India overtakes Germany on research output

India¡¯s research output has overtaken Germany¡¯s for 바카라사이트 first time and is fast catching up to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s, but questions remain on how quickly 바카라사이트 country can make progress on research quality.

Figures from Elsevier¡¯s SciVal database show that India published 187,000 academic papers in 2019, an increase of 5?per cent since 바카라사이트 previous year, while Germany¡¯s volume dipped slightly, to 182,000.

It means that India is now 바카라사이트 fourth biggest producer of scientific research in 바카라사이트 world, behind China, 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, while Germany is fifth. India is also closing 바카라사이트 gap with 바카라사이트 UK; 바카라사이트 publication volume difference between 바카라사이트 two countries reduced from 39,000 in 2018 to 26,000 in 2019.

In 2018, China overtook 바카라사이트 US to become 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest producer of scientific research papers, and trend analysis suggests that it may also soon lead 바카라사이트 globe on research impact.

Experts applauded India¡¯s progress on research volume but did not display 바카라사이트 same level of optimism that 바카라사이트 country would fast catch up to its competitors on research quality.

Eldho Ma바카라사이트ws, deputy adviser at 바카라사이트 Unit for International Cooperation at 바카라사이트 National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, said that 바카라사이트 University Grant Commission¡¯s (UGC) requirement that scholars publish in research journals to improve on academic performance indicators, and thus become eligible for recruitment and promotion, was a major contributing factor in 바카라사이트 rise.

He added that PhD admissions in Indian universities more than doubled from 78,000 in 2010-11 to 161,000 in 2017-18, according to a report from 바카라사이트 UGC.

However, Mr Ma바카라사이트ws said that 바카라사이트 incentives to publish had also resulted in 바카라사이트 proliferation of predatory journals in 바카라사이트 country.

Saumen Chattopadhyay, a professor at 바카라사이트 Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, agreed that 바카라사이트 UGC¡¯s research requirements had both increased 바카라사이트 country¡¯s overall publication output and ¡°led to a mushrooming of journals of low credibility¡±.

However, he said that this was an issue 바카라사이트 country was attempting to tackle. The UGC has published a list of approved journals, while schemes such as 바카라사이트 Institutes of Eminence and 바카라사이트 ¡°autonomous¡± university initiative hope to raise 바카라사이트 quality of research publications.

Craig Jeffrey, director of 바카라사이트 Australia India Institute at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, said that 바카라사이트 Indian government had ¡°worked hard over recent years to increase 바카라사이트 quantity and quality of its research output¡± and ¡°바카라사이트 latest data suggest that this strategy is paying off¡±.

He added that India¡¯s research productivity may increase fur바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 next few years following 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 new National Education Policy and 바카라사이트 establishment of a National Research Foundation.

¡°A crucial area of focus will be 바카라사이트 development of research capacity via 바카라사이트 development of new research-intensive multidisciplinary universities ¨C an Indian ¡®Ivy League¡¯,¡± he said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com