Publishing partnership aims to promote better research

The government of India has teamed up with Springer Nature, a leading international research publisher, to enhance awareness of research integrity, open access and scholarly publishing practices in the country's Tier 2 and Tier 3 academic institutions.

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government will collaborate with the publisher, leading to the launch of the RISE-UTTHAN initiative, a planned academic programme aimed at providing academia, researchers and scholars with globally recognised tools and knowledge to promote ethical, inclusive and impactful research practices.

This comprehensive programme is designed to empower researchers and scholars with tools and knowledge, focusing on key areas of academic research.

While there isn’t extensive specific research on the divide between researchers based on city tiers, a significant divide exists among Indian researchers based on city classification.

According to some researchers, researchers based in large metropolitan areas enjoy superior access to funding, infrastructure and innovation opportunities, while those in Tier 2/3 cities struggle with resource constraints despite having substantial talent pools and being emerging economic hubs.

Global knowledge sharing

The Government of India established the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) in November 1999. The PSA’s office aims to provide pragmatic and objective advice to the prime minister and the cabinet in matters of science and technology.

According to the official statement, the initiative will promote research integrity in science and education, empowering scholars to conduct and communicate their research in alignment with the highest internationally benchmarked standards of ethics and transparency.

“It will boost open access awareness and the future of science by supporting India's One Nation, One Subscription initiative by helping researchers steer the evolving global landscape of open science,” it said.

It will also enhance researchers' capabilities to transition to changing publishing models, from traditional methods to digital and open formats, ensuring their work reaches broader audiences and contributes to global knowledge sharing.
Principal Scientific Adviser Professor Ajay Kumar Sood has emphasised the importance of ethical and accessible research for India’s innovation-driven future.

“The partnership with Springer Nature is set to empower researchers, in alignment with India's development goals, contributing positively to healthcare, education, and sustainable growth,” said Professor Sood in a statement.

Building knowledge about open access

Academics said the partnership aligns with India’s national priorities and reflects a shared commitment to fostering a culture of responsible, high-quality and accessible research.

Sangeeta Verma, a researcher based in Sagar in central India, said: “Many of us in smaller institutions have limited knowledge about open access publishing and digital research tools. This initiative will help us transition from traditional publishing methods to modern, globally recognised formats, ensuring our research reaches international audiences.”

“It will also enhance researchers' capabilities to transition to changing publishing models, from traditional methods to digital and open formats, ensuring their work reaches broader audiences and contributes to global knowledge sharing,” she told University World News.

The initiative will utilise a combination of workshops, lectures and hands-on training to involve 25–30 research-active institutions and aims to reach around 5,000 researchers during the India Research Tour 2025. It is expected to expand in the following years based on feedback from institutions and alignment of resources.

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world, publishing the largest number of journals and books.
According to Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Managing Director of Springer Nature India: “For more than 180 years, the research publisher has been dedicated to advancing discovery by backing the global research community.”

Springer’s affiliation with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser represents a significant advancement in fostering India’s research ecosystem. The aim is to ensure that researchers across the country, regardless of their location, have access to the knowledge, tools and support essential to publish with integrity, embrace open science and contribute effectively to both national and global issues. The association also aligns with India's national priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he noted.

New inequalities?

The initiative aims to engage 25 to 30 research-active institutions and reach around 5,000 researchers during the India Research Tour 2025, with plans for further expansion in subsequent years based on feedback from participating institutions and resource availability.

Dr Sapna Poti, Director of Strategic Alliances at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, stated that enhancing research integrity and open access is crucial for democratising knowledge and empowering institutions throughout India.
The RISE-UTTHAN initiative aspires to create a strong ecosystem where researchers from tier-2 and tier-3 institutions can make meaningful contributions to global science and national development.

However, a researcher requesting anonymity said: “I’m concerned about new academic inequalities. Selecting only 25 to 30 institutions creates a hierarchy within already marginalised Tier 2 and 3 systems – what about the hundreds of other deserving colleges?

“The English-language emphasis troubles me, as someone researching traditional knowledge in the vernacular will be at a loss,” she said.

“Instead of democratising research, we risk academic colonialism benefiting only the privileged within underprivileged institutions,” she added.