{"id":69687,"date":"2025-10-22T12:23:34","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T06:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=69687"},"modified":"2025-10-24T16:43:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T11:13:50","slug":"scheme-to-attract-star-faculty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/scheme-to-attract-star-faculty\/","title":{"rendered":"Scheme to Attract \u2018Star Faculty\u2019 Amid Global Academic Shifts"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Star Faculty Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union government is formulating a new scheme to <\/span><b>attract Indian-origin \u201cstar faculty\u201d and researchers working abroad<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to return and strengthen India\u2019s research and innovation ecosystem amid shifting global academic dynamics.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>India\u2019s Research and Academic Landscape<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has a long-standing tradition of excellence in science, technology, and higher education, reflected through institutions such as the <\/span><b>Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and national laboratories under the <\/span><b>Department of Science and Technology (DST)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Department of Biotechnology (DBT)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the country continues to face challenges in retaining and attracting top-tier global talent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to government and academic reports, India\u2019s <\/span><b>research and development (R&amp;D) spending remains around 0.7% of GDP<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, lower than major economies like the U.S. (2.8%) and China (2.4%).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This gap, combined with bureaucratic hurdles and limited research autonomy, has led to an <\/span><b>outflow of highly skilled Indian scientists and researchers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a phenomenon commonly referred to as \u201cbrain drain.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To counter this, the government has been implementing initiatives such as:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Ramanujan Fellowship<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, aimed at connecting Indian-origin scholars abroad with domestic institutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, participation in these schemes has been modest, prompting the need for a more ambitious, full-scale initiative.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>News Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government of India is developing a new flagship programme to attract <\/span><b>Indian-origin \u201cstar faculty\u201d and researchers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> working in leading global universities and research institutions to return and contribute to India\u2019s R&amp;D ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The discussions aim to strengthen India\u2019s research ecosystem by offering these scholars <\/span><b>positions in premier institutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as the IITs, top national laboratories, and autonomous research centres.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Key Features of the Proposed Scheme<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Targeting Leading Indian-Origin Researchers:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative seeks to attract <\/span><b>established Indian-origin scientists and academics<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with significant achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The plan prioritises <\/span><b>12-14 critical scientific domains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, considered strategically important for national capacity-building.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Attractive Set-Up and Research Grants:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Returning scholars may receive a <\/span><b>substantial one-time \u201cset-up grant\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to establish laboratories and research teams in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Institutions like the IITs have expressed support for this approach, emphasising flexibility and research autonomy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Simplified Bureaucratic Processes:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scheme aims to create a <\/span><b>\u201cred-carpet ecosystem\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, addressing logistical and administrative challenges faced by returnees, such as housing, institutional support, and project funding.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Institutional Collaboration:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government plans to facilitate <\/span><b>inter-institutional partnerships<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> between Indian and global universities, fostering sustained collaborations instead of short-term exchanges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Balanced Oversight and IP Ownership:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The programme will emphasise <\/span><b>light-touch oversight<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allowing researchers operational freedom while clearly defining intellectual property ownership structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Global Context and Strategic Significance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scheme comes at a critical time, as <\/span><b>geopolitical and academic dynamics shift internationally<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, particularly under the <\/span><b>Trump administration\u2019s renewed scrutiny of U.S. higher education institutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the U.S., new policies such as the <\/span><b>\u201cCompact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have imposed restrictions on international student intake, race-based admissions, and tuition flexibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These actions have raised concerns about <\/span><b>academic freedom and institutional autonomy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leading to uncertainty among global academics-including Indian-origin faculty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simultaneously, other regions are capitalising on this transition:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Europe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is working to enshrine academic freedom into law, with increased funding for research collaboration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>China<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Taiwan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> continue to expand well-funded recruitment drives to attract overseas scientists.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Addressing India\u2019s Structural Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Non-competitive pay scales:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A full professor in India typically earns around <\/span><b>USD 38,000 annually<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, compared with <\/span><b>USD 130,000-200,000 in the U.S.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>USD 100,000 in China<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limited research infrastructure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While India boasts several centres of excellence, many universities lack advanced laboratory facilities and institutional autonomy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bureaucratic red tape:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Approval processes for hiring, funding, and collaborations are often <\/span><b>slow and multi-layered<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, discouraging international participation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new scheme is being designed to overcome these issues through <\/span><b>streamlined governance, multi-year appointments, and transparent evaluation systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Outlook and Future Prospects<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If implemented effectively, the scheme could <\/span><b>transform India\u2019s research landscape<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by reversing the brain drain and nurturing a new generation of globally connected scientists.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It could also help bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering technology transfer and innovation-led growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposal will be presented to the Union Cabinet for final approval in the coming months.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source<\/b><strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/education\/exclusive-amid-trump-admins-higher-ed-squeeze-modi-govt-plans-scheme-to-woo-back-indian-origin-star-faculty-abroad-10319500\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Modi government is formulating a new scheme to attract Indian-origin star faculty working abroad.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":70021,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,3340,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-69687","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-star-faculty","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69687\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}