Need for more science academies?

摘要

The purpose of this letter is to question the wisdom of the recently introduced policy of paying an honorarium of Rs 15,000 pm, up to the age of superannuation, to those who have either been awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize or are Fellows of at least two of the four national science and engineering academies of India (INSA, IASc, NASc and INAE). It has also been remarked by some that such Prizes and Fellowships do not always go to the most deserving. There has been some discussion on these matters in recent issues of Current Science1–4. Focussing first on the Bhatnagar Prize, luck (such as in one particular subject or in one particular year, the number of deserving candidates may be fewer than usual, making it easier for someone to get an award), the ability to network effectively and working in a fashionable area of research play a role not infrequently. In some cases, the difference between someone who wins an award and someone who does not may be insignificant and very subjective.