Building a Resilient R&D Ecosystem in India

• 27 Nov 2025

This editorial is based on “Bringing back Indian-origin faculty will need changes in policy, culture,” which was published in The Indian Express on 27/11/2025. The article discusses a new Indian government scheme aimed at attracting established Indian-origin faculty and researchers abroad, particularly in STEM fields, by offering substantial set-up grants and institutional support to create a conducive and autonomous research environment, while emphasising the need for deeper policy and cultural reforms beyond financial incentives to reverse brain drain and strengthen India's research ecosystem effectively.

For Prelims: Brain Drain, Star Faculty Repatriation Scheme, VAJRA Fellowship, Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF), Ramanujan Fellowship (DST), Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship (DBT), Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, National Supercomputing Mission. 

For Mains: Recent Government Efforts Aim to Attract and Retain Indian-origin Talent, Key Challenges Behind India’s Long-Standing Brain Drain Issue, Key Institutions and Policies in India that Promote Research and Innovation.

Amid US academic uncertainties under President Trump, India’s government has launched a scheme offering substantial set-up grants and institutional support to attract Indian-origin STEM faculty back from abroad, focusing on priority sectors like AI, biotech, and advanced materials to reverse brain drain and boost R&D capacity in IITs and national labs. However, success hinges on addressing key hurdles such as salary gaps, bureaucratic delays, tenure insecurity, family relocation challenges, uncertain IP rights, and the need for a cultural shift toward academic freedom, merit-based ecosystems, and global collaboration.

What Recent Government Efforts Aim to Attract and Retain Indian-origin Talent and Reverse Brain Drain? 

• Star Faculty Repatriation Scheme: The Indian government is developing this flagship program to attract top Indian-origin “star faculty” and researchers from abroad, particularly the US, by offering substantial one-time set-up grants for labs, research teams, and positions in premier institutions like IITs and national labs under DST/DBT. 
  • It emphasizes a “red-carpet ecosystem” with streamlined bureaucracy, research autonomy, family support, and focus on 12–14 priority STEM areas to reverse brain drain. 
  • This requires reformed procurement, HR, and IP policies, as past efforts like the VAJRA Fellowship yielded only limited short-term visits. 
• Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF):  PMRF addresses brain drain by incentivizing top domestic PhD students with competitive fellowships to retain talent within India’s universities.  
  • The rationale is that building a homegrown talent pipeline reduces outflow.  
  • Its success lies in meritocratic selection and robust funding, though challenges persist in expanding quality PhD education nationwide. 
• Ramanujan Fellowship (DST): The Ramanujan Fellowship, administered by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), seeks to attract outstanding scientists and engineers of Indian origin working abroad to pursue independent research in India.  
  • It offers a competitive monthly fellowship, research support, and the freedom to apply for additional extramural grants. 
  • Importantly, it enables the awardee to join any Indian academic or research institution of their choice, ensuring flexibility and autonomy.  
  • The fellowship encourages mid-career researchers with internationally recognised work to return and lead advanced research groups, thereby strengthening India’s scientific talent pool.  
• INSPIRE Faculty Award (AORC): The INSPIRE Faculty Award under the “Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC)” scheme provides a launchpad for early-career researchers, including post-doctoral scholars with high academic merit. 
  • Awardees receive funding equivalent to entry-level Assistant Professor positions, along with substantial research grants to establish independent labs.  
  • This scheme bridges the crucial “early-career gap” where many young scientists leave India due to a lack of stable opportunities.  
  • By offering financial security, recognition, and institutional affiliation, INSPIRE helps prevent brain drain and builds a domestic pipeline of high-quality faculty.  
• Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship (DBT): The Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship, implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), targets Indian scientists working overseas who wish to return to India for long-term research careers. 
  • The fellowship offers an attractive consolidated monthly salary, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and an annual contingency/research grant.  
  • Beyond funding, host institutes often provide additional start-up support, enabling fellows to establish research groups quickly.  
  • The program has been particularly successful in fields like biotechnology, biomedical sciences, and molecular biology, contributing to significant reverse migration of skilled researchers into premier DBT-funded labs and universities.  
• CSIR “STIO / Outstanding Scientists (Indian Origin)” Scheme: The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) operates the STIO (Scientists and Technologists of Indian Origin) and Outstanding Scientists programs to attract globally renowned Indian-origin experts to CSIR laboratories.  
  • These scientists are offered positions to initiate or strengthen frontier research areas, mentor young researchers, and forge international collaborations.  
  • The program plays a pivotal role in bringing cutting-edge expertise, global best practices, and technology-driven leadership into India’s public research institutions.  
• Biotechnology and Research Cluster Expansion (DBT) : The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has undertaken major initiatives to expand India’s Biotechnology Research Clusters in regions such as NCR (Faridabad), Mohali, and Bengaluru. 
  • These clusters host state-of-the-art laboratories, translational research centers, biotech incubators, and partnerships with industry.  
  • Improved infrastructure—such as high-end instrumentation facilities, advanced bio-safety labs, and interdisciplinary research platforms—creates an attractive environment for returning scientists.  
• VAIBHAV Fellowship Program: VAIBHAV bridges diaspora scientists and domestic researchers through short-term visits and collaborations, fostering brain circulation.  
  • It supports knowledge transfer, but its limitation is that it doesn’t ensure permanent return, highlighting the need for long-term incentives alongside intermittent engagements. 
• Startup India and Digital India: By supporting returnee entrepreneurs with funds, infrastructure, and simplified regulations, these initiatives leverage entrepreneurial talent to strengthen innovation ecosystems.  
  • Encouraging returnees to commercialise cutting-edge technologies generates jobs, builds tech clusters, and aligns financial and professional incentives to reverse brain drain. 
• IndiaAI Startups Global Initiative and IndiaAI Mission: India’s push for inclusive AI research hubs, global partnerships, and ethical frameworks attracts top AI experts.  
  • This sectoral specialisation counters global talent competition and builds an AI-driven innovation ecosystem aligned with national priorities.

Note: 

• Brain Drain: Refers to the large-scale migration of highly skilled professionals to foreign countries in search of better salaries, research opportunities, living standards, and career growth, leading to a weakened domestic talent pool and slower innovation. 
• Reverse Brain Drain: Denotes the return of skilled professionals due to improved research ecosystems, competitive incentives, family considerations, and proactive national policies, helping strengthen domestic capacity, innovation, and knowledge-based growth.

What are the Key Challenges Behind India’s Persistent Brain Drain Issue? 

• Limited Domestic Employment Opportunities: India faces a significant jobs crisis, with the employment-to-population ratio at only about 52.5%, according to PLFS October 2025  data.  
  • Many skilled graduates encounter uncertain job markets and limited career growth, pushing them to explore stable and rewarding employment overseas.  
    • From 2003 to 2013, the number of scientists and engineers residing in the U.S. rose from 21.6 million to 29 million. 
• Salary and Financial Incentive Gaps: Salary disparities remain stark. Indian engineering and data professionals saw a significant pay drop to $22,000 in 2025, a stark contrast to the US's $150,000. 
  • Such financial gaps, combined with better benefits and job security abroad, form strong economic incentives for migration.  
  • The US H-1B visa program is especially attractive, with more than  70% of H-1B holders originating from India, facilitating access to high-paying jobs and global career networks. 
• Inadequate Research and Development Ecosystem: India’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) stands at 0.65% of GDP, which is lower than the global average of 1.79%. 
  • This underfunding, coupled with bureaucratic delays, insufficient laboratory infrastructure, and weak IP protection, discourages innovation-driven professionals.  
  • Many Indian scientists seek supportive research environments abroad, where strong government and private sector investments foster cutting-edge R&D, making India’s ecosystem less competitive. 
• Lack of Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy: Excessive administrative hurdles, limited freedom to pursue independent research, and political interference characterize many Indian academic institutions.  
  • This contrasts sharply with the autonomy and merit-based advancement in Western universities, prompting scholars to seek freer intellectual climates. 
    • The recent Academic Freedom Index (AFI) categorizes India’s academic status as “completely restricted”.  
  • Academic leaders highlighted the cumbersome administrative processes in India as a major deterrent. 
• Family and Socio-Economic Challenges: Returnee scientists and professionals face concerns over spousal employment, quality education, and overall quality of life—factors that overseas countries often address through comprehensive family support policies.  
  • This gap discourages many from returning or motivates migration, despite the emotional pull of “home.”  
    • Large Indian diaspora communities abroad offer strong social and professional networks that ease integration and attract further migration. 
  • Structural socioeconomic inequalities, including wide disparities in education quality, limited access, and weak upward mobility, deter many talented Indians from realising their full potential at home. 
  • The frustration feeds into a cycle where the best-trained Indians seek meritocratic environments overseas that promise fairness and inclusivity. 

What are the Key Institutions and Policies in India that Promote Research and Innovation? 

• Institutional Framework :  
  • Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): Established in 2023 and operational since February 2024, ANRF mobilizes ₹50,000 crore (2023–28) from government and non-government sources to provide strategic direction for research, linking academia-industry for high-impact projects. 
  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2.0: Extended to 2028 with ₹2,750 crore under NITI Aayog, AIM fosters innovation through Atal Tinkering Labs in schools and Atal Incubation Centres to nurture entrepreneurship. 
  • IN-SPACe: Created under the Indian Space Policy 2023, IN-SPACe regulates and promotes private sector participation in space research and innovation. 
• Policy Framework: 
  • Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: Launched in November 2025, with ₹1 lakh crore corpus, it finances private-led R&D in sunrise sectors via low/zero-interest loans to boost self-reliance. 
  • National Geospatial Policy 2022: Enables open access to geospatial data and aims for full national mapping by 2030 to support innovation in location-based technologies. 
  • BioE3 Policy 2024: Promotes biomanufacturing hubs to address climate, health, and waste challenges through high-performance biomanufacturing. 
  • IndiaAI Mission: Allocated ₹10,371.92 crore, it scales computing infrastructure to 38,000 GPUs for advancing AI research and applications. 
  • National Quantum Mission (NQM): Approved in 2023 with ₹6,003.65 crore (2023–31), it develops quantum computers, secure communication, and materials via dedicated hubs. 
  • National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS): With ₹3,660 crore, it establishes AI/robotics hubs to integrate cyber-physical technologies across sectors. 
  • National Supercomputing Mission: Builds high-performance computing infrastructure to support advanced computational research nationwide. 
  • India Semiconductor Mission: Offers ₹76,000 crore incentives, with 10 projects approved to create a domestic semiconductor ecosystem. 
  • Deep Ocean Mission: Funded at ₹4,077 crore, it advances ocean technology, resources, and deep-sea exploration capabilities. 

How Can India Effectively Reverse the Persistent Brain Drain? 

• Elevate R&D Spending to Global Benchmarks: Government must urgently raise R&D expenditure from the current 0.65% of GDP to 2% by 2030, aligning with NITI Aayog's 2021 Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Policy and ANRF's ₹50,000 crore five-year corpus for high-impact grants.  
  • This mirrors South Korea’s success, where 4.9% GDP investment retained a large proportion of STEM PhDs domestically and boosted patent filings through sustained lab modernization and competitive researcher support. 
• Implement Nationwide Ease of Doing Research Reforms: Roll out a "red carpet mandate" via single-window digital portals for all approvals, procurement up to ₹10 crore without Finance Ministry clearance, and visa fast-tracking, as recommended by DST's 2025 Ease of Research Framework.  
  • Emulate Singapore's A*STAR Agency model, which slashed bureaucratic delays via automated systems, retaining overseas-recruited talent and boosting research output through researcher-centric administration. 
• Mandate Tenure-Track Pathways with Career Security Guarantees: Legislate explicit 5-year tenure conversion pathways in IITs, IISc, and national labs, replacing ad-hoc fellowships.  
  • Adopt the US National Science Foundation’s (NSF) CAREER program, which provides long-term grants and clear promotion pathways for mid-career researchers, fostering career stability, institutional loyalty, and higher research productivity. 
• Reform IP Ownership for Equitable Commercialisation: Enact laws granting researchers 50-70% IP ownership with streamlined licensing, integrated into RDI Scheme's ₹1 lakh crore low-interest fund, following DST committee directives. 
  • Replicate Israel’s Yozma Initiative, where strong IP reforms attracted venture capital, encouraged the return of diaspora scientists, and significantly boosted startup creation through university spin-offs and innovation-led enterprises. 
• Launch Holistic Family Support Packages: Create a dedicated Returnee Talent Portal offering spousal employment support, subsidised housing, and priority access to quality schooling, addressing family-related barriers that often hinder the return and retention of skilled researchers. 
  • May follow Canada’s Global Talent Stream visas, which encourage the return of skilled researchers by offering family reunification support, relocation assistance, and education-related benefits, making long-term relocation more attractive and sustainable. 
• Forge Strong Academia-Industry Linkages through Innovation Clusters: Scale AIM 2.0 Atal Incubation Centres with joint R&D funding and shared IP frameworks across multiple regions to strengthen academia-industry collaboration and foster a robust innovation ecosystem 
  • Model China’s Thousand Talents Plan, which built large-scale university–industry clusters, attracted highly skilled experts back to the country, strengthened long-term retention through major collaborative projects, and significantly expanded high-tech employment and innovation capacity. 
• Institutionalize Academic Freedom via Cultural and Legal Shifts: Pass NEP 2020-aligned statutes ensuring institutional insulation from political interference, merit-based promotions, and interdisciplinary hiring, countering surveys showing major faculty dissatisfaction with hierarchies.  
  • Benchmark the EU’s Council Recommendation and European Research Council (ERC) grants, which strengthen retention of mid-career researchers through portable funding, academic freedom, and anti-bias mobility frameworks, promoting a globally competitive and inclusive research ecosystem. 

Conclusion: 

India’s efforts to reverse brain drain are reflected in its rise to 38th rank in the Global Innovation Index, highlighting progress in building a robust R&D ecosystem. As economist Prof. Michael Porter noted, “Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity.” To retain and attract skilled talent, India must enhance research opportunities, streamline academic processes, strengthen academia-industry collaboration, and ensure academic freedom, thereby sustaining talent, driving R&D-led innovation, and securing leadership in the global knowledge economy. 

Drishti Mains Question:  

Examine the main factors driving brain drain from India and evaluate the effectiveness of government initiatives aimed at retaining skilled professionals.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q. Which flagship initiatives target return of Indian-origin STEM faculty?
Major instruments include the NRI Scientist Repatriation Scheme, Ramanujan Fellowship (DST), Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship (DBT), INSPIRE (AORC), PMRF, CSIR STIO/Outstanding Scientists, VAIBHAV, and sectoral drives like IndiaAI, Startup India and DBT biotech cluster expansion.

Q. How do these schemes seek to reverse brain drain?
By offering start-up grants, lab infrastructure, operational autonomy, competitive fellowships, institutional placement in premier labs/IITs, and industry-linked incubation to align academic incentives with career and commercial opportunities.

Q. What are the principal barriers to return and retention of talent?
Key impediments are salary and incentive gaps, bureaucratic procurement and HR delays, tenure insecurity, uncertain IP regimes, family and relocation challenges, and limited institutional autonomy/academic freedom.

Q. What policy reforms are essential to build a globally competitive R&D ecosystem?
Priority measures include a red-carpet ease-of-research single-window system, formal tenure-track pathways, researcher-friendly IP and licensing rules, holistic family support, and strengthened academia–industry innovation clusters. 

Q. Why is diaspora repatriation strategically important for India’s innovation agenda?
Returnee scientists bring global expertise, leadership for high-impact R&D, enhanced knowledge transfer and commercialisation, and stronger international collaboration, all critical to scaling national missions and deepening domestic research capacity.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)  

Prelims

Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)? (2015)

1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government. 
2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 

Ans: (a) 

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Mains

Q. What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of society? (2021)

Q. Scientific research in Indian universities is declining because a career in science is not as attractive as are business professions, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer-oriented. Critically comment. (2014)