India rolls out new fellowships to win back expatriate scientists

In June, India introduced the Prime Minister Research Chair scheme, a state-run effort that will sponsor 120 Indian researchers abroad with research grants of up to 50 million rupees and additional stipends, housing and medical benefits for five years, focusing on strategic areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology and advanced materials. Complementing this, the Murty Science Fellowship, funded by the family foundation of Infosys founder N.R.

Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty, provides early-career scientists with up to 50 million rupees over five years to retain talent domestically. Proponents say the initiatives signal a stronger commitment to research, especially as US visa issuances to Indian applicants have fallen sharply and funding there has become more application-driven. Nonetheless, skeptics note that many Indian scholars leave due to limited laboratory facilities, lower salaries and uncertain career paths, issues that financial incentives alone may not solve.

Anecdotal reports suggest a growing perception of India as a viable research destination, bolstered by a more than two-fold rise in R&D spending since 2010, though it still trails OECD averages. The overall effectiveness of these schemes in curbing the exodus of Indian scientists remains to be seen.