Why is it in news?

Recently, the INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) has been under criticism due to complaints of harassment, delays in fund disbursal, and concerns that the scheme hasn’t created enough jobs.

Details

• The scheme has been grappling with issues of delays in release of salaries and research funds, which has adversely impacted the research of the beneficiaries and put their future into uncertainty. Often funds come close to the end of the fiscal year, and scientists have no funds for the rest of the year (lack of uniformly distributed fund distribution structure).
• There have also been cases of discriminatory treatment to INSPIRE fellows by the university they were allotted to. They often have to face unnecessary hassles when it comes to recruiting Ph.D students, accessing labs and common research facilities, etc. There have also been cases where these fellows have not been treated on par with peers, denied opportunities to compete for faculty positions, etc. This is happening despite the contract between DST and host institutes explicitly states that a congenial environment and consideration for faculty positions be provided.
• Universities frequently had opaque hiring procedures and “corruption” was rife at several State universities.
• However, the DST claimed the programme is a success. Of the 238 fellows selected in 2011 and 2012 or those who’ve reached the end of the fellowship, 143 or about 60% have got full-time jobs. 

About INSPIRE scheme

• The INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) Faculty scheme, selects promising research scholars under 32 and offers them a salary of ₹80,000 a month as well as an annual research grant worth ₹7 lakh to work at a university of their choice for five years.
• It was conceived in 2008 amid concerns that not enough talented students were opting for research careers in basic sciences and were being lured away by higher salaries in banking, information technology and management.
• Positioned as an “Assured Opportunity for Research Career,” the INSPIRE Faculty scheme envisioned that given 5 years of financial security and academic freedom these researchers would prove their mettle at these universities and, at their discretion, be eventually recruited as full-time faculty.
• The candidates are selected via a three-stage interview by the Indian National Science Academy, and of the 10,919 applications since the scheme’s inception in 2011, only 1,234 or about 11%, have been offered the fellowship, as per INSPIRE’s latest figures. Of these 951 joined and as of December only 394 or about 40% have landed permanent faculty positions.
• These encompass a range of institutions from the Indian Institutes of Technology, CSIR labs as well as State and Centrally-funded universities.

Conclusion

• These concerns suggest that despite the well intentions of the INSPIRE scheme, there have been systemic problems in how the scheme had unfolded over the years.
• The government must provide urgent attention to the concerns of the scheme and address them appropriately and swiftly.
• This scheme has been a beacon of hope for researchers and scientists and holds great promise and potential in developing and further enhancing India’s scientific capabilities.
• In recent times, many scientists have returned back to India to pursue their research and the INSPIRE scheme has been a great contributing factor in attracting them.
• With better implementation of the scheme, India can sure make the most out of its recent ‘brain gain’.

Source

The Hindu