Taxing ‘frivolous’ industries will not fund India’s science
The article critiques the flawed proposition of taxing 'frivolous' industries to fund science, arguing against a zero-sum economic view and highlighting the positive economic cascade effects of such industries. It then delves into significant issues with India's current science funding mechanisms, including rigid government earmarking, cumbersome procurement rules (e.g., GeM), archaic recruitment policies (UGC Act), and crippling restrictions on private and foreign investment (CSR rules, FCRA). The author advocates for liberalizing these bottlenecks, reducing dependence on government, and removing taxes/duties on scientific equipment to foster better scientific research and funding.
The article critiques the flawed proposition of taxing 'frivolous' industries to fund science, arguing against a zero-sum economic view and highlighting the positive economic cascade effects of such industries. It then delves into significant issues with India's current science funding mechanisms, including rigid government earmarking, cumbersome procurement rules (e.g., GeM), archaic recruitment policies (UGC Act), and crippling restrictions on private and foreign investment (CSR rules, FCRA). The author advocates for liberalizing these bottlenecks, reducing dependence on government, and removing taxes/duties on scientific equipment to foster better scientific research and funding.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 3: Indian Economy (Government Budgeting, Fiscal Policy, Investment Models, Liberalization, Industrial Policy). GS Paper 2: Governance (Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors, Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies). Essay: Topics related to science funding, economic policy, innovation, or bureaucracy.
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Indian Economy come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.
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