Why in News
- Highlighted at the Student Conference on Conservation Science (Bengaluru, September 2025) by Dr. Sammy Wambua, conservation genomics scientist from Pwani University, Kenya.
- Focus: How researchers in the Global South, including India and Kenya, navigate bureaucratic, financial, and technological obstacles.
- Relevance: Highlights systemic issues in Indian scientific research and points toward South-South collaboration and innovative solutions.
Relevance
- GS-3 (Science & Technology):
- Challenges in scientific research infrastructure, technology adoption, and funding.
- Role of innovation and collaboration in overcoming systemic barriers.
- GS-2/3 (Governance & Policy):
- Regulatory bottlenecks and procurement rules in government-funded research institutions.
- Importance of policy reform and accountability.
Context of Scientific Research in the Global South
- Scientific research in developing countries faces structural barriers:
- Bureaucratic red tape
- Limited funding
- Expensive and rapidly evolving equipment
- Yet, researchers continue work through innovation, improvisation, and collaborations.
- Indian and African scientists face similar challenges, making comparative learning relevant.
Bureaucratic Challenges
- Multiple overlapping policies and opaque approval processes stall research.
- Oral directives can override written rules; official communication often silent or delayed.
- Example:
- Wildlife permits in India: delays of up to 8 months, even when legally allowed.
- DNA sequencing procurement in public universities: cycles often exceed six months, leading to obsolete equipment.
- Dr. Wambua advocates that government offices should function like service counters: transparent, clear, and proactive.
Funding Constraints
- Postgraduate scholarships and project funding often delayed or denied.
- Indian context: Fellowships disbursed months late, forcing students into teaching or personal loans.
- Workarounds:
- Partner with NGOs or conservation organizations to link research outcomes with capacity building.
- Ensure research budgets cover student fees and stipends.
Technological Limitations
- Equipment such as DNA sequencers are expensive (tens of lakhs INR) and quickly become outdated.
- Workarounds:
- Ship samples to labs abroad for processing using state-of-the-art facilities.
- Leverage international collaborations to access cutting-edge technology.
Collaborative Solutions
- Frameworks of Collaboration: Provisional agreements allow work to start while formal MoUs are processed.
- International collaborations:
- Essential to bridge funding and technology gaps.
- Facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building.
- South-South collaboration emphasis: Pooling resources among African and Asian countries can align research priorities and avoid isolated, ineffective efforts.
Indian Context and Jugaad
- Procurement rules:
- “Lowest price” norms create challenges for specialized reagents.
- Recent reforms: direct purchase limit increased from ₹1 lakh → ₹2 lakh; VCs can approve tenders up to ₹200 crore.
- Jugaad culture: Scientists develop quick fixes to overcome bureaucratic hurdles, e.g., sitting in offices, improvising timelines.
- Publication metrics:
- 2014–2023: Indian agricultural scientists coauthored ~2,100 papers with US institutions → 33,000+ citations.
- Shows international collaboration boosts visibility and impact.
Lessons and Recommendations
- Transparency and responsiveness: Governments should provide real-time updates on permits, approvals, and funding.
- Flexible procurement: Simplify processes for specialized equipment and reagents.
- Collaborative networks:
- Encourage cross-border research frameworks (South-South and North-South).
- Pool resources and share facilities to mitigate technology and funding constraints.
- Innovation and resilience: Researchers can sustain work using creative problem-solving, persistence, and networking.
Broader Implications
- Ensures equitable science by enabling researchers from resource-constrained settings to contribute globally.
- Addresses systemic gaps in Indian scientific ecosystem: bureaucracy, funding delays, and outdated rules.
- Highlights need for policy reforms in research funding, procurement, and international collaboration.
