Computer Science Research in India

Has India realized its potential for high-caliber computer science research as indicated by (a) its having one of the largest technical manpower in the world, (b) its software industry's tremendous growth in the recent past, and (c) the demand in the West for students from its top science and technology educational institutions? This paper addresses this question, in the context of Computer Science. The observations and ndings are based on visits to research and educational institutions and discussions with researchers { undertaken during a one-year sabbatical stay in India. This paper begins with a discussion of the nature of computer science Research in India. The type of institutions in which computer science research is conducted is considered next followed by a discussion of the students and faculty at the educational institutions. Support for conducting research in the form of equipment, infrastructure, and publications, is the next topic discussed. We then examine how Indian researchers publish their work. Finally we study the innuence on In-dian computer science research of the phenomenal growth in exports by the Indian software industry and the arrival of multinationals since 1 the recent liberalization and globalization of the Indian economy.