Science, the fulcrum for social and economic change in India

Speaker: Professor K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

The 2018 Dr Seng Tee Lee Public Policy Lecture will be delivered by Professor K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

Hosted by Professor Stephen Toope, Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge

Through technology, science is the fulcrum on which the strong crowbar of national missions which aim to lift India economically and socially can rest. Such a role for science is not only necessary for India but also for the sustainability of our planet, for with its large young population, the success of India is vital to the success of the world. Science as a fulcrum will allow reasonable and affordable investment to lift huge loads, where otherwise even larger investments can be ineffective.

This fulcrum must be strong and correctly placed. Till recently, this fulcrum was not strong enough and was poorly positioned. Both situations are speedily changing. Strengthening science in India requires three simultaneous efforts: (1) strengthening our best institutions, invigorating the university research system and expanding the footprint of science by creating new institutions of quality; (2) opening the minds of our best research centres so that we challenge ourselves much more; and (3) increasing the resources for science and clearing bottlenecks in delivery of these resources. Increased support from the Government is necessary, but substantially more must come from industry and philanthropy.