Why No Indian working in India has won a Science Nobel in 94 Years?

Nobel Prize Nominations Without Awards

Omitted From Nomination

• Jagadish Chandra Bose: Demonstrated wireless communication in 1895 but was never nominated despite his earlier work being recognized with a Nobel Prize awarded to others later.
• S. Krishnan: Co-discovered the Raman scattering effect with C.V. Raman but was also overlooked for a nomination.
• N.R. Rao: Considered for a Nobel Prize in solid-state chemistry but has not yet received one.

Challenges in India’s Nobel Prize Pursuits in Science

• Limited Focus on Basic Research: India’s scientific progress is hampered by inadequate attention to fundamental research, reducing the scope for groundbreaking discoveries.
• Insufficient Public Funding: Research funding in India is low compared to global standards, limiting resources available for scientists to pursue advanced scientific inquiries.
• Excessive Bureaucracy: Scientific research is often slowed down by bureaucratic red tape, making it difficult for scientists to navigate funding processes and institutional requirements.
• Lack of Private Research Opportunities: There are few incentives or infrastructure to encourage private sector involvement in research and innovation.
• Deteriorating Research in Universities: Many Indian universities have seen a decline in their research capabilities, further restricting the development of future Nobel-worthy scientific work.
• Small Pool of Researchers: The number of researchers in India is significantly lower than the global average, reducing the chances of producing high-impact scientific work.

Other Countries Performance in Science Nobels

• Israel: Despite having strong scientific indicators and a high proportion of Nobel laureates globally (especially among the Jewish community), Israel has won only 4 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry.
• China: Despite significant investment in research, China has produced only 3 Nobel winners in the sciences.
• South Korea: A scientific powerhouse, yet no Nobel laureates in science.

Nobel Prize Trends

• The United States and Europe dominate Nobel Prizes in the sciences, attracting scientists from other regions.
• Only 13 Physics, 15 Chemistry, and 7 Medicine Nobel laureates have come from outside North America and Europe.
• Japan has the largest number of science Nobels outside of these regions, with 21 prizes.
• Though there have been occasional accusations of bias, the research ecosystems in the U.S. and Europe remain superior.

Future Prospects

• China: With significant investments in areas like clean energy, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence, China may see an increase in its Nobel wins soon.
• India: Without a strong research ecosystem or adequate support for scientific endeavours, India’s Nobel success will continue to depend on individual brilliance rather than institutional support.

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