"Today, We Are In The Top 5 In World": Research Scholars Reaffirm Confidence In India's Potential At Careers360 Event

The second edition of Careers360's Faculty Research Awards took place on Friday, October 6, 2023, at the Auditorium of the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library, Teen Murti House, New Delhi.

Careers360 combines information from students and colleges with what more than 15 million people like each month. They use smart tools that help students plan their careers based on what they're interested in and good at. Their young team of over 210 members works to provide information about over 20,000 colleges and offer more than 250 products, like test prep and college suggestions.

At the event held by Careers360, a total of 81 distinguished research scholars from various academic institutions across India were honored based on their outstanding contributions to research. The selection criteria included their publication and citation counts, as well as their h-index. Among the recipients, 30 researchers from public institutions and 27 from private institutions received the prestigious 'Outstanding Faculty Awards.' Additionally, 24 scholars were bestowed with the 'Commendable Faculty Awards.' The event also marked the release of a significant White Paper titled "Research in Indian Academic Institutions and Top 1,000 Researchers of India," which contained the names and affiliations of the top one thousand researchers in the country.

“While there are many recognitions and awards for celebrating institutional excellence, very little is said about the faculty members who make an institution. This is an earnest effort from Careers360 to recognise and celebrate the best faculty researchers working in India’s academic institutions," said Peri Maheshwar, Founder & Chairman of Careers360 at the event held in New Delhi.

Mahesh Peri, Chairman and Founder of Careers360, expressed the significance of recognizing and celebrating the invaluable contributions of faculty researchers, which often go overlooked in favor of institutional recognition. He hoped that these awards would inspire and motivate researchers while encouraging institutions to invest in and institutionalize research efforts to address India's diverse challenges.

The Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and presented the awards. Professor (Dr.) TG Sitharam, Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), attended as the Guest of Honour.

Shri Devusinh Chauhan, the Union Minister of State for Communications, emphasized the paramount importance of knowledge in human development, highlighting the increase in India's h-index from 0.5 to 0.85, signifying remarkable progress. He lauded researchers who have amassed over 25,000 citations, illustrating the substantial research efforts within the country.

"The Prime Minister has drawn people to research and has also paid attention to the synergy. A National Research Foundation is being set up that over the next five years will invest ₹ 50,000 crore in research. This is happening due to the PM’s foresight. Our department has also worked in this direction," added Shri Devusinh Chauhan while speaking at the event.

Professor TG Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, praised the role of engineers and engineering institutions in research and innovation, stating that these are the cornerstones of a global, knowledge-driven economy. He noted India's transformation from importing to manufacturing and exporting iPhones, becoming a leader in publications, patents, incubations, and start-ups globally. He also emphasized the transformative impact of the National Education Policy 2020 on India's education sector.

Speaking on the contribution of educational nstitutions to research, he said," Today, we are in the top five countries in the world for publications and patents, in incubations and start-ups. We have the third largest startup ecosystem in the world focusing on global markets.”

The 81 research scholars selected for recognition came from a wide array of 27 distinct domains. Notably, an additional 1,000 researchers hailing from the same 27 domains and working in over 400 academic institutions were acknowledged in the white paper, which was unveiled by Professor TG Sitharam during the awards ceremony.

These awardees have significantly advanced their respective academic disciplines, often serving as leaders in their institutions, representing India in international research collaborations, and gaining global recognition for their substantial contributions to knowledge generation.

The selection criteria for these awards were based on publication count in journals, citation count, and the h-index, with 27 domains taken into consideration.

The Logical Indian appreciates the efforts of Careers360 for recognising the role of researchers in our country. Research and innovation are vital for the long-term growth of the nation as it address immediate challenges while also ensuring that a country can adapt to changing circumstances.