PM worried over wane in research standards

Expressing concern over declining standards of research, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sought efforts to tap the "vast pool of knowledge" among the Indian scientific community and announced the government's intention to raise expenditure on science and technology to 2% of GDP in the next five years.

"The global Indian diaspora is a vast pool of knowledge that we must tap, especially in the sciences. We must try and attract the best and brightest of our scientists abroad to return home and participate in the adventure of building a knowledge-based economy here", he said inaugurating the 94th Indian Science Congress (ISC) in this temple town.

Singh said many bright young Indian scientists working abroad in advanced fields of research wish to come home, for varying periods of time. "We must fully exploit the potential of this reverse brain drain".

"Our visa regime, our employment procedures and remuneration systems, especially in universities and in government institutions, must change and respond to facilitate this. Our mindset must change too...", he said.

He said the government was committed to increase the annual expenditure on science and technology from less than 1% of GDP to 2% in the next five years.