In recent times, there is a rising question about why India is not able to catch up with the USA like China in terms of advancement in science and technology. There is always a concern about why India is not able to become an international manufacturing hub like China. Though several efforts were taken by various Prime Ministers over a period of time.

In contrast to this, China has not only reached the same level as the USA in terms of science and innovation but has possibly overshadowed the USA. While, India is still struggling to reach the same level.

Development of China
China is aggressively engaging in a competition with the USA in various fields of science and technologies such as Nuclear Fusion, Editing Gene of plants and humans, Quantum Computing, designing and manufacturing chips, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and many more. In the previous several years, China was able to successfully stand at the same level with the USA in areas such as Artificial intelligence and quantum computing. When China was prohibited from importing advanced computing chips from the USA, it started to develop its own advanced GPU design for the purpose of the AI model. Though in terms of comparison, chips made by Huawei are not as great as the advanced chips of Nvidia.

In the past, one of the Chinese scientists was imprisoned for working on creating babies through gene editing embryos. However, he is now free and back to his work. It possibly means China did not want to make this research and its progress known in the world.

Apart from this gene editing research, China was quite open about its other areas of research and technology. It created a nuclear fusion reactor known by the name ‘Artificial Sun.’ It resulted in China making a world record in building a high confinement plasma.

China has made many innovations in the fields of Drones, Quantum Computing, AI, Robotics, and designing of chips. It has also built its capacity in terms of military advancement by creating the sixth generation of fighter jet. It also developed the biggest solar farm which is floating on water in the world.

Development of India
India is struggling in terms of innovation in the field of science and technology. In recent times, India is more focused on creating applications for AI models instead of creating high tech AI models. The research work in Quantum Chemistry is ongoing but no significant achievements so far. It was able to send a rover to the moon in the past. Due to dependence on other nations, its development in military technology is hampered. Few years back, India built Tejas Mk 2 but it is not helpful for the Indian Air Force as it is heavily dependent on the USA for engines. In the year 1987, India began to work in the field of nuclear fusion with a stable state of progress. Despite this, it is not able to create significant advancement.

India has a big base of graduates in STEM fields but it mainly focuses on developing applications and not pure research. In terms of building applications, it is not so much of an innovator.

Reason for India’s struggle in Science and Technology
India does have talent for science and technology. Many research papers in the USA are mostly co-written by Chinese and Indian scientists only. Also, many innovations in the USA are due to the work of Indian scientists and researchers. One of the major reasons for the struggle of India is due to its lack of financing in the area of Research and Development.

The contribution of financing in R&D is about 0.64 percent from India’s GDP in contrast to R&D investment in the USA and China is about 3.47 percent and 2.41 percent, respectively. Further, the private sector investment in R&D in India is about 36.4 percent only. While the USA and China have contributions of about 75 percent and 77 percent, respectively.

Another reason is various governments in India over the period of time did not have much of a goal to become international leader in the field of science and technology. In contrast to this, China has taken a strong stand in terms of developing science and technology in the country many years ago. Since the 1990s, it has made necessary changes in its education as well as other systems. It has worked on building facilities and opportunities for development in science and technology from the ground level of primary schools to the top level of high-tech universities. Even though it is a communist country, it has taken necessary efforts to promote business in science and technology by providing state incentives and creating high goals. It has also worked on trying to get Chinese scientists back in China who were employed in the USA.

Pre and Post 1970s for India
Until initial 1970s, India had a strong position in terms of innovation in science even in the pre-independence period. This is the efforts of TATA groups to build research institutions and also establishment of institutions like DRDO, ISRO, and many more. It was not only the efforts of the Nehru government but also Indian scientists like Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai who chose to work in India rather than going abroad.

Since the 1970s many Indian researchers have gone to Europe and USA due to better facilities and the education system also lacks focus in STEM fields.

In the present times, this same situation is still prevailing in India. Many IITians go abroad or start a startup or go for conventional jobs. These startups are not based on creation of new products. Even big companies like Infosys and TATA are not ready to fund pure research even though TATA has a history of doing it in the pre-independence period. The reason might be because these companies are expecting government actions. It is time for the Government to take actions for the development of science and technology.