Why does India lag behind?

 One of the reasons that could be attributed to India’s failing to catch up would be that of investment. China, last year, invested2.5 percent of its GDP (amounting to $174 billion) into scientific research, while India aims to invest 2 percent of its GDP by 2017.

Investment in science and technology, (according to a 2002 report on India’s development in Science, Technology and innovation) has long been recognized to significantly contribute to economic growth—it results in higher growth rate in an economy’s total factor productivity.

India’s investment in scientific endeavors now stands at 0.9 percent of its GDP (which is roughly $16.5 billion).

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at the National Science Congress this year noted “It is in some ways ironic that GE and Motorola have created world class technology hubs in India, while our own industry has not done so, except perhaps in the pharma sector.”