International meeting on AI kicks off at NRIIT
Inaugurated with lamp-lighting and opening remarks by Dr D Suneetha, the event featured dignitaries including Conference Chairman and Dean, Dr KV Sambasivarao, Director (Academics) Dr G Sambasivarao, NRIIT Principal Dr C Naga Bhaskar, and Chairman R Venkat Rao.
Keynote speaker Dr Dasari Ramakrishna, CEO of Efftronics, highlighted engineering-driven innovation in smart systems. He urged researchers to focus on application-oriented, deterministic solutions over probabilistic AI models. The conference includes technical sessions, keynote talks, and global networking. It continues on May 3.
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Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Deccan Herald
Why Indian academic research needs a rethink
Indian higher education has significantly transformed in recent years, with academic institutions increasingly emphasising research output, global visibility and competitive rankings. Central to this is the surge in publication activity across public and private universities. From 26,664 in 2001, the number of faculty publications shot up to 99,411 in 2011, and 3,70,595 in pressure to publish in indexed journals, particularly those listed in Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS), has fostered a culture of productivity reckoned in numerical terms that is indifferent to critical inquiry, theoretical originality, and ethical 2020 and 2025, 335 questionable journals were removed by Scopus to preserve research integrity. New Scopus indexed sources were also added: 143 from February 2023 to June 2025, including 57 in June alone. Indian universities continue to prioritise publication counts with serious implications for the credibility and future of research across various to gain: How India can retain its in numbersBetween January 2020 and May 2025, India contributed 16,18,824 papers to Scopus-indexed journals — the highest in the world, ahead of academic powerhouses such as the United States and the United Kingdom, and emerging superpower China. This surge reflects India's expanding research base, increased institutional pressure to publish, and growth in academic publishing ranks third in total research output but only around 19th in H-index, which measures the productivity and impact of research publications. The H-index for Indian publications was 925 in 2024: 71.21% lower than US publications whose H-index is 3,213. This highlights the need to shift policy and academic focus towards enhancing research quality, citation impact, and international collaboration. Australia (H-index: 1,475; 2.1 million published documents) and the Netherlands (H-index:1,471; 1.4 million published documents) have far higher H-index figures than India which published 3.3 million documents. This indicates better average impact per only a negligible number of these Indian-origin papers were among the most cited in their analysis of retracted Indian publications found their numbers per year had increased mainly due to errors, plagiarism, and ethical concerns such as duplicate publication. The situation also extends to entire over qualityCurrently, only 12 Indian journals are categorised as Quartile 1 (Q1) — among the top 25% in their category —I n the Scimago database. This highlights Indian institutions' inability to sustain journals that meet international standards of editorial rigour, peer review, and citation impact. Further, the data indicates that most journals originating in India occupy Quartile 3 (Q3) and Quartile 4 (Q4) positions — the bottom half in their categories. Such journals tend to have limited visibility, weak influence, and insufficient scholarly increase in publication numbers should translate into knowledge production and its dissemination. That does not seem to be happening. Instead, the prevailing academic environment in India has turned research publication into a bureaucratic hurdle, rather than an intellectual pursuit. Faculty promotions, salary increments, and institutional funding are frequently tied to journal publications indexed in Scopus or WoS. While such metrics are intended to ensure accountability and global competitiveness, in practice, they are incentivising a utilitarian approach. Article publication has become about fulfilling quantifiable benchmarks, with little regard for the depth, relevance, critical thinking, or originality of the work produced.A 2024 study found that the pressure to publish has led many scholars to engage in plagiarism, data fabrication, and salami-slicing, the slicing of research for one paper into multiple publications to inflate numbers. Plagiarism, both of external sources and self-plagiarism — reusing one's own published work without attribution to make it appear new — is increasingly normalised under the pretext of expediency. Data fabrication and manipulation of research findings are unethical practices that severely undermine research integrity. Similarly, salami slicing further erodes scholarly coherence and intellectual unhealthy practices may increase the overall volume of academic publications, but their impact remains on WestThe poor representation of Indian journals in the top quartile suggests Indian scholars are heavily reliant on foreign publications. However, a 2016 study found these journals often operate with high rejection rates, limited acceptance of region-specific empirical studies, and editorial frameworks that may not fully accommodate perspectives from the Global rejections are particularly common for submissions from India. While editorial selectivity is a necessary component of journal curation, evidence suggests such practices disproportionately affect scholars from developing countries, especially when their work challenges dominant paradigms or employs non-Western theoretical needs a robust indigenous publishing infrastructure that fosters scholarly aptitude. However, many Indian journals suffer from inadequate funding and weak editorial governance. Peer review processes are often inconsistent and compromised by personal networks. Editorial decisions are often driven by considerations other than scholarly the problem is the proliferation of predatory journals in India, which often publish research work for a fee with little or no peer review. In a system where the number of publications is prioritised over their legitimacy or influence, predatory outlets offer a quick and accessible route to meeting performance criteria. The University Grants Commission's (UGC) CARE list had often identified predatory or cloned journals. This significantly aided scholars but the UGC stopped updating the CARE list in October and subsequently announced that it would not update the list any more. Need for holistic approachMoreover, Indian academics largely use books by foreign authors as core reference material in their syllabi. This presents a paradox: Indian scholars publish extensively, yet this knowledge is not adequately acknowledged within academic discourse, especially in higher Indian students are increasingly migrating abroad for higher education to countries such as the US, the UK, and Canada, though these countries' academic contributions are relatively less in terms of publication volume. This further underlines the complex dynamics of perceived quality and academic capital in global academia must fundamentally rethink how research is evaluated, supported, and disseminated. Universities and regulatory bodies must avoid excessive reliance on publication numbers as the primary metric of academic performance. A holistic approach that considers research impact, methodological innovation, and community engagement must be applied. Faculty evaluations should include unbiased qualitative assessments of scholarly contributions, and ethical research practices embedded at every stage of the academic career, from doctoral training to tenure in faculty assessment should include consideration of research relevance, methodological innovation, and impact on policy and society. Focus must be on mandatory ethics training, strict anti-plagiarism mechanisms, fostering indigenous and regional scholarship, and encouraging research in regional languages focused on local contexts and indigenous country must invest in its own publishing ecosystem, including editorial training, peer-review reform, funding for journal sustainability, and collaborations with global publishing networks. Developing rigorous peer review standards can enable credible academic contributions towards the development of indigenous knowledge. These initiatives will help Indian academia reclaim the university as a place of critical thought, ethical engagement, and meaningful and inclusive knowledge MR and Viji B are assistant professors, Department of Economics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), article was first published under Creative Commons by The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
SRM Institute of Science and Technology Top General (Private) University
An unwavering focus on capacity-building and best practices have tranformed SRM into a dominant force in the field of technical education No 1. SRM INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CHENNAI From the time it was founded in 1985 to its present status as one of India's leading multidisciplinary universities, the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has always been defined by its ambition to fuse research, innovation and higher learning. A deemed university since 2002, today it is home to more than 70,000 students and 4,500 faculty members across six campuses, encompassing 15 million square feet of built-up space. Its global reach is equally impressive, with over 1,000 international students from 40 countries and 260 exchange students on academic visits. The 460-acre campus at Katangalathur, 40 km from Chennai, reflects the institution's forward-looking vision. Facilities like the FabLab, the iOS Development Centre (built in collaboration with Apple and Infosys), and the iMac Lab with 240 high-performance systems create an ecosystem designed to inspire creativity and experimentation. SRMIST was ranked the 12th best university in India by the education ministry's NIRF-2024 rankings and No. 84 in the world by Times Higher Education UK in the multidisciplinary university category in 2025. While engineering remains its core strength, with departments spanning Data Science and Business Systems to Genetic Engineering and Physics & Nanotechnology, the university also houses faculties in medicine, law, management, agriculture, pharmacy, nursing, public health, physiotherapy, and the humanities. In the past three years , the university has published 24,387 research papers in Scopus and Web of Science alone—the databases reckoned by national or international ranking agencies like NIRF, QS etc.—which together have earned over 182,000 citations. Its Scopus h-index (a metric that measures productivity and citation impact) exceeds 173, and its average citation index stands at 9.4. The university has filed 1,120 patents, of which 485 have been granted, along with multiple copyrights, trademarks and industrial designs. High-impact research centres like the Nanotech Research Centre, REACH (focused on environment and climate change), and the SRM-DBT Life Sciences Platform drive groundbreaking studies with tangible real-world outcomes. Eighteen centres of excellence, ranging from Electric Mobility and Translational Medicine to Social Entrepreneurship and Defence Studies, further define SRMIST's research ecosystem. Over 652 funded research projects worth over Rs 286 crore have been undertaken, supported by agencies like the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Science & Technology (DST) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Entrepreneurship thrives here. The Bootstrappers' Research Council, part of the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, has secured Rs 3 crore in funding from DPIIT; the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for medical startups. Success stories include Abinava Rizel, an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain start-up, which raised Rs 200 crore for electric motor manufacturing; Torus Robotics with a Rs 15 crore defence contract; Paperplane, a digital hospital platform that secured $1 million (Rs 8.7 crore); and Monkwish, an AI-driven skilling startup that has raised $3 million (Rs 26.1 crore). In all, SRMIST has incubated over 100 startups, developed 88 prototypes, and launched 26 student- and faculty-led ventures. Placements remain one of SRM's biggest draws. In 2024–25, students received 12,925 job offers from 1,700 recruiters, including Amazon, Google, JP Morgan and Pfizer. The highest package touched Rs 65 lakh per annum, while 202 students secured offers above Rs 20 lakh while 44 landed international roles. Life on campus is just as vibrant beyond the classroom. Milan, one of India's largest cultural festivals, draws over 50,000 participants, while Aaruush—the signature techno-management fest—partners with DRDO and other major organisations. Its alumni network, spanning 29 countries and over 200,000 members, is another testament to its impact. Distinguished names include Sriram Krishnan, senior policy advisor for AI at the White House, and Prithviraj Thondaiman, gold medallist at the 2023 Asian Games. Equally significant is SRMIST's commitment to sustainability. With over 95,000 trees on campus, the institution has pledged to achieve NetZero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and ranks third in India in the UI GreenMetric ranking. GUEST COLUMN | A wholesome experience By Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice-Chancellor, SRMIST I have been associated with SRMIST since its inception as an affiliated college in 1985. Our commitment remains rooted in three pillars: academic rigour, innovation and social impact. In the past year, we have introduced programmes in cutting-edge areas like AI, robotics, digital health, quantum computing, climate science and clean energy. We also run forward-looking courses on design thinking, innovation, intellectual property rights, and entrepreneurship. Faculty training has been key. We have invested heavily in capacity-building, conducting training in-house and sending our faculty to universities here and abroad to learn best practices. While this is an ongoing process, it has already transformed the quality of teaching at SRMIST. Our students benefit from the multidisciplinary nature of the institute. Students are encouraged to take courses beyond their core disciplines, broadening their perspectives. Campus life is equally vibrant, and we have a large number of student clubs. With 18,000 students living on campus, SRMIST offers a 24/7 immersive environment. Our sports facilities are world-class; our international-standard swimming pool gallery is named after Nethra Kumanan, a current student who became India's first woman to represent the country at the Olympics in Sailing. Research is a cornerstone of SRMIST. Our labs are open 24/7, and we encourage both discipline-specific and interdisciplinary research. We have established an Innovation Centre and an Idea Clinic, where students can post problem statements and collaborate on solutions. We classify research under five pillars: Environment, Energy, Water, Healthcare, and Disruptive Technologies. To date, SRMIST holds 485 granted patents, paving the way for technology transfers and product development. In the past six years, around 100 startups have graduated from our incubation ecosystem. A notable example is Abinava Rizel, which designs electric motors for electric vehicles. After two years of incubation support, including space, patent filing, and funding, they recently secured Rs 200 crore in funding. One of our proudest achievements is our alumni network. Sriram Krishnan, who graduated in 2005, is now Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence in the Trump administration. CAMPUS NOTES | Making the world our oyster By K. Niveditha, Master's of Design (Public Spaces), Final Year, School of Architecture and Interior Design (SAID), SRMIST I completed my Bachelor's in Design with a specialisation in Interior Design here at SRMIST. The four years I spent as an undergraduate gave me such a strong foundation that I decided to do my Master's here as well. What I love is that SRM gives equal importance to academics, research and cultural activities. As an architecture student, I have access to excellent infrastructure, including the Fab Lab and its wide range of machines and tools. Working on projects there, collaborating with the lab team and bringing our ideas to life has been a game-changer. SRM's cultural life is just as exciting. I have been part of Prachodaya, our department's architecture fest, experienced the energy of Aaruush, our flagship techno fest, and Milan, of course, our iconic cultural festival that's famous across the country. What makes SRM truly stand out is the endless opportunities it offers. Faculty and students communicate openly and collaborate on research and innovation. In architecture, cross-disciplinary learning is vital, and I have had the chance to work with other departments on projects that encourage creativity and problem-solving. Conferences, workshops and design discussions are frequent, which keeps the academic atmosphere dynamic and idea-driven. Sharing knowledge and learning from others has helped me grow every single day. From orientation—where seniors guide you through courses and campus life—to cultural festivals, SRM has provided me with a platform to evolve not just as a student, but as a person ready for the world.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Pushes R&D Frontiers with Industry and Start-up Focus
New Delhi: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), established under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act of 2023, aims to transform India's innovation ecosystem by providing strategic direction across various scientific fields. In response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha by Dr. K. Laxman, Narayana Koragappa, and Kesridevsinh Jhala, the Ministry of Science and Technology outlined the organisation's multifaceted vision and ongoing initiatives. Key objectives of the ANRF include fostering high-impact research in areas such as natural sciences, engineering, health, agriculture, and tech-enabled humanities. Furthermore, the foundation aims to strengthen connections among academia, industry, and policy to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The Minister highlighted the government's support for private sector involvement in research and development, particularly through the MAHA-EV Mission, which is one of ANRF's flagship initiatives. This mission is designed to promote electric vehicle mobility, requiring a 10% industry contribution for each project and actively engaging start-ups and public sector units (PSUs). Furthermore, the newly approved Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, with a budget of Rs 1 lakh crore, aims to provide long-term, low-interest financing to encourage private sector-led innovation. This initiative will benefit start-ups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging sectors by providing growth and risk capital to enhance competitiveness and technological adoption. Under the Advanced Research Grant (ARG) program, scientists are invited to propose AI-based projects in physics, chemistry, and biology. These proposals will undergo ANRF's rigorous review process, potentially leading to significant scientific breakthroughs using artificial intelligence. Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting cutting-edge research and fostering inclusive growth through strategic funding and enabling mechanisms.
