India’s ambition to become a global leader in science and technology faces setbacks as researchers across the country struggle with delayed funding. Scholars at premier institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), report months-long delays in receiving stipends, impacting their ability to conduct vital research and cover basic living expenses.
For instance, a PhD student at an IIT, reliant on the INSPIRE fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), shared that payments have been pending since September 2024. This has forced some researchers to forgo attending key academic conferences or delay essential purchases, like laptops needed for their work. Another researcher described the frustration of unanswered emails and calls to DST officials, with one calling it a “lottery” to get a response.
Government budgets reflect a shift in priorities. The Vigyan Dhara scheme, which replaced earlier programs, saw a 22% funding cut from 18.27 billion rupees ($214.93m) to 14.25 billion rupees ($167.58m) in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Over the past decade, funding for these schemes has dropped by 67.5% from 43.89 billion rupees ($513.2m) in 2016-17. Meanwhile, 70% of the DST’s budget is directed toward interest-free loans for private companies in fields like semiconductors, sidelining academic research at public institutions.
Despite claims of increased investment in research and development, the reality for many scholars suggests otherwise. Posts on X highlight growing discontent, with researchers noting that delayed stipends push talent toward foreign opportunities, undermining India’s innovation goals. In May 2025, DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar acknowledged the delays, promising timely disbursements from June, yet many researchers report no improvement.
These challenges raise concerns about India’s ability to nurture its scientific talent. Without consistent funding, the nation risks losing its brightest minds to better-supported systems abroad, threatening its vision of a tech-driven future.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 27th, 2025
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