Abstract
Government lab researchers in India are feeling pushed to abandon fundamental research projects in favor of more applied, mission-driven work. The shift follows deep budget cuts at the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), India’s largest R&D organization. “The funding available this year is short by half of what is needed,” says Rakesh K. Mishra, director of India’s Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), one of 38 CSIR labs across the country. Frustrated and angry, many scientists hesitate to openly voice their concerns because they fear retaliation. “Many research projects have been affected. Projects cannot stop overnight, so we continue what we can with the reagents we have,” says a senior scientist from a New Delhi-based CSIR lab who asked to remain anonymous. “The institute is functioning at minimum running costs.” The changes began in June 2015, when CSIR’s lab directors agreed to work toward earning some of
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