An overview of two decades of Quaternary research in India: Some reflections based on bibliographic analysis

Abstract

In the current scenario of perceptible climatic changes and the debates over predictability of trends based on available records; it is appropriate to review the developments in the Quaternary research during past two decades. In India where the Quaternary period is richly expressed by a variety of archives in wide geographic extent; such an overview may be useful to future developments. Year-wise bibliographic analysis (since 1990) based on selective qualitative and quantitative measures such as total number of national and international publications, contributions from Universities and research Institutions, and from the Department of Science and Technology (DST)-New Delhi funded projects are especially highlighted. Further a classification of the research work into various field areas (e.g., Himalaya, Ganga basin and Bay of Bengal, Thar desert, Coastal and Marine records) is made to produce a quantitative synthesis. The analysis derives an average of 36 publications a year, and the trend in many research field areas is significantly correlated to the DST funding. We discover two major declines in the research output: (a) during 1999-2001 and (b) since 2007. The second decline is of great concern as it contradicts to the phenomenal growth of the subject and availability of funds during recent years. The peaks and steady output during the intermediate periods is related to the seeding of national programs, multi-Institutional projects and training programs funded by DST. Considering the sympathetic relation of the research output in Quaternary geosciences to DST's support; it can be presumed that DST can play an effective role in the growth of Quaternary research in India. Further we identify and discuss three research field areas (Himalaya, Ganga basin and the Bay of Bengal) as priority areas needing attention of Quaternary geoscientists in this country. Finally, the bibliographic compilation made by this article can facilitate several analyses such as trends of output of the individual Institutes, workers and subject areas to device improvements.