Everyone knows scientists are in the business of “discovering” things. But what exactly do they do? When I was growing up in a small village in Kerala, there were no scientists around to ask this question. Even now, my friends ask me this question, half joking, half curious. I often laugh it off and change the topic. 

A better description of what scientists do is that they create knowledge. We are all consumers of knowledge. A farmer needs to know when to sow and reap, a vegetable vendor needs to know how to perform basic arithmetic, and an engineer needs to know how to design a bridge that can withstand the required load. Usually, we gain this knowledge from books, teachers, the internet, etc. 

However, we don’t have very good answers to many important questions that concern us: What are the reasons for the increased human-animal conflicts? Why do we have many more extreme weather events, such as floods, heat waves, and landslides? Why are we seeing frequent outbreaks of rare viral diseases?

Why do science?

The scientific method is the best way we have today for creating knowledge. It relies on observation, experiments, and logical reasoning to understand natural phenomena. It also involves examining the accuracy of our knowledge based on evidence. To some extent, we all practice the scientific method in our daily lives. Farmers identify the right times to sow, weed and reap by observing seasons that get repeated every year. Chefs experiment with ingredients and proportions before perfecting their fish curry recipe. We use logical reasoning to conclude that it rained last night when we see everything wet in the morning. If someone says that their magic medicine will cure diabetes, we ask for evidence for this claim – at least we should.

Since science aims to explain only natural phenomena, it’s important to find its explanations in the natural world itself. The scientist J.B.S. Haldane had famously said, “When I set up an experiment, I assume that no god, angel, or devil is going to interfere with its course.” It was very difficult for our ancestors to understand natural phenomena such as lightning and thunderstorms. So they imagined them to be due to supernatural reasons, such as the fury of the gods. But such explanations were not useful because it was still impossible to predict when and where they would occur. 

Science aims to discover the physical laws that govern natural phenomena. For example, Isaac Newton discovered that the force that is responsible for the fall of an apple is the same one that causes planets to move around the sun. This resulted in his theory of gravity. The second important aspect of the scientific method is its adherence to evidence. If any observations contradict the theory, the theory has to be revised or discarded.

By following this method, science helped us to understand the world around us to a great extent. The understanding that many diseases are caused by bacteria and viruses led to the development of medicines and vaccines. Thanks to the vaccines, diseases such as polio are practically eradicated from the world. Scientific discoveries also led to modern technology. It is very difficult for us to imagine a world without electricity, motor vehicles, and telephones. The impact of science on our lives has been profound. 

A girl student working in the laboratory in the Government Higher Secondary School at Chrompet, Madras in 1979.
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The Hindu Archives

Being a scientist

How does one become a scientist? The one essential quality for becoming a good scientist is curiosity. The quest for knowledge is driven by curiosity and wonder. These are innate qualities of children. But as we get older, we ask fewer and fewer questions. Scientists need to maintain these childlike qualities. They also need to admit their ignorance. It is usually difficult for an adult to say “I don’t know”. But scientists need to get used to this. At the same time, scientists are also very troubled by their ignorance. So they feel the pressure to learn, to find out the truth. 

But that’s not enough. To create new knowledge, one has to have a good understanding of what is already known. As Newton said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Of course, no one can learn everything that is known. That’s why our education has the structure of a pyramid. We all know something about many things. We know a little bit of science, a little bit of history, a little bit of literature, etc. But eventually, we are expected to know many things about something. That’s why, when we go to college and university, we specialise in one subject and learn it in depth.

Scientists also need to be imaginative. It takes imagination to connect the motion of planets with the falling of an apple. Good scientists are as creative as good artists. At the same time, scientists also need to be sceptics: they need to question their own ideas. The ultimate success of an idea in science depends on how well it can explain natural phenomena.

Prospective scientists need to master the techniques of research. This includes learning to ask the right kind of questions, to perform experiments and observations carefully, to draw conclusions from data without being biased, to critically evaluate evidence, and so on. This is usually done by working with senior scientists. Many universities and research institutes have such doctoral programmes where students work with senior scientists towards a doctoral degree. But of course, contrary to what many people think, research is not something that ends when one gets a doctorate.

The ‘eureka’ moments that profoundly change the course of science are rare in the life of most researchers. Even accomplished scientists such as Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar have spoken out in support of modest pursuits: “Who amongst us can hope, even in imagination, to scale Everest and reach its summit (…) But there is nothing mean or lowly in standing in the valley below and awaiting the sun to rise over Kinchinjunga.”

Representative picture.
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Many big questions in modern science are beyond the scope of any individual scientist to answer. The Human Genome Project, which aimed to map all the genetic details of humans, involved scientists from seven countries and took 15 years to complete. Similarly, I am part of an international collaboration of over 3,000 scientists from around the world who use large observatories in the US, Europe, and Japan (and one coming up in India) to observe the universe using small ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves. These scientists, who come from different backgrounds and have different personal beliefs, are able to work together because they follow the rules of scientific discovery: the scientific method. All of them are contributing small bricks to the large edifice of knowledge.

So who can become a scientist? I’m reminded of the animated film Ratatouille, which narrates the story of a rat that becomes an extraordinary chef. The rat was simply inspired by the philosophy of a famed Parisian chef, that “anyone can cook.” At the very end of the film, the deeper meaning of this idea is revealed: “Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.”

P. Ajith is an astrophysicist at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bengaluru.

Published – February 28, 2026 07:00 am IST

Reference image for Question A.
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National Science Day | The A to Z Science Quiz!

15 / 26 |
O. Which brilliant and respected nuclear physicist, atomic research consultant, inventor and lecturer designed a set of highly advanced mechanical arms controlled via a brain-computer interface to assist him with his research into atomic physics? The tentacle-like arms were resistant to radiation and were capable of great strength, and were attached to a harness that fit around his body. He claimed the inspiration for this device came from Leonard da Vinci’s sketches. In a later accident, the harness becomes permanently fused to his body, and in the aftermath of this accident he turns to a life of crime.

Answer : Dr. Octopus, or Otto Octavius, from the fictional world of Spiderman

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16 / 26 |
P. The Sulbasutras are ancient texts that contain information on geometrical and mathematical considerations relating to the construction of fire-altar constructions as part of Vedic rituals. They are considered to be the main sources of knowledge of Indian mathematics from the Vedic period. The Apastamba Salbasutra’s rules for constructing right angles in fire-altars use the following sets of lengths: (3, 4, 5), (5, 12, 13), (8, 15, 17), (12, 35, 37). By what Greek mathematician’s name are these sets more popularly known?

Answer : Pythagoras/Pythagorean triplets

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17 / 26 |
Q. This English word is derived from Latin for “fifth element” as it was the extra element that Aristotle proposed to add to the four classical elements of earth, wind, fire and air. He posited it to be a pure, fine element that was present in all things. Today, the English word is used to mean the purest or most typical instance of something. What’s the good word?

Answer : Quintessence (from quinta essentia)

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19 / 26 |
S. In which ancient Indian physician’s compendium are tools such as those in the image described? The illustrations themselves are reconstructions based on the descriptions in the compendium. The text is considered to be one of the most important surviving ancient treatises on medicine and the author himself is considered a pioneer in a specific field. In the text, he advises students to practice first on bottle gourds, cucumbers and dead animals before using the techniques for real.

Answer : Sushruta, father of surgery

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21 / 26 |
U. Most tissues in eukaryotic organisms have a small regulatory protein whose purpose is to tag other damaged or unneeded proteins and signal them to be removed. This pathway was discovered in the 1980s and honoured with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004. What name was given to the regulatory protein because it was found everywhere?

Answer : Ubiquitin (from ubiquitous)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks inside the crew training simulator during his visit to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath in Thiruvananthapuram on February 27, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28 greeted people on National Science Day and said his government is continuously working to encourage research and innovation among the youth.

The day is observed to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman effect‘ by scientist C.V. Raman, who won the Nobel prize in physics for the groundbreaking finding.

Mr. Modi said on X, “Greetings on National Science Day. Our Government is continuously working to encourage research and innovation among the youth. This is important to realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat.”

The 2024 theme for National Science Day, which India celebrates every year on February 28, is “Science for Sustainable Development”.

Science and technological developments are key drivers of India’s journey towards becoming a developed country by 2047. India is committed to making this progress through sustainable means, as evidenced by its commitments under the Paris Agreement, participation in global fora for sustainable development, and reinforced in this year’s theme for Science Day. The role of science in driving sustainable development doesn’t need emphasis, but any conversation on science is incomplete without setting one key expectation: for science to transform India, it has to be sustainably and consistently funded.

How much is India spending on R&D?

Funding for fundamental research in India is amongst the world’s lowest, particularly for a country with high science and technology ambitions. In the recent past, India’s R&D expense has dropped to the current 0.64% of GDP from 0.8% in 2008-2009 and 0.7% in 2017-2018. This reduced expenditure is worrying considering government agencies themselves have issued several calls to double this spending.

The 2013 Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy noted that “Increasing Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) to 2% GDP has been a national goal for some time”. The 2017-2018 Economic Survey reiterated this in its chapter on science and technology transformation.

The reasons for the reduction in research and development (R&D) spending despite the government being cognisant of the need to increase it are not clear, but may stem from a lack of coordination between government agencies and a need for stronger political will to prioritise R&D expenses.

Most developed countries spend between 2% and 4% of their respective GDPs on R&D. In 2021, member-countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on average spent 2.7% of GDP on R&D. The U.S. and the U.K. have consistently spent more than 2% of their GDPs on R&D for the past decade. So, many experts have called for India to spend at least 1%, but ideally 3%, of its GDP every year until 2047 on R&D for science to have a meaningful impact on development.

How can India improve its R&D spending?

Science requires consistent, large-scale investment to bear fruit. For India to reach ‘developed nation’ status, it needs to spend more to scale R&D than developed countries spend to maintain that status. This is the foundation of the demand to spend at least 3% of the GDP on R&D annually until 2047.

And beyond the current spending being inadequate, its primary dependence on public money signals an immature financing system and weak domestic market. In 2020-2021, private sector industry contributed 36.4% of the GERD whereas the Union government’s share was 43.7%. State governments (6.7%), higher education (8.8%), and public sector industry (4.4%) were the other major contributors.

In economically developed countries, a major share – 70% on average – of R&D investment comes from the private sector. The hesitancy of private-sector funding may be because of the poor capacity to evaluate R&D in India, ambiguous regulatory roadmaps that can deter investors, lack of clear exit options for investors in sectors such as biotechnology, and fears of intellectual property rights theft.

While the Anusandhan National Research Foundation was meant to solve some of the financial issues, its implementation has been delayed. The Rs-2,000-crore annual budget the government earmarked for its implementation in the last budget was revised to Rs 258 crores this year. Strategies for how the remaining budget of INR 7200 crore from the private sector is to be raised have also not been clarified yet.

Thus, there is a perceived need to determine the overall quantum of R&D funding and its primary sources, given India’s ambition to be a developed country by 2047.

How is the R&D budget utilised?

While the need for India to at least double its R&D investment has been expressed several times, the question of how effectively the allocated money is spent is explored less often. The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has consistently under-utilised its budget, so while the calls for increased funding – through both government and private sources – are legitimate, a strengthened budget utilisation is also required to affect science outcomes.

In 2022-2023,  the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), used only 72% of its estimated budget allocation on Centrally Sponsored Schemes/Projects while the Department of Science and Technology (DST) used only 61%. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), which receives the lowest allocation for Centrally Sponsored Schemes, spent 69% of its allocation.

Such underutilisation is not a one-time error but has been consistently recorded over several years to varying degrees. The phenomenon is also not specific to the Science Ministry; given India generally under-spends on R&D, there will likely be a major impact if the allocated funds are spent optimally.

The reasons for under-utilisation, as with the under-allocation, are unclear and may indicate tedious bureaucratic processes for approving disbursements, lack of capacity to evaluate projects or clear utilisation certificates, lack of prioritisation for science funding by the Ministry of Finance or inadequate planning or implementation strategy for the requested funds by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The lack of capacity also reflects in delays in grant and salary disbursements. Most of these issues can be fixed by proper capacity building within the different governmental agencies.

What does sustainable funding entail?

In the latest budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman provided many indications that the government would like R&D expenditure to include more contributions from the private sector. Against this backdrop, mitigating the under-spending and under-utilisation of funds earmarked for R&D stand out as obvious first steps. This in turn requires the political prioritisation of R&D spending and recognition of it as a core, irreplaceable element of India’s growth journey.

This prioritisation has to happen not only within the concerned Ministries but also at the Ministry of Finance, which disburses the funds. Incentives for private investment, including relaxation of foreign direct investments, tax rebates, and clear regulatory roadmaps for products will help build investor confidence.

Finally, India also needs the bureaucratic capacity to evaluate science projects and, after allocations, monitor utilisation. Building such capacity is a prerequisite for India becoming a science power by 2047. So this National Science Day, as we celebrate science for sustainable development, let’s also remember we need sustainable funding for science.

Shambhavi Naik is a researcher at The Takshashila Institution.

National Science Day is celebrated every year in India on February 28 to honour the discovery of a phenomenon of the scattering of photons by Indian scientist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928. The discovery was later named as ‘Raman Effect’ after his name. Mr Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize for science in 1930 for the remarkable discovery. On this day, schools, colleges, universities and other academic, scientific, technical, medical and research institutions organise quiz competitions, seminars and other events.

What is Raman Effect?

According to the website of the Ministry of Culture, Raman Effect is a phenomenon in spectroscopy, which is defined as the scattering of photons by excited molecules at higher energy levels. In simple terms, it is the change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules.

When a beam of light traverses a dust-free, transparent sample of a chemical compound, a small fraction of the light emerges in directions other than those of the incident (incoming) beam. Most of this scattered light is of an unchanged wavelength. A small part, however, has wavelengths different from those of the incident light; its presence is a result of the Raman Effect.

History of National Science Day

The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), in 1986, asked the Government of India to announce February 28 as National Science Day. The government accepted and declared the day as National Science Day. The first National Science Day was celebrated on February 28, 1987.

Why National Science Day is celebrated?

According to the government, its purpose is to widely spread the message about significance of scientific applications in the daily lives of people, recognise achievements in the field of science, discuss all the issues and implement new technologies for the development of science, give an opportunity to the scientific-minded citizens in the country and encourage people as well as popularise science and technology.

Theme for National Science Day 2024

The theme for this year’s Science Day is ‘Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat’.