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.
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 concurrent list and holds some Institutions of National Importance in the Union List which among others include Indian 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. Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology certainly would
be a milestone in transforming our Technical Institutions into 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 , which takes the 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, it would 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 is confined 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 has 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
from the Directors down to each departmental head. The sickness of the Indian
R&D sector remains unanswered. On paper the presentations are beautiful and
they 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. 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.
