Now Reading: ISC suspended amid funding issues, Indian science at crossroads
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ISC suspended amid funding issues, Indian science at crossroads
The Indian Science Congress (ISC), the flagship annual event of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) founded in 1914, has been suspended since 2024 due to funding issues and operational constraints, according to The Wire. The suspension comes after years of controversy, including a 2015 paper claiming ancient Vedic-era aircraft and a 2016 paper arguing Lord Shiva was the greatest environmentalist, which Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan described as a "circus." The Wire reports that the ISC's demise reflects a deeper paradox in Indian scientific research between traditional inquiry and mythological reinterpretation.
Separately, Vajiram & Ravi reports on the 150th anniversary of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), founded in 1876 by Mahendralal Sircar as India's first national institution for scientific research by Indians. The IACS nurtured C.V. Raman, who discovered the Raman Effect there in 1928, winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. The article frames IACS as a symbol of scientific self-reliance and nation-building during colonial rule, contrasting with the ISC's recent decline.
The Wire notes that one year after ISC's suspension, average permanent faculty vacancies in 29 public state universities of Madhya Pradesh stood at 80%, highlighting structural challenges in Indian science.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Wire frames the ISC suspension as a symptom of a civilisational conflict in Indian science, emphasising pseudo-scientific papers and a 80% faculty vacancy rate in Madhya Pradesh, while Vajiram & Ravi provides a neutral historical account of IACS's founding and Raman's achievement. The Wire's critical stance focuses on decline and ideological contestation, whereas Vajiram & Ravi's report omits any mention of the ISC crisis. A measured reading suggests that India's scientific ecosystem faces both institutional legacy issues and contemporary governance challenges, with the IACS anniversary serving as a reminder of past excellence. The key metric to watch is the government's response to faculty shortages and the possible revival of the ISC.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
Sources (2): m.thewire.in (government critical), vajiramandravi.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
