India has nearly ten million science graduates. That’s impressive and not too many countries in the world have so many science graduates. However, against a population of 1.1 billion this figure looks unimpressive- just 1% of the total population. Indian Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal wants to change this scenario and for this his ministry is now trying to figure out the ways to promote science education in India. He is seeking “a four-fold increase in the five-year plan allocation to promote basic sciences and invest heavily in knowledge-based research that will prepare the base for a higher economic growth curve.” In the last five year plan (2002-07), Rs. 250 billion was allocated for science and technology. Mr. Sibal is wants this Rs. 1000 billion in the next 5 year plan (2007-12).
I am not sure if Indian decision makers will listen to Mr. Sibal or not but I think that India needs this amount of money for developing science education in the country. If India wants to sustain high economic growth then the country must have more and more science graduates. India also needs to have a lot research projects and innovations. So, let us hope for the best.
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