By Dr Samar Verma*
Bihar’s Scholars Set to Benefit: PM Professorships Outline Research Plan
In an era where research is often reduced to rankings, patents, or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) metrics, the Prime Minister Professorship Scheme, launched under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), reflects an extraordinary and much-needed shift in India’s academic imagination.
This initiative- strategically designed to bring India’s most accomplished scholars back into the heart of public academic life- embodies the vision, inclusiveness, and long-term approach to institution-building. It signals something more than a policy initiative; it represents a cultural shift in how India perceives and supports the pursuit of knowledge.
By enabling retired scholars of distinction to mentor younger faculty and nurture state universities- particularly those beyond the metros- the PM Professorship scheme reasserts that research excellence is not the privilege of a few but the responsibility of a nation. The scheme’s emphasis on regional equity, mentoring, and sustained engagement is bold, thoughtful, and transformative.
It also sets the stage for something even greater: a comprehensive national policy for Social Science Research (SSR)—a natural next step that would unlock India’s intellectual potential at scale.
A Scheme Rooted in Vision and Action
Each Prime Minister Professor will receive funding not only for personal honorarium but also for institutional development and research mentorship. The scheme follows the PAIR (Partnerships for the Advancement of Inclusive Research) model, which promotes ‘hub and spoke’ partnerships, pairing well-resourced institutions with emerging or state-level universities.
In doing so, the scheme reflects a deep respect for India’s intellectual elders, whose experience remains underutilised, a commitment to bridging the urban-rural academic divide and an understanding that capacity building is not just about infrastructure, but about relationships, ideas, and mentorship.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of this intervention. In fact, few recent initiatives in India’s higher education sector have been as equitable, timely, and farsighted.
What the Numbers Show- and What They Invite
The Prime Minister Professorships come at a time when evidence from the field points to an urgent need for systemic uplift. A landmark national study- first comprehensive examination of the state of Indian social science research, commissioned by the Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) and published by Oxford University Press in 2017, and which the author had the privilege to co-edit- revealed that India, despite its vast social and cultural complexity, allocates a mere 0.0062% of its GDP to social science research. This study- based on the collective work of 31 senior scholars from nine ICSSR institutions across eight states and overseen by an eminent national advisory committee- documented that:
- India’s SSR institutions averaged just seven researchers per research centre.
- India ranked 13th globally in SSR output, yet stood at 145th in citation impact.
- Despite many social challenges, SSR received only 0.025% of the Union Budget, compared to over 0.86% for the sciences.
They are calls to action. And the PM Professorship scheme is, in fact, a direct and dynamic response to this gap. By operationalising mentorship, placing scholars in new geographies, and building research muscle at the grassroots, the scheme proves that where leadership listens to evidence, transformation follows.
From Pathway to Policy
Rather than treating the Professorship Scheme as a standalone initiative, we should view it as the foundation of a larger national SSR ecosystem. The vision is already seeded- what remains is to scale it with matching policy architecture.
A national Social Science Research policy- inspired by the same principles of decentralisation, mentorship, and inclusion- could further:
- Increase SSR investment toward 0.1% of GDP over five years.
- Establish regional interdisciplinary hubs across states, particularly in the East, North East, and central tribal regions.
- Promote multilingual research dissemination and translation, especially in Indian languages like Hindi, Urdu, Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Bengali.
- Build research-to-policy pipelines, ensuring ministries and state governments regularly engage with local research output.
- Encourage private philanthropy and international collaborations in underfunded social science disciplines such as education, political science, and social history.
These suggestions are extensions of the initiative. They show what becomes possible when a single bold idea is met with a framework to carry it across the nation.
The Opportunity for Scholars from Bihar and Beyond
Bihar, with its legacy of intellectual rigour and public thought—from Rajendra Prasad to Sachchidananda Sinha—has long produced minds that shaped Indian public life. But it has not received proportionate research investment.
Imagine if scholars from Bihar were enabled by national funding to study migration, caste exclusion, flood governance, and rural development—issues that define the lived realities of millions. Imagine if universities like Patna University, Nalanda University, or Aryabhatta Knowledge University were among the top destinations for social science inquiry.
The Prime Minister Professorships could become the match that lights that lamp. And a national SSR policy could ensure that light spreads.
A Final Word: Seeding a Knowledge Legacy
In a time where many nations are retreating from public research investment, India is forging ahead, redefining what it means to support inquiry in the service of society. The PM Professorship Scheme is not just a policy; it is a message. That ideas matter. That mentorship matters. That no institution is too small to deserve excellence. The call now is to turn this spark into a national flame.
A well-funded, equitable, and forward-looking SSR policy would be a legacy project- one that ensures India is not just a knowledge consumer, but a global producer of thought on democracy, development, identity, and justice.
As the world enters an era of shifting geopolitical alignments, India’s aspiration to lead the Global South must rest not only on economic strength and diplomacy, but on intellectual leadership grounded in social understanding. Investing in social science research is central to shaping narratives, informing inclusive policy, and offering models of democratic development rooted in our own experience. The Prime Minister Professorship Scheme signals that India is ready to lead with ideas as well as infrastructure. Now is the moment to institutionalise that leadership—through a national research policy that matches our global ambitions.
* Samar Verma, PhD is an economist and public policy professional with over two decades of experience in leading global programmes in education and research for international development agencies. Views are personal.
