Bigger India
More scientists coming back now
The number of Indian-origin scientists working internationally and returning to India between 2012 and 2017 has jumped 70% from that from 2007 to 2012
This is primarily due to schemes such as the Ramanujan Fellowship Scheme and the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme and the Ramalingaswami re-entry fellowship scheme coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). These schemes allow “high-calibre” Indian researchers working abroad to relocate to Indian institutes and universities of their respective interest and domain, says Y.S. Chowdhary, Minister of State (Science and Technology). He was replying to a question in the Lok Sabha on India’s track record in attracting NRI scientists back to the country.
However, not all researchers who return get absorbed as full-time faculty in institutions. Of the 373 scientists, who got these scholarships between 2014 and 2016, only 125 were absorbed into their host institutions. Officials, however, say the lack of absorption is often due to returning researchers not always getting their choice of institutions.