The Issue is About the ‘Quality of India's Publications

Context

• Scientific progress is a cornerstone of national development, and nations that prioritise research and innovation tend to lead the global economy.
• At a recent National Science Day function, India’s Union Minister for Science and Technology made an ambitious claim: India will overtake the United States in the number of scientific publications by 2029.
• However, a deeper examination of international research metrics, funding allocation, and research quality suggests that this assertion is more aspirational than realistic.

Comparing Research Output and Investments

• A crucial factor in scientific progress is the level of investment in research and development (R&D).
• The data for six leading research nations illustrate a stark contrast: Israel spends 6.3% of its GDP on R&D, South Korea 4.9%, Japan 3.3%, the United States 3.46%, Germany 3.13%, China 2.4%, and India a mere 0.67%.
• These figures highlight a fundamental problem, India cannot expect to compete with scientific powerhouses while investing significantly less in R&D.
• China’s research dominance is backed by long-term strategic investments in education and scientific infrastructure.
• Since 2006, China has implemented a well-planned Medium-to-Long-Term Plan (MLP) for science and technology development, leading to a research output of 898,949 publications.
• In contrast, the U.S. produced 457,335 publications, while India lagged with 207,390 papers.
• Given these figures, India's claim that it will surpass the U.S. in research output by 2029 appears unfounded.

The Issue of Research Quality

• A more relevant measure of impact is the quality of research, which can be evaluated using citation impact, the Hirsch Index (H-Index), and the Impact Factor (IF) of journals in which papers are published.
• According to Clarivate, a global research analytics firm, India’s citation impact (CNCI) stands at 0.879, compared to 1.12 for China and 1.25 for the U.S. Among 30 ranked countries, India is positioned at a disappointing 28th place.
• A case study in chemistry research provides further insight. An analysis of publications in top-tier chemistry journals between 2017 and 2024 revealed that the U.S., China, and India contribute vastly different numbers of papers.
• For instance, in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), the U.S. published 8,503 papers, China 5,521, and India only 305.
• Moreover, a breakdown of Chinese institutions shows that even second-tier Chinese universities produce significantly more research than India’s premier institutions, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
• This disparity underscores India's weak research ecosystem and the need for deeper systemic changes.

The Challenge of Ethics and Research Integrity in Indian Science

• The Proliferation of Predatory Journals
  • These journals often have misleading impact factors, fake editorial boards, and little to no editorial oversight.
  • A 2018 study found that 62% of the world's standalone predatory journals originate in India.
  • This means that a significant portion of Indian research is published in outlets that do not ensure academic rigor, thereby diminishing its global credibility.
  • The most infamous case is the Hyderabad-based Omics Group, which was fined $50 million by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2019 for deceptive publishing practices.
  • The Omics Group published thousands of articles in questionable journals, falsely claiming that they were peer-reviewed and had high impact factors.
  • It also tricked researchers into paying hefty publication fees, exploiting the pressure on Indian academics to publish in large numbers for career advancement.
  • With 69,000 articles published through this unethical model, Omics significantly polluted global scientific literature, making it difficult to distinguish legitimate research from junk science.
• Plagiarism and Fabrication of Data
  • Plagiarism and data fabrication are other pressing concerns in Indian academia. Many research papers have been found to be either copied from existing work or based on manipulated data.
  • This unethical behaviour is often driven by institutional pressures to meet publication quotas for promotions and funding.
  • Several high-profile cases have exposed these issues. In 2020, a senior professor at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was accused of plagiarising multiple research papers.
  • Similarly, the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) saw a scandal where fabricated data was used in published research.
  • Retractions of Indian research papers due to plagiarism and falsification have been steadily increasing, leading to embarrassment for the country’s scientific community.
• The Weakness of the Peer Review System
  • A robust peer review system is essential for maintaining scientific quality, but in India, this system is often compromised.
  • Many researchers manipulate the peer review process by suggesting their friends and colleagues as reviewers, ensuring favourable reviews.
  • In some cases, journal editors have been found to approve papers without proper scrutiny, particularly in low-quality or predatory journals.
  • A notable example occurred in 2019, when more than 250 Indian research papers were retracted by international publishers due to concerns over manipulated peer reviews and duplicated content.
• The Pressure to Publish: ‘Publish or Perish’ Culture
  • A major reason behind the rise of unethical practices in Indian research is the ‘publish or perish’ culture.
  • Academic promotions, funding grants, and job security in Indian universities are often linked to the number of publications rather than their quality.
  • As a result, researchers are incentivised to publish as many papers as possible, often without regard for originality or impact.
  • In contrast, leading scientific nations like the United States and Germany emphasize research quality over quantity.

The Impact on India's Scientific Reputation and The Path Forward for Indian Science

• The Impact on India's Scientific Reputation
  • The global scientific community is increasingly aware of India’s research integrity crisis.
  • Several major international journals and indexing platforms, such as Clarivate and Scopus, have started scrutinising Indian research more closely.
  • This means that even genuine Indian scientists now face scepticism when submitting their work to prestigious journals.
  • Furthermore, international collaborations are at risk. Many foreign universities and research institutions hesitate to partner with Indian researchers due to concerns about scientific integrity.
  • This affects India's ability to attract global research funding, grants, and talent.
• The Path Forward for Indian Science
  • Increasing R&D Investment: India must aim to raise its R&D spending from the current 0.67% of GDP to at least 2%, aligning itself with other leading nations.
  • Strengthening Higher Education and Research Infrastructure: China’s success stems from its strategic investment in universities and research institutions. India must similarly improve the quality of education, research facilities, and funding for scientists.
  • Enhancing Research Integrity: The prevalence of unethical publishing practices must be curbed through stricter regulations, better peer review mechanisms, and more rigorous academic oversight.
  • Focusing on Innovation and Industry Collaboration: Collaboration between universities, research institutions, and the private sector should be encouraged to translate research into practical applications.

Conclusion

• India's dream of becoming a global leader in science is achievable, but not without significant reform.
• Merely increasing the number of scientific papers will not propel the country forward if the quality remains poor and ethical concerns persist.
• As Einstein aptly put it, ‘Not everything that can be counted counts. Not everything that counts can be counted.’
• If India genuinely seeks to rival scientific giants like the U.S. and China, it must address the fundamental flaws in its research ecosystem, prioritise quality over quantity, and make substantial long-term investments in science and technology.

Q1. What is a major reason for the rise of unethical research practices in India?

Ans. The "publish or perish" culture, where academic promotions and funding are based on the number of publications rather than quality.

Q2. What was the Hyderabad-based Omics Group fined for?

Ans. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission fined Omics Group $50 million for deceptive publishing practices, including fake peer reviews and misleading impact factors.

Q3. How many standalone predatory journals worldwide originate from India?

Ans. 62% of the world's standalone predatory journals are based in India.

Q3. What initiative did the UGC introduce to tackle predatory publishing?

Ans. The UGC CARE List, which identifies legitimate journals and blacklists predatory ones.

Q5. How can India improve its research integrity?

Ans. By enforcing stricter regulations, improving peer review, imposing penalties for fraud, and shifting focus from quantity to quality in academic research. 

Source:The Hindu