Quantum Leap Ahead: India's Rising Science Sector in 2024
New Delhi: The Union government announced significant milestones in the Indian science sector in 2024, marking a quantum leap ahead. As the global landscape continues to evolve, the country's efforts to harness innovation and technological excellence are gaining traction.
In international indices, India has shown steady growth. The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 ranks India at 39th position globally, while the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Report 2023 places the nation sixth in terms of intellectual property filings worldwide.
The latest rankings follow a similar trajectory as previous years, with improvements observed across various indices. The Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024 report boosts India's ranking from 79th position in 2019 to 49th position this year. Such developments reflect the growing influence and visibility of Indian scientific research worldwide.
In 2024, key initiatives have contributed notably to this upward trajectory. The Government of India has introduced various projects aiming to encourage innovation by supporting early-career researchers and fostering cutting-edge applications such as quantum technology.
The newly initiated Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant (PM ECRG), launched under the auspices of the ‘Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023’, was established with the objective of addressing skill gaps through research-oriented capacities among professionals. The EV-mission initiative aims at accelerating development in sustainable transportation solutions by integrating both electric cars and smart management systems.
Moreover, several other activities have been initiated during this period that seek to enhance overall citizens’ lives via modern infrastructure such as advanced geospatial technology platforms.
Several groundbreaking women-centric schemes, which bolster professional growth and opportunities specifically for female researchers worldwide, demonstrate government support for the fair distribution of resources.
These include partnerships in boosting female potential through rigorous training and workshops under 'Female Science Scientists Initiative' as well other programs like Vigyan Jyoti that assist underprivileged kids in building their skills in science.