some of the concerns which the Government of India has to take note of and find effective remedial measures. It is happening elsewhere is not an excuse or an acceptable tender. Research Articles numbering 161 from a university and its affiliates were reported to have been retracted between 2019 t0 2024. Galgotias University also figures in the list of papers retracted, those authored by the IT faculties or coauthored with other universities in India and abroad.
India is a country of ambitions thrown open to the rest of the world. Indian ambitions plunge deep into every technological arena to create a wider space for the highly qualified technical faculties that grow year by year. Though the Education is a part of the planning in India, in 1976, the subject was transferred from state list to the concurrent list and holds some Institutions of National Importance in the Union List which among others include Inian Institutes of Technology, Information Technology, Engineering Science and technology, Science Education and Research and a few central Universities. Some of the Institutes are under the Department of Science and Technology and administered by the state Governments. Private Engineering colleges fall under the directives and regulations of AICTE and UGC would step in to deemed Universities. Accreditation Boards have another role to play. All these are matters pertaining to regulation and operationalization of Engineering Education in the Country.
The present question of “Institutional Intent” does not find any erroneous interludes in the whole operational process of Institutional Operationalization of Engineering Education. The “Intent” is a question that has to be in tune with the Intent of the Department of Science and Technology. The Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology certainly would be a milestone in transforming our Technical Institutions in hubs of Innovative and applicational initiatives. However, our Technocrats are from the same classic school of thought, who received PhDs and DScs following the line of research of the Guides and head of the Departments. It is quite natural that every Programme that is devised by these lineages will have its own drawbacks, who will leave ample space for rusted and mundane faculties to stick on to chairs. The reason for all these failures, is the Political system of the country, that takes least time and care to understand the realities of scientific research and Development. Following the FIST , Anusandhan National Research Foundation was created in 2023.
Again, would it be proper to say that India delves on the mistaken identity between Engineering advancement, Process Development and Technological Development with that of innovative Research and Technological Development? India has achieved substantial Technological advancement and growth. However, the growth and expansion cannot be linked to innovative developments in nascent technologies and their applications. Most of the research’s confine to adaptations, modifications, improvements or parallel operational mechanisms. It would cover a wide range of intermediary design and devising which draws a phenomenal volume of patents.
The state of R&D in the country is narrowed down by the narratives that are enough to blink the eyes of the political leadership depending on the same mouths for their briefings. Advisories are the adversaries. Not even a single person have seen the fag end of the day, who have questioned the credibility of these big bluffs who have scores and scores and publications to their credit. The ill fate is that the same data is explained under different heads and slight modification and finds space even in the international publications.
Nothing more needs to be said. What happened in such a programme of National importance in the international stage cannot be explained due to oversight or due to misrepresentation of facts. It is time for our political leadership to draw a line between Academic Research and applicational research for the manufacturing sector. What has to be done at a doctoral level cannot be thrown open to undergraduate courses. Faculty advancement and improvement do not mean process development. It requires a Philosophy, concept, objective, Utility, space for application and commercial requirement and value, gaps in the existing technological knowhow, design, components and structuring and modelling to begin with.
It is true that students develop brilliant ideas and they may not have the right methodology to develop those into a workable reality. That is where the faculties need to take up matters along the right direction. Most university departments have a line of approach that is well set by the concerned head of the Departments and the institutions as such. It would be very difficult for any student with an innovative idea to find a space in the Indian situations. Some of the Professors on new posting to the universities used to take along with them their PhD scholars. The same is the case of our Research laboratories, During the Tenure of each of the Director General, a major shift in the themes would not be incidental. So is the case with the Directors down to each departmental head. The sickness of the Indian R&D sector remains unanswered. On paper the presentations are beautiful and the appear great.
But did any Prime Minister of the Country raise a question on why India could not be a forerunner in Frontier Technology development?
A look into the revenue generated from R&D segment will be self-explanatory.
A look into the revenue generated from R&D segment will be self-explanatory. From the Financial Year 2000-’01 to 2004-’05, the Government of India had revenue from R& D segment 921, 736,696,839 and 4068 crores. From 2004 ’05 to 2006-’07 it came down suddenly 104.96, 117.34 and 111.9 crores where as from 2011 –’12 to 2015 16 realization seemed better , 669.75, 725,57, 632,92, 703.22, 8423,38 and revised estimate of 2015-16 was around 930.4 crores. The receipts from R&D showed better prospects in 2022-23 at 3554.84 cr. Estimates for 2024-25 and 2025 -26 stood at 1272.43 and 2046.27 respectively.
During the 2021 period the production linked Incentive Scheme was introduced and till December 2025, the Government had disbursed 28,748 crores for core sectors.
Sustainability of the manufacturing segment is the key component of a stable economy in a self-reliant country. Technological self-reliance is the key to economic stability and market strength. The biggest contributor in the and player in the niche carved out by the government for the R&D sector is a well-supported manufacturing segment for global competitiveness. However, the figures of the revenue from the R&D sector do not prove such a vibrant economy. It can be seen from the present budget demands from the R&D governing establishment, the Department of Science and Technology. It raises the eyebrows a little when the Research and Development is estimated at 48.41 cr. And R&D invention scheme at 20,000 cr, and Loans for other scientific Research to the same amount as for innovation.
Self Sufficiency in technology is the key to economic growth and diversification. India is still in the process of expansion of the manufacturing segment, which shows the deficit in technological innovations and process design and development.
If not anything, the “Institutional Intent” as projected by Galgotias is a wakeup call to the planners and architects of Scientific and Industrial Research and Development.