AI generated image Every profession has its own measure of success. A lawyer wins a case. An entrepreneur builds a company. An athlete breaks a record. A scientist, however, succeeds in a rather unusual way. A scientist succeeds by becoming less certain. That may sound paradoxical. Yet the history of science is nothing but a history of changing minds. The Earth ceased to be the center of the universe. Diseases stopped being blamed on bad air. Ulcers were no longer attributed

In 1924, Satyendra Nath Bose sent his groundbreaking paper on quantum statistics directly to Albert Einstein. Recognising its significance, Einstein translated it into German and secured its publication, laying the foundation of Bose–Einstein statistics. In my previous article ‘Why Scientists Publish,’ I explained that scientists share their work not just to gain recognition, build their careers or secure promotions. The real reason is much deeper. Science advances only when

Science was not created to produce papers. Papers were created to advance science. AI generated image Scientific publishing occupies a central place in modern research. Publications influence careers, funding decisions, institutional rankings, and scientific reputations. Researchers devote enormous effort to writing papers, reviewing manuscripts, and responding to reviewers. Universities celebrate publication counts, while funding agencies use them as indicators of productivi

Road accidents in India are increasingly emerging as a silent national crisis, demanding far greater attention than they currently receive. As per data published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the country records over 4.7 lakh road accidents annually. These accidents lead to approximately 1.75 to 1.80 lakh deaths every year, translating into an alarming average of nearly 500 fatalities every single day. Eve

India’s journey from a developing nation to a developed one will depend on building institutions that deliver reliability, precision and scale. AI generated image The title may sound unfair to a concept that Indians rightly admire. After all, jugaad has come to symbolize creativity, resourcefulness and the ability to solve problems under difficult circumstances. Yet the title captures an important truth. Jugaad demonstrates that something can work. Engineering ensures that it

Instead of getting trapped in binaries, Indian society must learn the neutrality that genuine scientific temper demands. AI generated image Article 51A(h) of the Indian Constitution, added through the 42nd Amendment in 1976, makes it the duty of every citizen to develop a scientific temper. The Indian education system places considerable emphasis on science and technology from an early age. Scholarships support deserving students pursuing scientific study and research. Severa

ANRF reconnects modern India with an ancient tradition which posits that the pursuit of knowledge is a responsibility shared by the entire nation. AI generated image The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is often seen as a new experiment in science funding. In reality, it represents the return of a long Indian tradition in which governments, industry, philanthropy and society collectively supported the pursuit of knowledge. For most of India’s history, knowledge

PART II: India’s strategic autonomy in space depends on an ISRO equipped to serve both civilian and strategic needs in an increasingly unstable world. Recently, a certain segment within the Indian space ecosystem, motivated by vested interests and operating clandestinely, has begun to undermine ISRO’s future significance. This segment argues that the commercial sector will lead innovation and that the era of the publicly operated civilian agency ISRO has concluded. However, g

In the first of a two-part series, we examine why India’s space programme must evolve for an age of wars and global instability, where old civilian-military binaries no longer suffice. In the lead-up to the multi-state assembly elections scheduled for April 2026, and subsequently during his international visit in May 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi consistently emphasised the substantial challenges the global community is currently facing, including ongoing conflicts, supp

As geopolitical shocks expose India’s imported fuel dependence, the country’s vast thorium reserves may hold the key to long-term energy sovereignty. India’s energy future may ultimately depend less on imported oil, solar panels or even foreign uranium, and more on a mineral buried quietly in its coastal sands: thorium. For decades, thorium occupied a curious place in India’s energy discourse — celebrated in scientific circles, occasionally invoked in policy speeches, yet oft

A culture of secrecy and poor communication is weakening informed scientific voices in India’s nuclear debate AI generated image India’s nuclear establishment has long been associated with scientific excellence, strategic achievement, and technological self-reliance. From the early vision of Homi Jehangir Bhabha to the development of indigenous reactors and advanced fuel-cycle technologies, the country’s nuclear program has played a crucial role in shaping India’s global stan

Digital fraud leaves behind clues, but protecting your banking details is the first line of defence. Today, sending money is as easy as tapping a few buttons on your phone. Online banking and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) have made life convenient, but they have also opened the door to new types of fraud. Many people lose money through fake calls, phishing links, and scam messages. This is where forensic investigation comes in—it helps track down criminals and understand h

The question is no longer whether scientists can produce more but whether science can rediscover what is enough. There was a time when scientists struggled not for recognition, but for survival. Research grants were scarce, journals were limited, laboratories were modest, instruments were primitive, and communication moved at the speed of postal mail. A scientist often spent years conducting experiments before publishing a single paper. Citations were not counted daily. Ranki

Instant emotional validation may feel comforting, but real healing often requires human insight and accountability. As a counsellor and therapist, one pattern I have been noticing more frequently in recent times is this—many people are now turning to AI before they turn to a mental health professional. They go to AI for emotional advice, relationship clarity, conflict support, and even help in understanding their feelings. And honestly, this is not surprising. AI is available

On Technology Day, India’s future as a technological power will depend as much on a culture of maintenance as on innovation itself. National Technology Day, observed on May 11, commemorates India’s successful Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, a powerful demonstration of scientific capability, strategic ambition, and sustained national effort. These milestones rightly celebrate innovation and breakthroughs. Yet they also prompt a deeper reflection: such achievements rest not o

What does it mean to democratise science? At its simplest, it means widening participation, ensuring that the opportunity to ask meaningful questions, access resources, and contribute to knowledge is not confined to a narrow set of institutions or individuals. It means that scientific talent, wherever it exists, can find expression. It also means that public investment in science serves not only excellence at the top but also capacity across the system. India’s scientific pot

India is cautiously courting private capital in its tightly held nuclear sector, seeking scale and innovation without surrendering strategic control. India’s nuclear sector, long defined by state control and strategic caution, is now edging toward a calibrated opening to private participation. This shift is not a sudden ideological pivot but a pragmatic response to rising energy demand, climate commitments, and fiscal constraints. As India aims to expand its nuclear power cap

As academic incentives harden into predictable pathways, science risks trading curiosity for predictable outcomes. A recent article in Nature magazine describes an unusual online game from China in which players step into the life of a young faculty member. They must publish papers, secure research grants, manage teaching, and navigate institutional pressures. What is striking is not the game's premise but how real it feels to those who play it. This reaction is worth pausi

With the PFBR’s first criticality, India’s three-stage nuclear vision moves from doctrine to deployment, reshaping its geopolitical calculus. The successful first criticality of India’s 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam is much more than a technical milestone; it is a decisive step in India’s three stage nuclear programme. This indigenous, sodium cooled fast breeder reactor bridges the gap between our current uranium based nuclear fleet and the long-t

Two recent developments in scientific publishing should worry us. In one case, AI-generated inputs were found in peer review, leading to the rejection of papers. In another, an AI-written paper successfully passed peer review. Together, these highlight a deeper shift in how science is now created and assessed. For the first time, AI is not just aiding science on the fringes. It is now involved in the entire scientific process, from writing to evaluation. There is a fundamenta