India must maintain the services of dedicated scientists.

• A report reveals a decrease in permanent scientific staff in 244 institutions in 2022-23 compared to the previous year.

• The slowdown was largely due to hiring short-term scientific research personnel, a 14% increase over 2021-22.

• The data does not include’strategic sectors’ like defence, atomic energy, and space, which consume the majority of India’s R&D expenditure.

• The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), funded by the Department of Atomic Energy, has nearly three in five scientific personnel posts unfilled.

• On average, one in four posts at key atomic energy research institutions and nuclear power plants is vacant.

• The government’s efforts to align R&D towards industry-specific research are hindered by the lack of full-time, long-career scientists.

• The report calls for more generous conditions for research, including respectable salaries, funds, and equipment.