UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT

India
TRENDS IN HUMAN RESOURCES
The private sector is hiring more researchers
If the number of R&D personnel 23 in India increased annually
by 2.43% between 2005 and 2010, this was entirely due to
the 7.83 % increase each year in R&D personnel working for
private companies. Over the same period, the number of
government employees engaged in R&D actually declined,
even though the government remains the largest employer of
R&D personnel (Figure 22.12). This trend further substantiates
the claim that India’s national innovation system is becoming
increasingly business-oriented.
23. The term R&D personnel encompasses researchers, technicians and support staff.
This translates into a rise in the number of R&D personnel
per 10 000 labour force from 8.42 in 2005 to 9.46 in 2010.
This means that India still has a long way to go to reach the
density achieved by developed countries and China.
Spectacular growth in the number of engineering students
The shortage of R&D personnel could hold India back on
its climb up the technology ladder. Policy-makers are fully
cognisant of this problem 24 and have been putting in place a
host of policies to boost university student rolls in science and
24. Two of the key elements of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of
2013 are: enhancing skills for applications of science among the young from all
social strata; and making careers in science, research and innovation attractive for
talented and bright minds.
Figure 22.12: Indian FTE researchers by sector of employment and gender, 2005 and 2010
2010
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
42 980
19 227
2 873
20 449
22 100
129 379
149 828
226 218
269 198
Chapter 22
Men
Women
66 302
374 824
441 126
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Men
Women
47 883
233 917
281 800
2005
Men
Women
Men
Women
22 100
13 167
The breakdown of data
by gender for researchers
in higher education in 2005
is unavailable.
74 082
87 249
Men
Women
61 050
330 099
391 149
Government Higher education Business enterprise and private non-profit Totals
Source: DST (2009; 2013)
615