Credibility crisis: Indian academia at crossroads

Indian academia is at a critical juncture, grappling with an overemphasis on numerical achievements at the expense of genuine intellectual contributions.

- Dhiraj Sharma

The growing focus on metrics such as publication counts and citation indices has diverted attention from the true purpose of research: To generate knowledge, foster innovation, and address societal challenges. This obsession with rankings is not only distorting academic priorities but also undermining the credibility of Indian research and publications on the global stage.

Today, academic success in India is increasingly being measured by numbers – the quantity of papers published, the frequency of citations, or an institution's rank on Indian or global scales. While these metrics can provide a snapshot of activity, they often fail to capture the depth, originality, or societal impact of the research. Young researchers, instead of pursuing innovative and meaningful projects, are often compelled to chase numbers to secure funding or promotions.

This narrow focus has resulted in significant consequences. The pressure to publish has encouraged the proliferation of low-quality papers, often in predatory journals that lack rigorous peer review. In the rapidly expanding world of academia in our country, the rise of predatory journals has become a significant concern. These journals, often disguised as credible platforms, lack rigorous peer review processes and prioritize profit over the integrity of academic work.