I differ on the subject of undertaking research. The principle that the Govt must undertake research is basically right when it concerns such things as public works, defence and the exploitation of scarce national resources. The problem is in the manner in which we undertake research. We form huge laboratories as permanently standing structures and a staff that is underutilised and idle. The US has been the torch bearer in Scientific Research and there are cross disciplinary teams working in close coordination and bringing their developed domain focus on the project.The team leader is mission driven and ensures budgetary support for the project.We need to follow this model. Perhaps, we may be following this model in some cases as the PARAM and the Missile Development programmes show. But in most cases, the Govt simply offloads the project to some Lab and is content with providing funds. Perhaps outside peer review may need to be encouraged but then there is excessive secrecy in defence projects that prevents it, and so we continue to work on these projects with a highly expansive time scale. In some cases the excessive time taken negates all benefits of indigenous research.We have not been successful in generating sufficient nuclear power for our country although we could detonate a peaceful nuclear explosion as way back in 1974.
