The panel highlighted instances where evidence-based reasoning and critical thinking are being undermined, citing efforts to challenge scientific estimates such as those related to excess deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scientists in India have raised concerns about what they call a systematic threat to the country's scientific and educational foundations. They point to the promotion of pseudoscience over established scientific principles, declining funds for scientific research, and changes in school and university curricula.
According to the panel of 12 members, endorsing unproven practices or remedies and prioritizing ideological agendas in educational content could mislead the public and erode trust in genuine scientific aims. They fear that such actions could undermine public health and safety and damage the credibility of India's scientific community.
The panel highlighted instances where evidence-based reasoning and critical thinking are being undermined, citing efforts to challenge scientific estimates such as those related to excess deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic. They also expressed concerns about changes in school science syllabi, which include modules claiming ancient India had knowledge of flying vehicles in space. They criticized certain changes in university education patterns, including allowing students multiple exit points and providing credit for online courses, which they believe could negatively impact students' learning ability, as reported in Telegraph India.
Instances of institutional support for unproven claims were also flagged, such as a conference on "cow science" organized by the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and talks at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on topics like "medical science and Indian scriptures."
While some science policymakers have defended India's achievements in various scientific domains, panel members emphasized the distinction between science, technology, and innovation, urging for a clearer understanding of these terms.
The panel comprised former chief scientists, orthopaedic surgeons, science communicators, and professors, among others, all expressing concerns about the direction of scientific and educational discourse in India.
