Budget fails to impress Indian scientists
By 
Sanjay Kumar2018-02-07T16:19:00
Figures show that funding for science has actually fallen as the nation’s economy has grown rapidly
As India’s prime minister Narendra Modi prepares to face an election within a year, spending on science does not appear to be a top priority. The budget presented last week – the government’s last substantive one of this parliament – remains a mixed bag offering civilian science near stagnant funding when measured as a share of GDP. The latest budget pegs civilian R&D 11% higher than last year. Defence research, however, secured a whopping 29% increase. Other sectors that received a boost include space with an 18% increase, earth sciences with a 13% increase, agricultural research a 12% increase, while new and renewable energy got a 26% boost.