Institutional Shifts in Contribution to Indian Research Output during the last two decades (2412.06652v1)

Abstract: In the past few decades, India has emerged as a major knowledge producer, with research output being contributed by a diverse set of institutions ranging from centrally funded to state funded, and from public funded to private funded institutions. A significant change has been witnessed in Indian institutional actors during the last two decades, with various new private universities being set up and several new IITs, NITs, IISERs being established. Therefore, it is important to identify whether the composition of the list of the top 100 research output producing institutions of India has changed significantly during the recent two decades. This study attempted to analyse the changes during the two 10-year periods (2004-13 and 2014-23). The institutions which retain their position within top 100 during both periods are identified, along with the change in their positions. Similarly, institutions that were there in top 100 list during first time period (2004-13) and go out of top 100 list during second time period (2014-23) are also identified. In the same line, the new entrant institutions in the top 100 list during second time period (2014-23) are identified too. The results obtained indicate towards an institutional shift in the contribution to Indian research output.

• The paper analyzes Web of Science data to track shifts in the top 100 Indian research institutions' output from 2004-2013 to 2014-2023.
• While top institutions remained consistent, 40 exited the top 100 list, replaced largely by 18 private universities and new public technical institutes.
• High growth rates (like Saveetha's 53.29% CAGR) highlight the rise of dynamic new players, while many CSIR labs and state universities saw a decline in their top 100 ranking.

Institutional Shifts in Contribution to Indian Research Output

This paper investigates the shifts in the composition of the top 100 research output-producing institutions in India over two distinct time periods, from 2004-2013 and 2014-2023. The research explores variations in the landscape of Indian research institutions, encompassing centrally funded, state-funded, and private entities. The findings indicate significant changes, characterized by the emergence of new players in the domain and the decline of traditional research stalwarts.

Context and Motivation

India's ascension as a major research knowledge producer, ranking third globally after the USA and China, necessitates an analysis of the institutional dynamics underlying this growth. The diversification of the research ecosystem includes actors from IITs, CSIR institutions, private universities, and other monumental entities. Historically, the Indian research output was largely dominated by institutions of national importance and centrally funded organizations. However, over the recent two decades, there has been an observed proliferation of private universities and technical institutes, establishing a new paradigm in contribution towards research productivity.

Methodology

The paper utilizes research publication data from the Web of Science database focusing on articles and reviews produced by Indian institutions within the specified periods. The computational analysis, performed using Python scripts, produces indices such as total research publications, national output shares, and Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for institutions. The analysis captures entry, exit, and positional shifts within the top 100 institutions over the two periods.

Key Findings

1. Top Tier Consistency and Change: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), IIT Kharagpur, and the University of Delhi retained their positions as the top three contributors across the two studied periods. However, the entry of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) into the top 10, rising from the 45th to the 8th position, signifies the rising influence of certain private institutions.
2. Institutional Entrants and Exits: The paper identifies that 40 institutions moved out of the top 100 list in the 2014-2023 period, primarily state universities and CSIR labs. In contrast, private universities showed substantial presence, with 18 of them entering the top 100 list for the first time, along with nine National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and five newly established IITs.
3. Growth Metrics and Performance Shifts: Saveetha Institute of Medical Technical Science exemplifies remarkable growth with a CAGR of 53.29%, indicating a substantial leap from a lower ranking to 20th position in the recent list. This highlights the dynamic entry of new institutions operating with higher research efficiency and substantial faculty resources.

Implications and Speculations

The observed institutional shifts imply structural transitions within the Indian research landscape. The rise of private universities and the recently established public technical institutes indicates promising diversification and distributed capacity for research production in India. The downturn in rankings for many CSIR labs raises questions about changes in their research focus, potentially shifting towards non-publication-centric outputs like patents and technology transfer.

An enduring question arises regarding the adequacy of support mechanisms for state and centrally funded institutions, potentially struggling with outdated infrastructural and policy paradigms. The paper suggests a need for qualitative investigations into these shifts, particularly in terms of resource allocation, institutional policy adaptation, and integrative approaches for enhancing overall research productivity.

Conclusion

This paper provides a quantitative assessment of the shifting landscape of Indian academic research institutions. While the rise of multi-disciplinary private universities and technology-focused public institutions manifests as a positive development, it simultaneously highlights areas of concern. Especially pertinent is the decline of traditional bastions like CSIR and certain state universities in top publication lists, warranting strategic introspection and potential policy interventions. Follow-up studies could benefit from integrating diverse metrics, covering technology transfers and collaborative research dynamics, to capture the full spectrum of outputs generated by Indian institutions.