In New Delhi, the dream of studying at one of India’s prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) has turned into a financial struggle for many students, including Paras, a research fellow. He was excited about receiving a monthly fellowship of 37,000 rupees (about $435) to support his research on infectious diseases. However, delays from the federal government have left him and others without their stipends for months, worsening their financial situations.
Paras comes from a family of farmers in a drought-hit region of western India, where their income is unpredictable. With his fellowship payments delayed, he couldn’t keep up with the payments on a laptop he purchased for his studies, leading to a drop in his credit score and forcing him to borrow money from friends.
He is not alone in this struggle. Al Jazeera spoke to several current and former fellows from various top institutions who reported similar issues, with some going without stipends for as long as nine months. These delays have not only caused financial strain but have also hindered their ability to conduct research effectively.
Many researchers have taken to social media to voice their frustrations, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh in their posts. Sayali Atkare, another INSPIRE fellow, shared her experience on LinkedIn, highlighting the emotional and financial stress caused by the lack of funding.
Despite the government’s claims of increased spending on research and development, an analysis reveals a shift in focus towards commercial research and funding private sector initiatives, leaving academic research underfunded. This year, 70% of the budget for the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been allocated to interest-free loans for private companies, while funds for fellowships like INSPIRE have actually been cut.
The INSPIRE scheme aims to attract talented researchers by offering stipends and research grants. PhD fellows are supposed to receive between 37,000 to 42,000 rupees monthly, along with an annual research budget. Yet, many fellows have reported not receiving their payments on time, with some stating they haven’t been paid since September 2024.
The DST has acknowledged these funding delays, with Secretary Abhay Karandikar stating that they would be resolved soon. However, many researchers remain skeptical, noting that phone calls and emails to the department often go unanswered.
In a recent restructuring of research funding, the government introduced a new scheme called Vigyan Dhara, which has instead caused chaos and further delays. While the government claims to have increased funding for this new initiative, researchers argue that the overall budget for research has decreased significantly.
As the government prioritizes private sector research, many researchers at state-run institutes feel neglected. They believe that stipends should match the salaries of government employees and be paid reliably each month. The current situation has led some fellows to consider pursuing opportunities abroad, where they feel research conditions are more supportive.
The ongoing financial strain is prompting calls for change in how research funding is managed in India, as many talented individuals feel that only those from privileged backgrounds can afford to remain in academia.