Unveiling the Paradox: Low R&D Spend Amid Publication Boom

India's research landscape presents a striking contradiction. On one hand, the nation has surged to the third position globally in scientific publication output, producing nearly 195,000 research articles in 2024 alone, capturing a 5% share of the world's indexed publications. On the other, its Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD, the total national spend on research and development activities) hovers stubbornly at 0.64% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as highlighted in recent Economic Surveys and Department of Science and Technology (DST) reports. This disparity raises critical questions about sustainability, quality, and the path to true innovation leadership.

The latest Economic Survey underscores this crisis, noting that while patent grants have skyrocketed to nearly one lakh in FY24 from under 25,000 in FY20, the overall investment remains woefully inadequate compared to peers like China at 2.4% or the US at 3.5% of GDP. For researchers, academics, and policymakers, understanding this gap is essential to unlocking India's potential as a global innovation powerhouse.

India's Climb to Third in Global Research Output

India's ascent in research publications is nothing short of remarkable. From 60,555 articles in 2010 to 149,213 in 2020, and further to 195,000 in 2024, the growth rate stands at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% from 2019-2024, second only to China among major economies. Platforms like Springer Nature report India as the third-highest contributor worldwide, with 19,000 articles in the top 10% most-cited papers in 2023, ranking third behind China and the US.

This boom spans fields: computer science (18%), engineering (17%), health sciences (16%), and more. International collaborations have risen from 23% to 36% of outputs over the decade, boosting quality metrics like Category Normalized Citation Impact (CNCI), now at 0.89 overall—up from 0.7 a decade ago. In Nature Index 2025, India's share grew 14.5% year-over-year, outpacing declines in the UK and US.

Yet, this volume-driven success masks underlying issues. While 67% of papers land in top-quartile journals, retractions hover at 0.1-0.3%, prompting calls for stricter quality controls.

Decoding the 0.64% GDP Figure: Trends and Breakdowns

India's GERD reached Rs. 127,381 crore in 2020-21, more than double the Rs. 60,197 crore of 2010-11, but as a GDP percentage, it dipped to 0.64% from 0.66% the prior year—stagnant for two decades. Per capita spend is PPP$42, with 262 researchers per million population, far below leaders like South Korea's 8,714.

• Central Government: 43.7%
• Private Industry: 36.4%
• Higher Education: 8.8%
• State Sector: 6.7%
• Public Sector Industry: 4.4%

Government dominates at 59%, unlike China's 77% private or US's 75%. Top spenders: DRDO (30.7%), DoS (18.4%), ICAR (12.4%). For those eyeing research jobs, this public skew offers stable opportunities but limits scale.

Recent data into 2025 shows no major shift, with calls in Budget 2026 for tax incentives to revive momentum.

The Private Sector Lag: Root Causes Explored

Private firms contribute just 36% to GERD, spending under 1% of net sales on R&D, despite top companies like pharma investing Rs. 17,300 crore in FY24 (23% YoY rise). Reasons include:

• Risk of Imitation: Weak IP enforcement deters long-term bets.
• Short Horizons: Focus on quick returns over 3-5 year R&D cycles.
• Low Margins: Competitive pressures prioritize cost-cutting.
• Administrative Hurdles: High transaction costs for grants.

Cultural factors and smaller firm sizes exacerbate this, per experts. Bridging this could transform innovation, especially in faculty research roles.

Global Benchmarks: India's Position in Perspective

India trails: Israel (5.71%), US (3.47%), China (2.41%), even BRICS peers like Brazil (1.3%). World average exceeds 2%. In GII 2023, India hit 40th (from 81st in 2015), but R&D per researcher is $160k PPP vs. leaders' $450k.

Publication-wise, India's volume rivals giants, but citation impact lags slightly.

Consequences: Innovation Stifled, Economy at Risk

Low spend hampers tech transfer, with 'lab-to-land' delays curtailing societal impact. Industries remain import-dependent, export competitiveness suffers. Yet, positives like 1 lakh patents in FY24 signal potential. For higher ed pros, this underscores need for industry ties—check academic CV tips.

Government Steps Up: ANRF and Key Initiatives

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), established via Act 2023, channels Rs. 50,000 crore over five years to boost R&D, foster innovation culture. RDI Fund targets startups; schemes like FIST, PURSE, PAIR support unis. National Quantum Mission, Supercomputing get funds.

• ANRF-PAIR: Hub-spoke mentorship.
• Vigyan Dhara: Rs. 330 Cr for frontier research.

These aim for 2% GDP target, private boost.ANRF Official Site

Case Studies: Bright Spots in Indian R&D

CSIR labs pioneered affordable vaccines; IITs' startups like Ather Energy thrive on modest funds. Pharma giants like Dr. Reddy's invest heavily, proving private viability. These examples show targeted spend yields outsized returns.

Expert Views and Stakeholder Perspectives

Economists urge tax breaks, 'petty patents'; industry wants IP reforms. Academics stress uni-industry links. Multi-perspective: Govt pushes ANRF, private seeks incentives.

Outlook and Actionable Pathways

With GDP growth, hitting 1-2% GERD feasible by 2030 via private incentives, diaspora bonds. Researchers: Leverage postdoc opportunities; unis: Prioritize quality. Explore scholarships for R&D.

Photo by A Chosen Soul on Unsplash

In summary, India's R&D crisis demands urgent private mobilization. Platforms like Rate My Professor, Higher Ed Jobs, Career Advice connect talent to solutions. The high publication output is a foundation—scale investment to build the future.